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Former Indy 500 champ Simon Pagenaud miraculously uninjured after crazy multi-flip crash

Nick Profile Picby: Nick Geddes07/02/23NickGeddesNews
Simon Pagenaud
(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Former Indy 500 champion Simon Pagenaud remarkably made it out unscathed from “definitely the wildest crash” of his career during Saturday’s practice session ahead of Sunday’s race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Pagenaud lost the brakes on his No. 60 Honda in Turn 4, and went for a vicious ride through the gravel before coming to a halt in front of the tire barrier.

Pagenaud described what was going through his head during the accident while speaking with Dillon Welch of NBC Sports.

“Oh shit, it’s going to hurt,” Pagenaud said. “It was a hell of a ride for sure. Something broke, and I couldn’t slow down. I tried to make the corner anyway. I know that gravel is deadly. Michael Andretti has done it . I guess I’m joining another legend, so that’s cool, but that was just trying to bail out.

“The car took off, hit the gravel and just rolled. Just glad I didn’t go over the tire wall. So glad we have the aeroscreen. I’m really thankful for IndyCar and the aeroscreen safety.”

IndyCar Series veteran filling in for Simon Pagenaud

Indy medics didn’t clear Pagenaud to take part in qualifying, nor compete in Sunday’s race. Conor Daly, whom Ed Carpenter Racing parted ways with last month, will return to the series and fill-in for Pagenaud. Daly will start from the back of the 27-car grid.

“Obviously I have to think about Simon, you hate to see someone wreck like that,” Daly said, via Charles Bradley of Motorsport. “The most important thing is to get him as healthy as possible, as soon as possible. This is his car and his group of folks and I am here to do the best job that I can for this team. I’ve known Mike [Shank] for a long time and I’ve tested for his sports car team many years ago.

“I’ve always had a lot of respect for this organization. It’s an honor to be a part of this group and fill in – we will just do the best job that we can.”