Alexander Rossi still hoping to compete in Indianapolis 500 after crash leads to hand surgery – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels)
Indianapolis – Alexander Rossi underwent surgery Monday night to repair minor injuries to his left hand after a crash during practice for the Indianapolis 500. The 2016 race winner now faces an uncertain health evaluation even as he and his team continue to plan for a return to the track. The incident marked the first crash of the month on the speedway’s oval and involved three other drivers in a chain-reaction wreck.
Crash Details and Immediate Aftermath
Rossi’s No. 20 car spun in the second turn of the 2.5-mile oval and struck the outside wall before sliding down the track. The rear of the car briefly dragged along the top of the wall. Pato O’Ward, trailing behind, could not avoid contact and struck the side of Rossi’s machine. Romain Grosjean was also caught in the melee. All three drivers were evaluated at the track medical center. O’Ward and Grosjean were released quickly. Rossi, however, was transported to a local hospital for further care. The team later confirmed the hand surgery took place that evening.
Qualifying Standings and Grid Adjustments
The crash occurred less than 24 hours after Rossi came within a fraction of securing his first Indy pole. Defending champion Alex Palou edged him out with a four-lap average of 232.248 mph to Rossi’s 231.990. Rossi still secured the middle of the front row and is scheduled to start second. O’Ward qualified sixth, while Conor Daly started eighth. Grosjean lined up 24th. All four drivers now face repairs to cars they had spent months preparing. Two additional drivers, Caio Collet and Jack Harvey, were already moved to the back of the 33-car field for rules violations discovered during post-qualifying inspection.
Driver Perspectives on the Incident
O’Ward described the sequence as a matter of timing and speed. “Just wrong place, wrong time and just got collected there,” he said. “These cars don’t stop very well when you’re going at those speeds and with how you run the brakes. Obviously, I just hit the brakes and there wasn’t much I could do to avoid him, so I’m glad Alex is all right and Romain as well.” Daly noted that his car had felt strong in race trim before the accident collected it. He expressed confidence that the crew could complete repairs in time for the next session.
Next Steps and Remaining Practice
Ed Carpenter Racing stated that Rossi hopes to participate in Friday’s final practice session and then contest Sunday’s sold-out race. His status remains under review by medical staff. Josef Newgarden posted the fastest lap in the abbreviated Monday practice before rain ended the session early. One additional short practice is scheduled for Friday during Carb Day activities, which also feature the traditional pit-stop competition. The focus now shifts to whether Rossi and the other affected drivers can return to full strength before the green flag drops.
