Alexander Rossi crashes, takes out Pato O'Ward, Romain Grosjean in Indianapolis 500 practice. Rossi transported to Indy hospital.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Alexander Rossi crashed into the Turn 2 wall and collected Pato O'Ward and Romain Grosjean on Monday, May 18, in Indianapolis 500 practice. Rossi was sent to an area hospital for further observation.
Rossi, who qualified for the front row for the May 24 race, spun hard into the wall on a crowded racetrack. O'Ward qualified for the outside of Row 2 and Grosjean for the outside of Row 8.
O'Ward and Grosjean were released from the infield medical center, and will get in reconstructed cars for Carb Day practice on Friday. Rossi did not speak to the media.
Just after 3 p.m., over 90 minutes after the accident, IndyCar provided the following update: "Alexander Rossi is being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, per Dr. Julia Vaizer, IndyCar medical director."
Grosjean said the crash was “not ideal,” but downplayed any long-term concern, adding he doesn’t expect the team will need to go to a backup car. Grosjean said he tried to avoid the incident by braking and moving left, but the car “just spun.”
O’Ward said the incident unfolded quickly after he saw Rossi spinning ahead of him. “It’s just really tough to stop these cars … especially in the middle of the corner,” O’Ward said, explaining that heavy braking shifted the car and caused him to lose the rear end.
“These cars are all on a knife’s edge,” he said. “That’s how you got to run it if you want to be competitive.” He called it “wrong place, wrong time,” but said he expects to be back in the car quickly.
ECR's reserve driver is Hunter McElrea, who drove one race in 2024 and would be an Indy 500 rookie who hasn't gone through the Rookie Orientation Program (ROP). Rule 4.3.2.9.8 would require McElrea to go through an ROP but IndyCar could allow him to go through one. It seems unlikely that IndyCar would approve a rookie who hasn't been on an oval, but there was no indication that Rossi would need to be replaced.
Conor Daly reported wing and under carriage damage that limited him to at-speed pit stop practice when the track went back to green.
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.