Following a messy, stacked-up start the Hollinger Racing Juncos driver was hit up the rear by Chip Ganassi Racing‘s Scott Dixon – who had already brushed wheels with a fast-starting Colton Herta (Andretti Global) as the race went green moments earlier – on the run towards Turn 1.
The nose-to-tail contact with Dixon sent Grosjean spinning out of control through the dust towards the apex of the first corner.
I have rejoined the track and slammed into the side of Rinus VeeKay‘s Ed Carpenter Racing car, which connected with Christian Lundgaard‘s Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry. Team Penske‘s Will Power dropped to last place in the melee, having taken avoiding action in the run-off area.
On his team radio, Grosjean ranted: “F**k, who did that? “Who the f**k couldn’t brake?!”
“I got hit under braking, really, really badly in the back and then the car spun,” Grosjean told NBC.
“Who is going to pay for the damage? We come here with no points on the line, we do nothing wrong and the car is completely smashed.
After watching a replay from an on-board camera, I responded: “What is that? It’s not what I signed [up] to IndyCar for.”
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photo by: Josh Tons / Motorsport Images
Dixon was given a drive-through penalty for causing the multi-car shunt and apologized to those who got caught up in it.
“There was a lot going on, that’s for sure,” Dixon said. “I thought initially Herta and I got into it, and then Grosjean went to the left – I thought he was going all the way to the left, which was going to open up the middle – but then, all of a sudden, he started to fade back to the right.
“And everyone stopped so early, a lot earlier than I thought we were going to, especially with the massive headwind that we had going on.
“Obviously I don’t want to collect anyone and I apologize to anyone who was collected in that incident. “It was all going on in a short space of time, so sometimes it happens unfortunately.”
Felix Rosenqvist claimed victory in the opening heat, and advances to the final along with Scott McLaughlin, Joseph NewgardenLundgaard, Agustin Canapino and Herta.
The second heat was won by Alex Palouwhile Marcus Armstrong, Graham Rahal, Linus Lundqvist, Pietro Fittipaldi and Alexander Rossi also reached the end.
