[Updated] Armstrong Suffers Massive Shunt in Final Practice Before Indy 500 Qualifying

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief

Marcus Armstrong was involved in a hard crash in Saturday morning practice ahead of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. 

The 24-year-old New Zealander was part of the opening group of the session that split the field in half for 15 minutes of running. He was pushing through Turn 1 when his No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda bobbled slightly before snapping around and backing hard into the Safer Barrier at the exit of the corner. The impact ripped off the engine cover and rear wing as the left-rear wing folded as the car bounced off the wall and skated through the short chute before hitting the outside wall in Turn 2. 

With assistance from the AMR Safety Team, Armstrong exited the car and was placed on a stretcher and into an ambulance. He gave a thumbs up to the crowd while also holding the back of his head before being wheeled into the ambulance and sent to the Infield Care Center. He logged two laps, with a best of 218.094mph, before the incident. 

So good to see a wave and a thumbs-up from Marcus Armstrong. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/l0XTSqZPqB

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 17, 2025

The wreck comes after a promising showing in Fast Friday, where he posted the ninth-fastest time at 231.958mph (38.8655s) on the 2.5-mile mile superspeedway despite treacherous conditions. 

Armstrong becomes the third car to crash with the boost turned up, with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyffin Simpson and Arrow McLaren’s Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, also involved in solo incidents on Fast Friday. 

INDYCAR Radio reported the Meyer Shank Racing outfit was seen prepping the backup car ahead of qualifying, where Armstrong was set to roll off ninth.

Dr. Julia Vaizer, Medical Director for INDYCAR, provided an update on Armstrong:

An update on Marcus Armstrong from Dr. Julia Vaizer at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: pic.twitter.com/aRbbgCHo91

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 17, 2025

UPDATED: Meyer Shank Racing confirmed it will go to a backup car, which is the one run at road and street circuits. Additionally, Armstrong was seen and released from the Infield Medical Center but has not been cleared yet as he returned to the team’s garage area.