At the 109th running of the Indy 500, Colton Herta received a notable visit from Hollywood star Keanu Reeves in his Andretti Global garage. The interaction took place Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, adding to the excitement following Herta’s dramatic crash and recovery during qualifying.
Keanu Reeves, who recently attended the premiere of “Ballerina,” a film set in the “John Wick” universe, engaged with fans around the famed Gasoline Alley area and conversed with Andretti Global owner Dan Towriss. Reeves, a known motor racing enthusiast, was seen near Colton Herta’s No. 26 garage during the event.
The actor made his professional racing debut earlier in October 2024 at the Toyota GR Cup, competing in two sprint races at the IMS where he finished 25th and 24th among 33 drivers. Alongside Reeves, IndyCar star Pato O’Ward, who will start third in the race—the highest Indy 500 qualifying position for a Mexican driver—was also spotted interacting with the actor.
Despite O’Ward’s strong starting position, Herta will begin the 2025 Indy 500 from 27th place. This comes after a frightening crash during his first qualifying run at Turn 1, where his No. 26 Honda flipped upside down. Fortunately, the IndyCar aeroscreen safety device protected him, and his team rapidly assembled a backup car within hours, allowing him to return before the lengthy qualifying session concluded.
How Colton Herta Overcame His Harrowing Indy 500 Crash
Herta’s flip sent him airborne before his car landed upside down, scraping sparks near his helmet area. Ahead of race day, he reflected on how he managed to overcome the crash’s shock and prepare mentally to compete again.
“Just love for the sport, just love for the speedway, and the excitement that this race brings,” he said on FOX’s pre-race coverage. “It’s easy to put things like that past you and get back in the car and stay determined. The guys did an amazing job getting that backup car together and getting us set for qualifying, and we have a real chance here today because of that.” —Colton Herta, IndyCar driver
Herta, IndyCar’s youngest winner, has historically struggled at the Indy 500. His top finish was eighth place in 2020. Last year, he started from 27th, climbed positions impressively, but ultimately crashed while running second.
The visit from Keanu Reeves underlined the growing crossover between racing and popular culture, especially given Reeves’ passion for motorsports. As the race unfolds, Herta’s resilience and team’s quick response to his qualifying crash will be critical to his performance on race day.
