Mario unhurt after huge crash at Indy
Mario Andretti walked away from a spectacular end-over-end crash during the final minutes of Wednesday's private test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The motorsport legend's car was launched in the air when it struck debris while coming out of the first turn. The car flipped three times end-over-end along the top of the fence and miraculously landed upright, skidding to a halt in turn two.
Andretti climbed from the car, waved off the stretcher and was transported to the infield care centre. He was not injured.
"I'm very blessed," Andretti said. "The man upstairs has been taking care of me for so many years, I can't see him giving up now."
The veteran was testing the for son Michael's Andretti Green Racing team in preparation for a possible qualifying attempt for injured driver Tony Kanaan. It was his first time in a car at Indianapolis since 1994. He had recorded unofficial laps at more than 223 mph before the crash, which happened just two minutes before the end of the test session.
Andretti was following Kenny Brack when the Swede's car apparently broke and hit the wall in the first turn. Andretti struck a large piece of debris from Brack's car, lifting the nose and sending the car high in the air. Brack was also unhurt in the incident.
"It was so instantaneous," Andretti said. "Debris was still moving on the track, so it's not like the accident had been there for a second or two. I figured I'd get a tow from Kenny and put a big number up and instead, there he was."
Videotape of the wreck showed Andretti's car striking the top of the catch fence as it flipped end-over-end along the short chute. It landed on all fours and spun to a stop in turn two.
"We didn't want to end the day like this, but I don't think it was anyone's fault," Andretti said. "It's just one of those things."
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