IndyCar provides update on Alexander Rossi after multicar crash

Ed Carpenter Racing driver Alexander Rossi (20) puts his helmet on Monday, May 18, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

IndyCar provides update on Alexander Rossi following multicar crash during Indy 500 practice

By Clark Dalton | Last updated May 18, 2026 5:05 PM ET

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2016 Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi wrecked during practice for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" on Monday.

Rossi (Ed Carpenter Racing) lost control in Turn 2 of the four-turn, 2.5-mile oval track, colliding with Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward. Dale Coyne Racing's Romain Grosjean was also involved in the wreck.

IndyCar provides update on Alexander Rossi

Rossi was awake and alert after the crash, but he's being taken to a local hospital for further testing, per IndyCar medical director Dr. Julia Vaizer. O'Ward and Grosjean, meanwhile, have both been cleared.

"Man, we were going so fast, and you know all these cars are all on a knife's edge — at least mine is — and that's how you got to run it if you want to be competitive," O'Ward said after exiting the medical center (per Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass). "And when you want to be there in the middle of the pack, these risks can happen. And it was just the wrong place, the wrong time, and I'm just glad everybody involved is all right."

A big incident in Indy 500 Practice as Alexander Rossi hits the wall. Pato O'Ward also involved. pic.twitter.com/gqK1ceUfVS
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2026

UPDATE: Alexander Rossi is being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, per Dr. Julia Vaizer, INDYCAR medical director. https://t.co/XwpZdnzA2S
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 18, 2026

Rossi first hit the wall, and then O'Ward hit him while he was spinning. Grosjean crashed while trying to maneuver through the mayhem.

"I saw Rossi spinning, and it's really tough to stop these cars, especially in the middle of a corner when you smash on the brake," O'Ward said. "It's obviously very heavy rearward [where the hybrid power unit is located] and really didn't have a lot of stopping power with how we all run the brakes."

What happens next for Alexander Rossi, Pato O'Ward?

Rossi qualified second for the Indy 500 behind Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou, with an average speed of 231.99 mph. O'Ward, meanwhile, is set to start in sixth after qualifying (average speed of 230.442 mph). Neither will have to start in the back row during the 110th running of the race on Sunday (Fox, 12:30 p.m. ET), as both teams are expected to switch to backup cars.

The last practice session before the race is scheduled for Friday (11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET). Rossi and O'Ward will aim to avoid another accident during that test run. Neither wants to jeopardize their chances of winning the race.

Both are among the favorites to win it. As of Monday, DraftKings Sportsbook gives O'Ward the second-best Indy 500 odds (+600) and Rossi +800 odds, tied for the fourth best.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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