Scott McLaughlin latest Indy 500 driver to suffer scary crash, takes chunk out of track

Scott McLaughlin crashed in Sunday’s practice session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for next Sunday’s 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500. McLaughlin got loose in Turn 2, losing control of his No. 3 Dallara DW12 Chevrolet.

The Team Penske driver hit the inside wall head-on at a high rate of speed. McLaughlin’s car was destroyed. He was able to get out of his car under his own power.

Scott McLaughlin hits the wall hard in #Indy500 practice. pic.twitter.com/N5oPmCuOVI

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2025

“Just ran a little light on downforce and I tried to finish the run,” McLaughlin said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “It was coming to the end and I was trying to make sure I got around. … I’m really sorry to my team. It kills me, but it’s a character-building day I guess you can say.”

McLaughlin, who started on the pole in last year’s Indy 500, will not get back out on the racetrack for Day 2 of qualifying. The New Zealand native will start 12th in this year’s Indy 500.

“I know my crew on pit lane — they’re surely pulling things out and working hard to make sure we’ve got a just as fast car. I know that thing was a rocketship, and I destroyed it,” McLaughlin said. “I’m sad, I’m sad for the crew, sad for my sponsors but ultimately, we’ll be back out there giving it our all again. I feel fine. I’m more sad that I saw my wife crying and nervous about me but that brings it back to real life. I wanted to get out of the car right away, so she knew I was OK.”

Scott McLaughlin, other notable drivers crash at Indianapolis

McLaughlin is one of the favorites to win the Indy 500 coming off a career-best sixth-place finish last year. The 31-year-old is winless through five races this season, tallying four top 10s.

McLaughlin’s wreck was a scary sight. Unfortunately, it’s not the only one to occur this week at Indianapolis. 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson crashed in practice on Friday. He will start 21st in the Indy 500.

Like McLaughlin, Colton Herta got loose in Turn 2 and hit the inside wall. Herta’s car flipped upside down and slid down the track. Herta rebounded from his terrifying crash on Saturday, qualifying 29th for the Indy 500.

“The only thing that transferred over was the engine, everything else was destroyed,” Herta said. “This place doesn’t scare me. I don’t have a problem hitting the wall here and having big ones like today. It doesn’t feel good, it sucks, but it doesn’t scare me when I get back in the car.”