Indianapolis ( Associated Press) – Colton Herta rolls his Indianapolis 500 car end-over-end during Friday’s final practice. The star driver for Andretti Autosport was not injured in the most significant crash in the making of the “greatest spectacle in racing”.
“I think I was going a little too fast for that corner,” Herta said.
With 25 minutes remaining on “Carb Day” the crash destroyed Andretti Honda and he would need backup for Sunday’s race. Herta also blew an engine in qualifying and would start in 25th place in whatever car Andretti could get ready for race day.
“A little sad for that race car,” Herta said when asked how she felt after exiting the Infield Care Center.
The 22-year-old Californian was speaking on his team’s radio as his car was still moving. When it stopped, her father, Brian, radioed Herta to stop and tied up until emergency crews could free her from the car.
His father is his race strategist and Andretti immediately went to the garage to oversee the preparations for the backup car.
“Thanks for so many things,” said Herta. “I think the aeroscreen is part of that. More so the security team and I guess the durability of the side pods on the side structure of the cars. It was a big hit from the side. Yeah, the security team there pretty quickly got me. were being taken back.”
Earlier in practice, David Malucas crashed after coming in contact with Santino Ferrucci. At 20, Malukas is the youngest driver in the field; Ferrucci was punished for avoidable contact.
Tony Kanan and Marcus Ericsson lead practice for Chip Ganassi Racing. Pole sitter Scott Dixon was third-fastest and seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmy Johnson was seventh as Ganassi had four cars in the top seven. Alex Palu, the defending IndyCar champion, was 14th and slowest in the Ganassi group.
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