Indy 500 Eliminates 5 Drivers by Lap 26 as Alexander Rossi's Car Catches Fire
Updated
Updated · IndyStar · May 24
Indy 500 Eliminates 5 Drivers by Lap 26 as Alexander Rossi's Car Catches Fire
10 articles · Updated · IndyStar · May 24
Five drivers were out of the 110th Indianapolis 500 by lap 26, with Alexander Rossi stopping in pit lane as smoke and fire poured from his car before he climbed out and left on crutches.
Lap 18 produced the first double elimination when Ryan Hunter-Reay spun exiting Turn 2 and Katherine Legge crashed while trying to avoid him; both drivers got out unhurt.
A restart soon after knocked out Ed Carpenter when contact with Takuma Sato in a three-wide run into Turn 1 spun Carpenter into the wall; Carpenter later blamed Sato for forcing the move.
Will Power became the fifth retirement after spinning on pit lane exit and failing to refire, triggering another caution and cleanup.
Rossi's fire came 364 days after his 2025 Indy 500 also ended with a pit-lane fire, underscoring a chaotic opening phase to this year's race.
After a second fiery Indy 500 exit, does Rossi's Arrow McLaren team face a critical safety investigation?
Why did so many former Indy 500 champions crash out so early in this year's chaotic race?