Ross Chastain’s race ended early during the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after the driver was involved in an on-track incident. The Ross Chastain Indianapolis crash incident occurred when contact from Michael McDowell sent Chastain into the wall in Turn 3, abruptly cutting short his outing.
Details Surrounding Chastain’s Early Exit
Ross Chastain, driving for Trackhouse Racing, found his day cut short when he hit the wall in Turn 3. Replays indicated that Michael McDowell’s car made contact with the back of Chastain’s vehicle during the corner. Chastain confirmed the contact, stating,
“I went into Turn 3 and think I got ran into,”
—Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Driver. Chastain also reflected on the challenging weekend for his team, adding,
“Tough weekend for our Busch Light Lime Chevy. Felt the same balance wise and grip wise as the next couple cars in front of us. Just plugging along and yeah, we’ll take this one and go to Iowa.”
—Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Driver.
Chastain, who started from the 33rd position, was running 34th at the time of the crash. The incident cemented a disappointing outing at the so-called Racing Capital of the World, leaving Chastain with a last-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event was a significant setback for both Chastain and the Trackhouse Racing team.
Reactions from Michael McDowell After the Collision
The incident drew immediate reaction from Michael McDowell, the Spire Motorsports driver involved in the contact. McDowell responded over the team radio, expressing regret for the outcome.
“Darn it, man. Didn’t mean to do that,”
—Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Driver. He added,
“Just didn’t think he’d jump on the binders that hard.”
—Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Driver. While McDowell acknowledged his mistake, the result left Chastain with no chance to recover during the race.
What This Means Moving Forward
The Ross Chastain Indianapolis crash incident serves as another dramatic moment in the ongoing NASCAR season, affecting Chastain’s points standing and momentum. For Michael McDowell, the acknowledgment of error may prompt heightened attention in similar high-pressure scenarios. Chastain and his team now turn their focus to the next race in Iowa, hoping to rebound after a tough weekend at one of racing’s most iconic venues. As the series continues, both drivers will look to move forward following a tense incident at the Brickyard 400.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Ross Chastain hit the wall?
A. There was a conflict involving Denny Hamlin, and NASCAR stepped in, telling him he had already shown his displeasure. During the same race, Chastain collided with Chase Elliott, causing Elliott to spin out. After the race restarted, Elliott nudged Chastain into the wall, while Hamlin executed a close pass to show his irritation again.
Q. What is the Ross Chastain rule?
A. On Tuesday, NASCAR shared several new rules for the 2023 season. One significant change bans the exciting wall-riding move used by Ross Chastain last fall at Martinsville, known as “Hail Melon.”
