23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Engine fire, mechanical failure and damaged water pump headline Carb Day Indy 500 practice woes
INDIANAPOLIS — Ryan Hunter-Reay felt a cold liquid on his left side as he exited the pit lane during Indianapolis 500 Carb Day practice Friday. Smoke and fire followed, and the Dreyer Reinbold Racing team calmly told their driver, 'Get out. Get out, Ryan,' as the former Indianapolis 500 champion wiggled his way out to safety.
The team has to rebuild Hunter-Reay's car for Sunday's race.
'I lost ability to downshift and turn the car off,' Hunter-Reay said on the Fox broadcast. 'When it starts filling up with smoke when I'm in fourth gear, something is going seriously wrong.'
Some of Hunter-Reay's peers didn't fare so well, either. Former Indy 500 champion Alexander Rossi reported a damaged water pump, ending his practice early Friday.
Graham Rahal had a mechanical failure on track, causing him to pull over during practice as smoke and fluid trailed his car. He will need a new engine for the Indy 500. Rahal said his car 'felt better," which is a positive he hopes to take into starting 28th in the Indy 500.
