05/25/25 12:50:00
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05/25 12:49 CDT Scott McLaughlin crashes during Indy 500 warm-up, bursts into
tears
Scott McLaughlin crashes during Indy 500 warm-up, bursts into tears
By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --- Scott McLaughlin crashed during the warm-up laps for the
Indianapolis 500 and immediately burst into tears. The Team Penske driver
slammed into the wall as he was swerving to warm his tires before Sunday's
green flag.
The New Zealander, who was slated to start 10th, buried his head in his hands
while crouched on the infield grass. McLaughlin was Penske's highest-starting
driver after two-time defending race winner Josef Newgarden and Will Power were
penalized and dropped to the back of the field for failing inspection.
It was reminiscent of the 1992 Indianapolis 500, when pole-sitter Roberto
Guerrero spun out and crashed while also trying to warm up his tires during the
parade laps.
"I really have no idea what happened," a heartbroken McLaughlin said. "I can't
believe we're out of the race. I had so much hope. It's the worst moment of my
life."
At the same time that McLaughlin was being tended to, smoke and flames began
shooting out from under Scott Dixon's car. It was not clear what the issue was
for the Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who is the 2008 race winner.
When the race went green, Marco Andretti made contact with first Jack Harvey,
which caused him to spin, before Marcus Armstrong hit Andretti on the first
lap. His father and grandfather, Michael Andretti and Mario Andretti, just
shook their heads in disbelief.
It makes for back-to-back DNF's for Andretti in the race his
Roger Penske delivered the command for drivers to start their engines after a
42-minute delay for rain --- a pause that put Kyle Larson's attempt to complete
"the double" and race 1,100-miles in one day in jeopardy.
The NASCAR star must leave Indianapolis Motor Speedway by 4 p.m. to make it to
Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, where the Coca-Cola 600 is his
priority. Only one driver has ever completed all 1,100 miles --- Tony Stewart
in 2001. Larson's bid failed last year because a rain delay in Indianapolis
made him miss the Coca-Cola 600.
Larson could be seen checking his watch from inside his car as he waited for
Penske's command. He's starting second in Charlotte and 19th in the Indy 500.
Meanwhile, a swarm of people poured through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
gates as soon as it opened. Some were shirtless, some wore American flag
overalls, others checkered flag mini-skirts.
As they entered the main tunnel nearly five hours before the race, a large
group began a thunderous "Let's Go Pacers!" chant; The Indiana Pacers host Game
3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks a few hours
after the 109th running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
The grandstands are sold out for the first time since 2016 and IndyCar expects
350,000 people will be on IMS property for Sunday's race. One tunnel at the
speedway had to be closed to motorized vehicles four hours before the race to
handle the pedestrian volume.
Pato O'Ward, a two-time Indy 500 runner-up, and two-time reigning IndyCar
champion Alex Palou are the co-favorites, listed at +500 by BetMGM. O'Ward
starts third and would be the first Mexican winner; Palou, winner of four of
the first five races this season, would be the first Spanish winner should he
earn his first career victory on an oval track.
Robert Shwartzman, a dual national of Israel and Russia, will be the first
rookie to lead the field to green since 1983 in the Indianapolis 500 debut for
Prema Racing. The Italian team is dominant in Europe but new this season to
IndyCar, and Shwartzman has never raced on an oval.
The 25-year-old drives under the Israel flag and is the first Israeli in the
field.
All eyes will be on Penske drivers Newgarden and Power, who started 32nd and
33rd following inspection failures that dropped them to the back of the field.
Newgarden is the two-time defending race winner and trying to become the first
in history to win three-straight Indy 500s.
No driver has ever won from starting on the last row. Rivals have already
declared the Penskes the fastest cars in the field and have said they look
forward to watching them pick their way through traffic.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
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