Alexander Rossi walked away from a violent practice crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, got outpatient procedures, and is expected to race in the 110th Indianapolis 500 this weekend. The crash on Monday involved Pato O’Ward and also collected Romain Grosjean, prompting immediate medical attention and a team update from Ed Carpenter Racing. Rossi shared a personal status update on social media Tuesday morning, and he’s lined up to start second on the grid beside pole-sitter Alex Palou.
Midway through Turn 2 during Monday’s practice, Rossi’s car lost the rear end and slammed into the outside wall at high speed. That initial impact was significant on its own, but the situation worsened when Pato O’Ward, unable to avoid the scene behind him, made contact in a follow-up collision. The sequence looked sudden and violent, the kind of crash that tests every safety device on the car and every training of the safety crew.
You can see the incident here:
Another angle shows how the crash collected more than one car and briefly brought the session to a halt as track officials cleared debris. Romain Grosjean’s car was also involved, adding to the concern in the paddock and among fans watching the practice feed. Those close-up replays made plain how chaotic a multi-car incident can become in the blink of an eye.
A big incident in Indy 500 Practice as Alexander Rossi hits the wall. Pato O'Ward also involved. pic.twitter.com/gqK1ceUfVS
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2026
Grosjean spoke after the accident, calling the incident “not ideal” but expressing gratitude that everyone was “okay:”
Rossi was escorted to the care center immediately after the crash, then taken for outpatient procedures Monday night to address injuries from the incident. Ed Carpenter Racing described them as “minor injuries to a finger on his left hand and his right ankle,” and stressed Rossi would be monitored closely. The team said the plan was to have him ready for final practice on Friday, May 22 and the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24.
On Tuesday morning Rossi posted an update to fans and followers about how he was feeling and his intent to get back in the car, which injected a clear dose of confidence into the team’s weekend. The tone was blunt and determined, the kind of message racers send when they want to quiet speculation and focus on the task ahead. That update landed alongside medical and team reassurances and set expectations heading into race weekend.
Despite the crash and the late-night procedures, Rossi is scheduled to start second on race day, sitting beside Alex Palou on the front row. That starting position matters; it keeps Rossi in the thick of the early race and gives the team a strategic foothold they would have fought hard to retain. The grid place also raises questions about how the car set-up and pit strategy will be handled under the pressure of race conditions after a crash week.
Ed Carpenter Racing faces a tight window to ensure both driver and car are ready, balancing caution with the push every team makes at Indianapolis. The quick response by medical staff and the team’s transparent updates show how much preparation goes into managing incidents like this. For Rossi, the coming days will be about testing whether repairs and treatment hold up under the stress of final practice and the sprint to race day.
Fans and rivals alike will be watching not just who crosses the line first, but how well drivers rebound from the bumps and scares that are part of Indy 500 week. With Palou on pole and Rossi next to him, the front row sets up an intriguing duel of form, fitness, and mechanical resilience. Indianapolis has a way of separating chance from momentum, and this weekend will be another test of both.
