Amid all the fun and excitement of the Indianapolis 500, things turned serious and scary instantly as a tire flew over the catchfence outside Turn 2.
The crash occurred on Lap 183. Felix Rosenqvist lost control and hit the wall. With his steering compromised, Rosenqvist didn’t really have control of his car. In trying to slow down, Rosenqvist lost control, veered into the racing line, and hit Kyle Kirkwood. Kirkwood’s tire rocketed off his car with the sound of a gunshot, blasted over the catchfence toward the Turn 2 grandstands while Kirkwood flipped.
Thankfully, Rosenqvist and Kirkwood are okay, and the tire missed the grandstands as the tire hit a car. NBC reported on the broadcast that there were no injuries from the tire, and IndyCar confirmed that to be the case, but one person was treated for injuries due to other debris and was released from the infield care center.
A scary crash involving Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood results in Kirkwood flipped and a tire flying over the fence. Thankfully, the tire missed the grandstands and hit a car. NBC broadcast reports no injuries. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/HSr9surMe0
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 28, 2023
Here’s where that flying tire impacted in turn 2
@IMS #indy500 pic.twitter.com/MLexGcUu5q— Andrew Kossack (@AndrewKossack) May 28, 2023
IndyCar confirms no one was injured by the tire that flew out of the track. However, one person was injured by the debris from that incident; they were seen at the infield care center and released, IndyCar says.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 28, 2023
No one wants to see anything fly toward spectators, especially a tire. Many were worried about the outcome, but we pretty much got the best-case scenario. Many relayed their worries and explanation on social media.
Kirkwood’s tire being escorted out of turn 4. Thankfully, no one was hurt, just a car damaged pretty bad. pic.twitter.com/BjqQGl7iuY
— Kaitlyn Kendall (@KaitlynReports) May 28, 2023
That replay shows the tire just barely clear the grandstands, but not sure where it landed.
Scores of fans ducking…really scary stuff.#INDY500
— Nick DeGroot (@ndegroot89) May 28, 2023
I have never seen anything like that in my life.
That tire leaped over the stands and missed the end of the SE Vista by less than 20 feet. I'm hearing people by the suites were giving thumbs up, so it sounds like it cleared into the golf course. But man, that was close#Indy500 pic.twitter.com/MA7NpdgVYQ
— Noah (@MightyMack03) May 28, 2023
With my sympathies to the Chevy Cruze owner, thanks to the Lord that tire landed where it did. https://t.co/aRN3A02pFf
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) May 28, 2023
The tire only took out a Chevy Cruze, whose owner should be thankful that they no longer have to drive a Chevy Cruze
— 🤔🤷♂️ (@TightOff) May 28, 2023
I witnessed Adrian Fernandez lose a tire into the stands at Michigan, the horrible IRL Charlotte incident and a little boy lose his life when a tire went over the fence at Rockford – it’s the sickest feeling in the world to see a tire launched like that
— Pete Pistone (@PPistone) May 28, 2023
There are tethers that connect the wheels to the chassis. They were added in the late '90s/early 2000's after a couple of incidents involving fans. The worst was at Charlotte Motor Speedway in '99. I was there. Super, super rare since then to see a tire flung that far. #Indy500
— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) May 28, 2023
Obviously, IndyCar is going to investigate what can be improved. There are tethers to keep the tires attached to the cars. The majority of the time, they work. In this case, it didn’t. Same with the catchfence. It’s supposed to keep cars and car parts constrained to the track. The tire went high enough to clear the fence, so maybe there will be a consideration to raising the fencing.
Regardless, it’s not going to be something IndyCar will set aside just because no one was seriously injured.
