Third Indy 500 Crash Delays Qualifying Rounds; Prompts Changes at the Track

After a third car flipped during the practice races, qualifying rounds for the Indy 500 have been postponed. 

Sports Illustrated reports that qualifying rounds were moved to 3:15 p.m. E.T. from the original time of 10:00 a.m. E.T. to accommodate necessary safety precautions after the accident. 

According to ESPN, Ed Carpenter's car flipped over and crashed into the wall during the second round of the Indy 500 practice race. This crash was similar to what both Helio Castroneves and Josef Newgarden experienced a few days ago. None of the drivers were seriously injured.

Since all three drove Chevrolet cars, a closed-door meeting was held between the Indy Series officials and the team owners of the Chevrolet-powered racers to fix the damage done to the catch fence.

Chevrolet's U.S. Vice President, Jim Campbell, asserted that safety is the company's top priority. He added that they are continually reviewing all possible data to come up with a solution.

Following the meeting, Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman and Company, which is the parent company of IndyCar, required racers to qualify using the same setup of car that they would be using during the Indy 500. They would also be running race-level aerodynamics and engine boost in an effort to reduce speed and increase downforce. In light of the recent changes, officials have decided that no award points will be given for the weekend's qualifications.

According to ABC News, Honda drivers were not happy about the said changes. Honda issued a statement that while they fully support all efforts for safety, they are unhappy about having to make last-minute changes to their cars for a problem they see as something uniquely Chevrolet's. 

A report by Canada.com notes that Chevy cars dominated the early part of the season. Among the top ten fastest qualifiers, only two drove Honda cars. With the new change in regulation, Honda drivers think that whatever gap they closed and edge they gained heading into qualifying, are now gone.

One of Honda's racers, Graham Rahal, thinks that the changes are playing right into Chevrolet's hands. He thinks that the changes would only benefit Chevy cars as Honda cars are required to adjust despite having no reported troubles. "It's their problem with the aero-kits lifting that really forced the issue in the first place," Rahal says. "So, I don't fully understand why Honda should be penalised for that."