Indycar Series driver Tom Blomqvist (66) and Marcus Ericsson (28) crash on the the first lap during the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Big crash ensues on Lap 1 of 2024 Indianapolis 500

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated 5/26/24

A former Indy 500 winner and a 2024 Indy 500 rookie are already out of the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Going through turn one on Lap 1 of the 2024 Indianapolis 500, rookie Tom Blomqvist hit the curb on the inside of the corner, snapping Blomqvist’s No. 66 Honda loose.

2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson was an innocent bystander, running into Blomqvist’s car on the exit of Turn 1. Ericsson’s car briefly went sideways in the air before finally slamming back down on the surface of the racetrack.

TROUBLE right at the start!

Multiple cars involved in a Lap 1 incident!

: #Indy500 on NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/7jXuG3oJ1F
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 26, 2024

The No. 30 car of Pietro Fittipaldi was always caught up in the incident, pirouetting down the straightaway before finally straightening up heading into turn two.

The incident ends the days of both Blomqvist and Ericsson, who both had an uphill climb to the front facing them. Blomqvist was making his first start in the Indianapolis 500, while Ericsson was looking for his second Indianapolis triumph, following his victory in 2022, when he became the second Swedish driver to ever win the race.

Blomqvist will have to wait another year to attempt the Indianapolis 500 again, and his early crash will likely make the long wait that much more agonizing.

More must-reads: