Indianapolis 500 Practice Crash Involves Rossi and O'Ward Alexander Rossi and Pato O'Ward were involved in a significant crash during practice for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 on Monday, marking a dramatic setback for two of the race’s top contenders. The incident occurred in Turn 2 as the field rushed to complete laps before an approaching line of thunderstorms forced the cancellation of the two-hour session. Rossi’s car lost control, snapping loose and crashing heavily into the outside wall. The impact lifted his wheels off the ground, creating a hazardous situation that led to O’Ward spinning into the wreck. Romain Grosjean, another driver, was also caught in the collision. All three drivers were able to exit their vehicles unharmed, though the severity of the crash raised immediate concerns. Rossi was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, where he was reported awake and alert approximately an hour after the incident. O’Ward and Grosjean were quickly cleared by infield medical staff and returned to the track. IndyCar confirmed that Rossi’s team, Ed Carpenter Racing, swiftly deployed a backup car to replace the damaged primary vehicle, demonstrating the team’s preparedness for such emergencies. Rossi, who had qualified third for the Indianapolis 500 just a day earlier, was set to start on the front row behind pole-sitter Alex Palou. O’Ward, who qualified sixth on the second row, faced a similar challenge as his team worked to assess damage to his car. The crash not only disrupted their preparation but also posed logistical hurdles for both teams. Repair efforts would need to be prioritized to ensure the drivers could compete in the race, though IndyCar rules allow drivers to retain their starting positions even if they use backup cars.#indy_500 #alexander_rossi #pato_oward #romain_grosjean #ed_carpenter_racing
