Indianapolis Motor Speedway saw a dramatic start to the qualifying process for the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday. Marcus Armstrong was taken away on a stretcher after a scary crash in Turn 1, with his teammate Colton Herta also experiencing a heavy crash at nearly the same spot hours later.
Both drivers were given the all-clear to drive again, but their cars’ readiness is still uncertain. Teams are scrambling to prepare backup vehicles, and Armstrong’s team opted for one of its road course cars.
Armstrong was released from the hospital shortly after being taken away on a stretcher, expressing confidence in his ability to perform despite the injury. He stated that his teammate Felix Rosenqvist, who achieved a fast four-lap average during practice, had boosted his confidence.
The outcome of qualifying will determine the top 12 drivers who can claim the first four spots on the grid, with those who qualify between 13-30 securing their positions for Sunday’s race. The slowest four cars or those that fail to post a time on Saturday will participate in a last-chance shootout to secure the final three spots on the 33-car grid.
Source: https://www.espn.com/racing/indycar/story/_/id/45192261/marcus-armstrong-injured-crash-indianapolis-500-practice