Overview
- Marcus Armstrong and Colton Herta crashed heavily at Turn 1 during Indianapolis 500 practice and qualifying, both escaping without serious injury.
- Armstrong has been released from the care center but remains unapproved to qualify as his team finalizes a converted backup car with help from Chip Ganassi Racing.
- Herta's crash during qualifying left Andretti Global assessing whether to repair his primary car or switch to a backup vehicle, with his clearance to drive pending medical approval.
- Strong crosswinds, gusting up to 30 mph, created hazardous conditions at Turn 1, contributing to the crashes at speeds nearing 240 mph.
- If neither driver qualifies on Saturday, they will compete for the final three grid spots in Sunday’s last-chance qualifying session, adding significant pressure to secure a race berth.