Fan whose car was damaged at Indy 500 by a tire that flew over the racetrack’s fence after a crash is set to be offered a brand new vehicle by for FREE by race organizers
- Cars are supposed to have a tether that keeps the wheel linked even in a wreck
- The wheel narrowly missed fans in the bleachers but it did injure one person
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The owner of the Chevrolet that was badly damaged by a loose tire that sprung off Kyle Kirkwood’s vehicle during the Indianapolis 500 is set to get a replacement, per ESPN.
A spokesperson of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway told the Indianapolis Star that Penske Entertainment, which owns the racetrack in Indiana, as well as the IndyCar series, is set to offer a new car to Robin Matthews – a race fan from Indianapolis.
Cars are usually supposed to have a tether that keeps the wheel attached even in the event of a wreck. But when Felix Rosenqvist hit the wall in Turns 1 and 2 in the closing laps on Sunday, and Kirkwood launched off the rear of his car into the catch fencing, the wheel went soaring over the fence and the corner of the grandstand prior to its landing in the parking lot, where it smashed the Chevrolet.
IndyCar owner Roger Penske said he is certain series officials will investigate what led to the wheel flying so far away from the track.
‘We haven’t had a wheel come off in a long time,’ Penske told reporters post-race. ‘We were very fortunate we didn’t have a bad accident.’
A tire sprung off the left rear of Kyle Kirkwood’s vehicle during the Indianapolis 500, Sunday
The tire flew over the stands and damaged a parked Chevy Cruze without injuring anyone
During the 1987 Indianapolis 500, one fan was killed when a tire flew into the top row of the grandstands. It had come off Tony Bettenhausen’s car, then bounced off the front of Roberto Guerrero’s car, before landing among the fans.
During a 1998 race at Michigan International Speedway involving CART – which later became part of IndyCar – Adrian Fernandez crashed and a tire and other parts flew into the stands. Three fans were killed and six others were hurt that day.
The next year, three fans were killed and eight injured at Charlotte Motor Speedway when a tire and other debris flew into the stands during an Indy Racing League event. The race was canceled, and IndyCar has not returned to the speedway.
Those incidents resulting in the development of the tethers that are supposed to keep the wheels attached.
Matthews – the owner of the Chevrolet that took the brunt of the damage- said his car, which he calls ‘snowball,’ had to be towed away because of Sunday’s incident.
IndyCar owner Roger Penske says he’s certain officials will investigate what led to the incident
Andretti Autosport driver Kyle Kirkwood’s car slides across the cement near the second turn
She was treated with a chance to kiss the yard of bricks, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles gave her a lift home.
IndyCar said one person was struck by other debris from the crash but was checked and released from the infield care center.
‘I was in this turn,’ tweeted John Green, an author from Indianapolis. ‘Hugely relieved everyone appears to be OK. Watching a wheel fly over my friends at 150 miles per hour is not an experience I’m anxious to repeat.’
Rosenqvist and Kirkwood also were uninjured in the wreck, though the latter went on quite a ride. Kirkwood went airborne after contact and landed upside down against the wall, skidding several hundred yards as sparks flew from his car.
‘That’s the scary part,’ Kirkwood said. ‘You’re upside-down and you’re kind of stuck at that point.’
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