Max Chilton crashes in practice just before Indy 500 qualifying
Former Marussia Formula 1 driver Max Chilton escaped serious injury after he shunted his Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara-Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in a rain-delayed IndyCar practice
The British driver, who is competing his first season in the series, suffered a heavy impact nose-first into the wall at Turn 2, causing a full-course caution.
Chilton went low onto the apron, lost control and did a full spin before slamming into the outside wall.
The accident happened just five minutes into Saturday morning's practice session and came after Chilton had turned a lap at 228mph.
Chilton escaped from the car uninjured and waved to the fans before returning to the paddock to be checked over by the circuit's medical team. He was evaluated and cleared to drive.
"I'm fine," Chilton said. "A bit battered and bruised.
"Your first accident on an oval is never a great one.
"The timing is pretty bad, but that's the issue with practice before qualifying.
"You just want to make sure the car is right.
"I felt like it was a little bit strong in the front but I don't have the experience to know what's too much.
"Now, I know. I know for future reference.
"It was my fault. I was driving the thing."
The crash came in the first group of the Saturday practice, which was delayed by more than three hours after downpours at the track.
Current Manor F1 reserve Alexander Rossi was the fastest driver in the session with a lap at 231.239mph in session one.
His Andretti Autosport team-mate Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner, jumped up to second-quickest at 231.107mph.
Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 winner, was third quickest behind the Andretti Dallara-Hondas in his Ganassi Dallara-Chevrolet at 230.360mph.
Penske's three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2014 IndyCar champion Will Power completed the top five.
The session, which was initially due to be a two-hour practice, was truncated to two 20 minute sessions in split groups, with the first day of qualifying having been pushed back over three hours. Only 21 of the 33 entrants chose to run in practice.
Saturday's qualifying will now finish one hour later than originally scheduled, at 7pm local time.
The session's main purpose is to split the field into the nine cars that will participate in Sunday's pole shootout and the 24-strong group that will fight for positions 10-33.
SATURDAY PRACTICE TIMES
Pos | Driver | Team | Car | Speed | Time | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alexander Rossi | Andretti Herta | Dallara/Honda | 231.249 | 38.9191s | 6 |
2 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Andretti Autosport | Dallara/Honda | 231.107 | 38.9430s | 7 |
3 | Tony Kanaan | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 230.360 | 39.0692s | 7 |
4 | Helio Castroneves | Team Penske | Dallara/Chevrolet | 230.239 | 39.0899s | 11 |
5 | Will Power | Team Penske | Dallara/Chevrolet | 229.828 | 39.1598s | 14 |
6 | Josef Newgarden | Ed Carpenter Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 229.674 | 39.1859s | 3 |
7 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Team Penske | Dallara/Chevrolet | 229.653 | 39.1895s | 9 |
8 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 229.493 | 39.2169s | 3 |
9 | Graham Rahal | Rahal Letterman Lanigan | Dallara/Honda | 228.797 | 39.3362s | 13 |
10 | Spencer Pigot | Rahal Letterman Lanigan | Dallara/Honda | 228.512 | 39.3853s | 11 |
11 | Max Chilton | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 228.359 | 39.4117s | 2 |
12 | Charlie Kimball | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 228.204 | 39.4384s | 12 |
13 | Takuma Sato | AJ Foyt Enterprises | Dallara/Honda | 227.363 | 39.5843s | 9 |
14 | Sage Karam | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 227.285 | 39.5979s | 10 |
15 | Matthew Brabham | Team Murray | Dallara/Chevrolet | 226.479 | 39.7387s | 9 |
16 | Jack Hawksworth | AJ Foyt Enterprises | Dallara/Honda | 226.397 | 39.7531s | 7 |
17 | Stefan Wilson | KVSH Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 226.341 | 39.7630s | 6 |
18 | Sebastien Bourdais | KVSH Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 225.342 | 39.9393s | 3 |
19 | Buddy Lazier | Lazier Burns Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 225.296 | 39.9474s | 13 |
20 | Alex Tagliani | AJ Foyt Enterprises | Dallara/Honda | 223.876 | 40.2009s | 3 |
21 | J.R. Hildebrand | Ed Carpenter Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet | 215.303 | 41.8015s | 6 |
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