Rash of Crash: Inside a wild weekend of wrecks during Indy 500 prep

Bruce Martin
Special for Foxsports.com

Indianapolis: The last three days of activity on the track before the 109th Indianapolis 500 included a “shock eruption.”

When Chevrolet No. 3 of Scott McLaughlin crashed into the turn wall 2 and went in the air in the practice session on Sunday afternoon, it was the fourth serious accident of the weekend in the Speedway engine in Indianapolis.

The McLaughlin team team, Penske, prepared the support of Josef Newgarden, but decided to leave the Fast 12 qualification session to prepare it for the complete field practice on Monday for 109 ° Indianapolis 500.

Highlights the risk versus the reward of high -speed Indy car races around the 2.5 -mile Indianapolis Speedway engine.

From the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 to the qualifications of this weekend, the danger stalks all corners for each driver that hits that follow -up.

But these are athletes that are seen in the face and do not shudder.

That is why 350,000 fans will fill the stands with tickets exhausted on Sunday for the Indianapolis 500 this year in the best battle of man against the machine.

The famous journalist and editor of Auto Racing, Chris Economaki, used to say that he tracks the racing drivers published as “challenging daredevils of death” in the 1930s until the 1960s.

Of course, in modern times, that cannot be used for reasons of responsibility, but part of the Indy 500 are athletes that risk competing in the “largest race in the world.”

The fact that each driver involved in each shock moved away without hurting and tried to try it again is an important testimony of the security of the current Indy car.

The “shock eruption” begged quick Friday.

Chiposi Racing Kyffin Simpson’s chip pilot crashed into curve 4, a qualification simulation. His Honda No. 8 backed up the wall and the letters rose from the ground, leaned on the left side, broke a wheel room on his wheels and slipped on the front directly before reaching the entrance of Pit Road.

Simpson returned to action in a support car for the practice session on Saturday morning.

Also on Friday, Kyle Larson crashed his Arrow McLaren Chevrolet No. 17, but was worldly compared, a three -quarter turn before making front contact in curve 3.

Larson returned to the track later that day.

But accidents were more serious starting on Saturday.

Marcus Armstrong, who had been one of the fastest pilots in the practice of Indy 500 for Meyer’s rod races, released and made rear and left back contact with the safer barrier of curve 1. The car slipped down the track and the secondary left side had contact in shift 2. His Honda No. 66 did not lean or came out in the air.

Colton Herta, however, had a vicious and thunderous accident in Curve 1 in its qualification attempt on Saturday.

No. 26 Gainbridge Honda did half a turn before leading to the safest barrier. The car remained excessively and slid along the track upside down, which caused a secondary impact with the safer turn 2 of the barrier.

Aeroscreeen played an important role in the protection of Herta of serious potential.

Herta left and returned to the track and described the 29th for the initial alignment of 33 cars.

That was the prelude to the main practice of the McLaughlin clash duration, ruining the fastest car’s possibilities in the Speedway to make a qualification attempt.

At the time of his accident, McLaughlin had just completed the fastest turn of the practice session at 233,553 mph in No. 3 Pennzail Chevrolet.

McLaughlin’s car hit the turn wall 2, throwing the car in the air before he crashed into the asphalt on his left side. The impact left a deep wound in the asphalt of the race, which had to repair for the track security workers.

McLaughlin’s car bounced on his wheels and slipped to rest in the corner.

McLaughlin was not injured, but distressed that crashed what an easy leg could have of the pole winning car for the second consecutive year in the Indy 500.

“I am very, very, really, I am very sorry for everyone in the Penske team and the boys in the (no.) 3 cars, and all in the 2 (Josef Newgarden), 12 (Will Power) and all those who build Relaugh”, McLaugh Illaugh Center. “He (the car) was talking to me, and I felt it and should have backed away.

“But you know you are trying to complete a career to see how it feels and worth the risk. It probably was not. I am … you just try to prepare and I hope you are not going to indycar for the safest. I am more midiete and myyeteful and myyeteful. Mytetefulful.

McLaughlin returns to the action for the complete field practice session on Monday and when he chose to sit the Fast 12 qualification session, the 12th will begin at the Sunday event.

Ironically, Hey will join his two teammates from the Penske, Newgarden and McLaughlin team, since Indycar officials took both cars out of line to work in the car in the qualification line that had been in technical inspection.

Both teams had made repairs and/or modifications to the attenuator at the back of the car.

Apart from that, McLaughlin’s approach is to prepare a car capable of winning the race on Sunday.

“You just have to move on,” said McLaughlin. “If you can build a fantastic car for me. I have the best crew in Pit Lane. I am really destroyed by them. I only destroyed it.

“It is difficult to take, as special now. You son of desire was for something, but it was not at all in practice. But ultimately, those are the decisions you make at that speed, and I chose to keep the race in progress. That is about me.”

Engineers and staff have indicated that the hybrid unit changes the pressure balance in a race car, which has a weight weight back and diagonally from the left and rear left left to the right front.

But everyone indicated that it is too early to blame that, like the reason for accidents in Indianapolis 500 this year.

The activity on Friday and Saturday was in the windy days, and that can dramatically affect the ability of an Indy car to keep the grip at very high speeds.

The final result, this are career cars that travel around a 2.5 -mile race course designed in 1909 with 45 degree turns traveling to approximately 233 miles per hour.

Of course, accidents will be great.

Fox Sports spoke with several Duycar series drivers about why the last three days included some spectacular accidents and if the extra weight tested by the hybrid unit played a role.

“… demonstrates that cars are really safe, because everyone leaves these horrendous clashes without a scratch,” said Indianapolis 500 Helio Castroneves on Sunday. “That is an advantage.

“Or, of course, being in the car at this time and living it, you can see that the cross weight is a bit different. It is not so much the weight of the hybrid, but the floor of the car. I remember that last year it was crazy in that situation and now ingenious …

“But in regards to the cars, I have had that situation in the past. We travel around 230 miles per hour, but they are all coming out and that is the important part.

Scott Dixon is a six -time Indycar series champion, Indianapolis 500 2008 winner and the second most winning pilot in the history of Indycar with 58 victories in his career.

At 44, Dixon is the “old man of the village” or Indycar. He is the wise wise of the series and has seen a lot in his career, both good and bad.

What has made Dixon so great is its ability to adapt and survive danger in a risky business.

“The conditions have a soupcular and resistant leg with the wind on the wind,” Dixon told Fox Sports. “The hybrid does not make it easier, that is safe, but it is the same for everyone and you have to mark it.

“Some great clashes, larger than in the years.

“Fortunately, everyone is fine.

“It’s not easy, man. It spreads around.”

That is why drivers in Indianapolis 500 become larger than the heroes of life, if they can avoid the danger that awaits them in the next turn.

Bruce Martin is a veteran writer and collaborator of Motorsports by Foxsports.cometro. Follow it in X in @Brumartin_500.

Best of Fox Sports’ Indy 500 Coverage:

---

---