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IndyCar Driver Escapes Scary Incident as Car Catches on Fire During Indianapolis 500

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mathey Gibson | Last updated May 25, 2025 4:02 PM ET

Veteran IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi is out of the 2025 Indianapolis 500 after a scary fire broke out on pit road during Lap 74.

According to the Fox broadcast, Rossi’s car suffered a gearbox issue that led to flames erupting near the rear of the vehicle while he was stopped with his crew.

The fire was quickly extinguished by track safety personnel, and Rossi exited the car safely.

No injuries were reported, though several pit crew members were doused in fire retardant as a precaution.

Rossi’s early exit marks a disappointing end to his 2025 Indy 500 bid, especially after he qualified with solid speed earlier in the week.

The 2016 winner had been seen as a dark horse contender coming into Sunday’s race.

Another look at the pit road fire for an extremely frustrated Alexander Rossi.#Indy500 on FOX pic.twitter.com/bLSZ2YAJsC
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025

“Fortunately Mike (the mechanic) is fine, it's a terrible situation, I'm disappointed, the car was amazing. ... Everything we were doing was amazing; this is the difficult thing about this place, in a moment everything changes."

The chaotic scene was part of an already wild start to the 109th running of the Indy 500.

Earlier, Scott McLaughlin crashed on the pace lap, forcing him out before the green flag even dropped.

Just a few minutes later, Marco Andretti was involved in a Lap 4 crash, ending his day prematurely as well.

The low temperatures and track conditions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway appear to be creating a challenging environment for drivers and crews.

Mechanical failures and unforced errors have already shaped the early stages of the race.

With Rossi’s departure, the field loses one of its most experienced contenders — and the 2025 Indy 500 continues to deliver drama with over 100 laps still to go.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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