Wrecked Racecar’s Wheel Goes Flying Over Crowd, Smashes Into Parked Car At Indy 500

In a heart-stopping moment at the legendary Indy 500, fans were left in relief after a dramatic crash sent a wheel from Kyle Kirkwood's racecar hurtling over the grandstands and crashing into a parked car at the Brickyard. The incident occurred during the closing stages of the race, raising concerns about spectator safety.

The chain of events began when Felix Rosenqvist, running in the top five, lost control of his car and crashed into the barriers at turn one, sliding back onto the track. Approaching the scene, Kirkwood had limited options to avoid the stricken vehicle and the two cars made contact. Unfortunately, the impact resulted in Kirkwood's left rear wheel detaching from his racecar.

Video footage captured the terrifying moment as the detached wheel soared through the air, narrowly missing the fans and landing in the parking lot. The wheel struck a white Chevrolet Cruze owned by race fan Robin Matthews, causing significant damage to the vehicle. Matthews, initially unaware of the incident, was shocked to discover the unfortunate fate of his car.

Wheel gets sent flying off of race car during wild 2023 Indianapolis 500 crash pic.twitter.com/SAuYIpewwT

— OnlyBangers.eth (@OnlyBangersEth) May 29, 2023

Although the spectators escaped unscathed, one person did suffer minor injuries from debris that flew off the cars. This incident once again highlights the serious concern of debris reaching the stands, as it poses a significant safety risk for both spectators and participants. IndyCar, along with other racing series, has been proactive in implementing safety measures to prevent such accidents. Since 1999, racecars have been equipped with tethers to reduce the likelihood of wheels detaching. Additionally, high fences are installed to contain debris within the track area.

Here’s where that flying tire impacted in turn 2
⁦@IMS⁩ #indy500 pic.twitter.com/MLexGcUu5q

— Andrew Kossack (@AndrewKossack) May 28, 2023

Roger Penske, the owner of IndyCar, expressed his concern and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the incident. The accident serves as a reminder that despite existing safety measures, continuous improvement and vigilance are crucial in ensuring the safety of both drivers and fans.

The crash resulted in Kirkwood's car slamming into the wall and flipping onto its back. Fortunately, the driver remained protected by his car's halo device and roll hoop, which kept his head clear of the track during the harrowing accident. Kirkwood was promptly taken to the medical center for evaluation but was cleared and released the same day.

Source: Carscoops