INDIANAPOLIS — Scott McLaughlin crashed through the warm-up laps for the Indianapolis 500 and instantly burst into tears.
The Crew Penske driver slammed into the wall as he was swerving to heat his tires earlier than Sunday’s inexperienced flag.
The New Zealander, who was slated to start out tenth, buried his head in his fingers whereas crouched on the infield grass. McLaughlin was Penske’s highest-starting driver after two-time defending race winner Josef Newgarden and Will Energy had been penalized and dropped to the again of the sector for failing inspection.
It was harking back to the 1992 Indianapolis 500, when pole-sitter Roberto Guerrero spun out and crashed whereas additionally making an attempt to heat up his tires through the parade laps.
“I actually do not know what occurred,” a heartbroken McLaughlin stated. “I can not consider we’re out of the race. I had a lot hope. It is the worst second of my life.”
On the identical time that McLaughlin was being tended to, smoke and flames started taking pictures out from underneath Scott Dixon’s automobile. It was not clear what the problem was for the Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who’s the 2008 race winner.
When the race went inexperienced, Marco Andretti made contact with first Jack Harvey, which precipitated him to spin, earlier than Marcus Armstrong hit Andretti on the primary lap. His father and grandfather, Michael Andretti and Mario Andretti, simply shook their heads in disbelief.
It made for back-to-back DNF’s for Andretti within the the race.