Scott McLaughlin crashes out before Indy 500 start
Scott McLaughlin is out of the Indy 500, after a crash before the race start.
Photo: Photosport
Scott McLaughlin’s Indy 500 is over, with a dramatic crash before the race start.
McLaughlin was trying to warm up his tyres on a pace lap just before the start, when he lost control of his Team Penske car. It swerved wildly and crashed into an inside wall on the famous Indianapolis track.
McLaughlin wasn’t injured, but he was shown on the Sky television broadcast on his haunches on the ground, with his head in his hands.
At the same time, flames were seen coming from the back of fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon’s car with an apparent braking problem, but he started the race.
The onboard from the No. 3 car of @smclaughlin93 pic.twitter.com/Gc9zdnPPDs
β NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 25, 2025
McLaughlin, who was in a back-up car after crashing his main vehicle at the track last week, said he didn’t know what caused today’s crash.
“I really have no idea what happened,” McLaughlin said.
“I’m just really upset for my team. They built me a fantastic car again. I’m really sorry to my sponsors, my fans, my family. I don’t know what happened.
“I’m stillβ¦ I can’t believe we’re out of the race. I just had so much hope today. Yeah, it’s by far, the worst moment of my life.
“I know it’s probably dramatic and whatever, but I put so much into this race, everyone does, and I didn’t even get to see the green flag.”
Dixon pitted on lap 30 for apparent repairs to the braking system of his Chip Ganassi car, losing him three laps behind the field.