Kiwi Scott McLaughlin escapes major Indy 500 crash unharmed
New Zealand IndyCars driver Scott McLaughlin has walked away from a spectacular crash during pre-qualifying practice at Indy 500.
The Team Penske driver hit the wall at speed 16 minutes into the one-hour session reserved for the 12 drivers who will vie for pole position during qualifying.
McLaughlin, who qualified in pole position for last year's Indy 500 before finishing third in the famous race, had recorded the fastest lap of the session before spinning his car in turn two and crashing hard into the barrier.
The car was airborne for a moment and suffered extensive damage.
"I'm really, really, really, really sorry to everyone at Team Penske, my guys on the 3 car, everyone who builds these fantastic cars," McLaughlin said.
"It (car) was talking to me, and I sort of felt it, and I probably should have backed out. But you're trying to complete a run to see what it feels like.
"Very grateful to IndyCar, the safety and my team, the SAFER Barriers and all that. Kept me safe. We had a great car, and I just destroyed it."
New Zealander Scott Dixon, a five time pole winner at the Indy 500, was second fastest in the practice for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Dixon, a six time IndyCars series champion, will tie former driver American Rick Mears with a sixth "500" pole if he secures the top spot.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
a day ago
- 1News
Grant Fox on son Ryan's 'surreal' PGA Tour hot streak
Ryan Fox's family is still coming to terms with his second PGA Tour win in the space of a month. Emotions are running high 24 hours after the dramatic play-off victory against American Sam Burns at the Canadian Open in Toronto yesterday. "Surreal really, we're still trying to process it," dad Grant Fox told Breakfast. "To get one win a month ago was amazing; to back it up again four weeks later… we can't believe it really to be honest. "We're so proud of him, so pleased for him. The Mrytle Beach win was life changing — this puts it up another level." ADVERTISEMENT Fox admitted even he had been surprised at the seemingly late explosion of form from his son. Grant Fox told Breakfast they were "so proud" of the 38-year-old. (Source: Breakfast) "I'd like to say no, because we've always believed in him, and there are people around him that have always believed in him. "[Coach] Marcus Wheelhouse has been travelling a lot lately to help Ryan. I want to give Wheelie a big pat on the back, without his input in the last month, I don't think these results would have happened." New Zealand's Ryan Fox hits a shot out of the bunker on the 18th hole during a playoff hole in the final round of the RBC Canadian Open in Caledon, Ontario. (Source: Associated Press) The former All Black said the win at Myrtle Beach seems to have "relaxed" the 38-year-old. "He can sort of play with freedom because he knows he's got a job for the next couple of years, he knows where he's going to be. ADVERTISEMENT "When you're playing for your livelihood every year, that comes with a lot of anxiety and stress. When you're having conversations with Ryan sometimes you can sense that. The Kiwi golfer said it was great to hit "probably the best shot of my entire life" on the 18th hole. (Source: SKY) "But now he doesn't have to worry about that." The win also qualified Fox for this week's US Open in Pennsylvania, the third major of the year.
1News
2 days ago
- 1News
Kiwi Ryan Fox claims second PGA Tour victory in a month
In less than a month Auckland golfer Ryan Fox has won on the PGA Tour for a second time, but it did take four extra holes to achieve it. Fox has won the Canadian Open in Toronto. However, he and American Sam Burns went through four play-off holes before a winner could be found. Fox started the final round in a tie for the lead but slipped three shots off the pace at one stage before charging back into contention. He birdied three of the last five holes to force the play-off. ADVERTISEMENT Fox was lucky to survive the first play-off hole after putting his tee shot in a bunker, but Burns missed a very makeable putt to win. Both players then parred the 18th on the second and third extra holes. The Kiwi golfer said it was great to hit "probably the best shot of my entire life" on the 18th hole. (Source: SKY) On the fourth hole on the par five 18th, 38 year old Fox hit his second shot to within a couple of metres of the hole. Burns then three putted, giving Fox two shots for the win and the NZ$2.95 million winner's prize. 'It was very hard fought, it was a bit scratchy to be honest, for 13 holes today," he said. "Made a couple of good saves there, and then kind of found it in the last four or five holes. Had some great shots, holed a couple of putts and was pretty lucky to make that putt in regulation. It was probably dying left side and it just snuck in. ADVERTISEMENT "I didn't hit a couple of great shots in the playoff; obviously Sam let me off there the first time round. It was nice to hit a good one on 18, that fourth time, that is probably the best shot I ever hit in my life and nice to do it in these kind of circumstances." The pair finished one shot ahead of Kevin Yu of Taiwan. It was Fox's second play-off victory on the PGA Tour in less than a month. He claimed his maiden PGA title with victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina after a three-way play-off. The win qualifies Fox for this week's US Open in Pennsylvania, the third major of the year.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
'Best shot I've ever hit': Fox wins $3m PGA title
Ryan Fox poses with the trophy after putting in to win in a four-hole playoff after the final round of the Canadian Open. Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has won on the PGA Tour for a second time in less than a month, but it did take four extra holes to achieve it. Fox has won the Canadian Open in Toronto. However, he and American Sam Burns went through four play-off holes before a winner could be found. "It was a bit scratchy for 13 holes today but made a couple of good saves and kind of found it the last four or five holes (where) I hit some great shots," he said green side afterwards. "Didn't hit a couple of great shots in the play-off and Sam let me off there. "But it was nice to hit a good one on 18 that fourth time, that's probably the best shot I've ever hit in my life." Fox struggled to explain what he's managed to achieve in the last month. "I don't know, it's crazy the last four weeks, I've played some of the best golf I've ever played. "To get a couple of wins on the PGA Tour in a month is pretty surreal." Fox started the final round in a tie for the lead but slipped three shots off the pace at one stage before charging back into contention. He birdied three of the last five holes to force the play-off. Fox was lucky to survive the first play-off hole after putting his tee shot in a bunker, but Burns missed a very makeable putt to win. Both players then parred the 18th on the second and third extra holes. Ryan Fox putts on the 18th green during the third playoff hole during the final round of the Canadian Open. On the fourth hole on the par five 18th, 38 year old Fox hit his second shot to within a couple of metres of the hole. Burns then three putted, giving Fox two shots for the win and the NZ$2.95 million winner's prize. The pair finished one shot ahead of Kevin Yu of Taiwan. It was Fox's second play-off victory on the PGA Tour in less than a month. He claimed his maiden PGA title with victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina after a three-way play-off. The win qualifies Fox for this week's US Open in Pennsylvania, the third major of the year.
