Alexander Rossi was taken to a local hospital for evaluation Monday after a heavy three-car crash in Indianapolis 500 practice that also collected Pato O'Ward and Romain Grosjean, according to track officials. The wreck, the first crash of the Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, shredded some of the top contenders' equipment and brought the session to an early halt. O'Ward and Grosjean were checked and released from the infield medical center, while Rossi was held for observation before being transported off-site.
How the Turn 2 Incident Unfolded
Rossi's No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet snapped loose coming through Turn 2 and pounded the outside SAFER barrier, with the rear of the car briefly riding along the top of the wall. O'Ward, running nearby in thick traffic, jumped on the brakes but slid into the side of Rossi's wounded car, while Grosjean spun and hit the wall as he tried to thread his way around the chaos. The chain-reaction crash came roughly 28 to 30 minutes into the scheduled two-hour practice and triggered cleanup and inspection stoppages, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Medical Update And Driver Reactions
IndyCar medical director Dr. Julia Vaizer said Rossi was "awake and alert and in good spirits" but was being transported to a local hospital for additional checks, per Racer. O'Ward and Grosjean were evaluated and released from the infield care center, and crews immediately turned to the grim task of seeing whether the primary tubs could be repaired or if backup chassis would be needed, as reported by Fox Sports.
"I hit the brakes and couldn't avoid the collision," O'Ward told reporters after leaving the care center, according to Fox Sports. Grosjean labeled the pileup "not ideal" but played down any long-term worries, as noted by The Indianapolis Star.
What It Means For The Weekend
Both Rossi's and O'Ward's cars suffered major damage, with images and early team assessments describing wrecked tubs that will require overnight rebuilds or a quick switch to backup cars, per Motorsport.com. The session itself ended early when lightning and rain moved into the area, and Josef Newgarden wound up atop the shortened speed chart, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The crash arrived only hours after post-qualifying technical penalties reshuffled the grid for two entries, another reminder of how small the margins are at the Brickyard, per NBC Sports.
Next Steps
IndyCar, Ed Carpenter Racing and series medical staff are expected to provide further updates on Rossi's condition and whether he will be cleared to compete. The field returns to the track for Miller Lite Carb Day practice on Friday, and the 110th Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday, May 24, according to Racer. This story will be updated as official information becomes available.
