Indianapolis Motor Speedway experienced its third hard crash in as many days on Sunday afternoon, this time involving Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin. McLaughlin had qualified inside the top 12 on Saturday and was a contender to repeat last year’s pole-winning run. However, during practice, he spun at Turn 2 and crashed into the wall, destroying his car.
The incident led to Team Penske reassigning McLaughlin to 12th place in qualifying, where he would not attempt a second run on Sunday. The team instead focused on preparing their backup speedway car for teammate Josef Newgarden’s upcoming pit crew competition.
McLaughlin expressed remorse and disappointment after the crash, stating that he was trying to test the limits of his car but realized it wasn’t worth the risk. He also acknowledged feeling fortunate that the car didn’t launch into the catch fence, which caused damage to the track surface.
When asked about the emotional toll of the incident, McLaughlin revealed that seeing his wife crying after the crash made him feel nervous and worried for her safety. His team was relieved that he was okay but devastated by the loss.
With three crashes in as many days, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is facing a tough qualifying session on Sunday.
Source: https://www.espn.com/racing/story/_/id/45210195/scott-mclaughlin-destroys-car-race-indy-500-pole