The intensity and danger of Indy 500 practice were on full display early on Fast Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Just under an hour into the session, rookie Kyffin Simpson suffered a harrowing crash that shook teams and fans alike. The incident underscored the razor-thin margin for error as drivers pushed their cars to the limit at speeds topping 230 mph. Despite the scary nature of the crash, Simpson emerged unscathed, though the damage to his No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda was severe enough to force the team to switch to a backup car. This report takes a closer look at the crash, Simpson’s reaction, and the broader impact on the Fast Friday session.
The Crash That Shook the Track
Only 50 minutes into the Fast Friday practice session, Kyffin Simpson’s day took a dramatic turn. The 20-year-old was out on track for what was supposed to be a routine run, joining several drivers already hitting blistering speeds in excess of 230 mph thanks to increased boost settings. Scott McLaughlin, the eventual pole sitter, had already logged lap speeds approaching 234 mph, highlighting just how fast the field was moving.
As Simpson exited Turn 4, his car suddenly became unstable and wobbled violently. Before anyone could react, the vehicle spun out of control and crashed hard into the outside wall. The impact launched the car off the ground, sending it airborne before it landed on its side. The dramatic sequence didn’t end there — Simpson’s car flipped back onto its wheels, slid across the track, and collided again, this time with the inside pit wall, finally coming to rest near the pit road entrance.
The severity of the crash left spectators and teams holding their breath, but the radio call from Simpson himself quickly brought relief: “Yeah, I’m okay… but man, that was loose.” The IndyCar safety crew promptly attended to the scene, with emergency vehicles arriving to assess the situation and clear debris.
Safety and Track Repairs Cause Extended Delay
Simpson’s crash created an immediate disruption to the Fast Friday practice session. As safety crews rushed to secure the area, another incident added to the tension. Alexander Rossi narrowly avoided a collision with an AMR safety truck that was heading toward Simpson’s wrecked car. Frustrated by the close call, Rossi expressed his displeasure over team radio, highlighting how hectic and tense conditions had become on track.
The crash left significant damage to the SAFER Barrier at the exit of Turn 4, requiring a lengthy repair effort. This repair period extended the stoppage to nearly 40 minutes before practice could resume. The interruption not only limited valuable track time for drivers but also forced teams to adjust their strategies on the fly.
Meanwhile, Simpson was taken to the infield care center as a precaution but was cleared and released without any injuries. The Chip Ganassi Racing team confirmed that the damage to his primary car was too extensive to continue, meaning Simpson would have to rely on the backup vehicle for the remainder of the weekend.
Simpson shared his thoughts on the crash during an interview with IndyCar on FOX. He admitted the incident was strange from the very beginning of his run: “It was weird even from the outlap. Just something didn’t really feel quite right.”
Simpson explained that throughout his initial lap, the car behaved unpredictably. He tried adjusting the weight jacker—a device used to fine-tune the car’s balance—hoping to improve stability, but nothing seemed to help. “I kept going right on the weight jacker and tried to help the car out and it just never really felt the way I expected it to,” he said.
The driver promised a thorough review of the crash data with his engineers to understand what caused the instability. “It was just a weird one. We’ll go back, look at some data, try to figure out what might have been wrong and try to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Simpson said. His calm and analytical response reflected his maturity despite the scary crash, a testament to his rising talent in the sport.
Challenging Conditions Mark Fast Friday
Simpson’s crash was by far the most dramatic moment during the early hours of Fast Friday, but it was not the only mishap over the week of practice. The only other incident prior to Friday had involved Christian Rasmussen, who spun on Thursday but managed to avoid serious damage or injury.
Later in the day, Kyle Larson also experienced trouble on the track. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion lost control of his No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet but managed to keep the car grounded, avoiding a violent crash like Simpson’s. Larson’s incident was less severe, and after repairs, he returned to the track to complete a shakedown run.
These incidents highlight how challenging conditions have been throughout the week. Drivers are pushing new power levels and running low-downforce setups, increasing the risk factor. With qualifying looming, teams will need to find the right balance between speed and safety if they want to succeed at this year’s Indianapolis 500.
