Ed Carpenter becomes third driver to flip over in Indy 500 practice
INDIANAPOLIS – The “Flying Circus” at the Indianapolis 500 continued early Sunday morning when two-time defending Indy 500 Pole Winner Ed Carpenter crashed in the Turn 2 wall and went airborne. It was the third time a Chevrolet IndyCar has flipped upside down after hitting the wall in practice this week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time pole sitter Helio Castroneves went airborne and landed upside-down in a crash on Wednesday and Carpenter’s teammate, Josef Newgarden, also went upside down on Thursday after each driver hit the Turn 1 wall. Carpenter was the first to hit the Turn 2 wall in practice heading into Sunday’s 99th Indianapolis 500 Pole Qualifications.
None of the drivers involved in crashes were injured, including Carpenter.
By contrast, Pippa Mann’s crash in a Honda on Wednesday came in Turn 4 and her car did not flip. There has been major concern in the Gasoline Alley garage area at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I think anybody that watches with interest whether it be a fan or somebody that works with INDYCAR or with a race team was that after major accidents this week all were released to drive again within 30 minutes of the accident,” said Mike Hull, Target/Chip Ganassi Racing managing director. “I think Honda, Chevrolet and Dallara will all work with INDYCAR to try to understand the frequency of what we have seen.”
Saturday’s first round of Indianapolis 500 qualifications were rained out so the entire field of 33 have to qualify Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. ET. However, dark grey rain clouds are rolling in from the West with pop-up showers in the forecast.
Carpenter’s team is preparing a backup car in hopes of getting it fixed in time for qualifications. Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner, was the fastest in Sunday’s practice at 233.001 miles per hour in a Chevrolet.
Ed Carpenter's backup car is third in line to qualify later on Sunday. Each driver will only have one attempt to qualify.
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