Fernando Alonso Is the First to Crash in Indianapolis 500 Practice ... Again

From Autoweek

For the second year in a row, Fernando Alonso was the first driver to crash out of Indianapolis 500 practice, and it again took place on the second day of festivities.

This time, it took place in Turn 4 when the two-time Formula 1 champion struck the outside SAFER Barrier in the final hour. Alonso drove beneath the white line and drove onto the concrete trim and that forced him up the track into the wall.

The ARROW McLaren SP No. 66 brushed off the wall into a half spin backwards down the pit lane without any additional contact.

Alonso immediately climbed out of the car and the initial report is that the damage was limited to bolt on components, meaning his Craig Hampson-engineered effort should easily make it out for Fast Friday.

"You lose the car, you lose the grip of the car and this place, the walls are coming very close," Alonso said on NBCSN after being treated and released from the infield care center. "Unfortunately, it happened again.

"We’ll learn from this. Nothing we can do now. Tomorrow, we’ll start again."

In 2019, Alonso struck the Turn 3 wall and coasted into Turn 4, completely destroying his primary Carlin McLaren machine. He would not return to the track until Day 4 and ultimately failed to qualify for the race on Bump Day.

With only 33 entries in Indianapolis this year, Alonso will make the main event regardless of what happens over the next 8 days.

Alonso had turned the second most number of laps on Thursday at 126 laps or 315 miles. He posted the day's eighth-fastest overall speed at 224.364 mph and the eighth-fastest speed without a tow at 220.970 mph.