Erik Jones experienced a dramatic setback during the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ending his day early after a sudden tire failure forced him out of the race. The Erik Jones Indy tire failure incident not only halted his strong run but also marked the third time this season he has not finished a Cup Series event.
Details Emerge from Erik Jones After High-Speed Crash
During Sunday’s Cup Series event at Indianapolis, 29-year-old Erik Jones began with momentum, having secured a third-place starting spot in the qualifiers. Despite this promising position, the Michigan-born driver faced disappointment after his right front wheel detached during Turn 3 on Lap 89, causing his Legacy Motorsports No. 43 car to crash into the outer wall and eliminating his chance to compete further in the Brickyard 400.
Reflecting on the frightening event with reporters after the race, Jones recounted the moments leading up to and immediately following the failure. He explained that he was unharmed but still shocked by the sudden loss of control at such a high speed.
First-Hand Account: Split Seconds Before the Wheel Failure
Jones described the scenario as both intense and disappointing. He explained that his team had done extensive work on pit road before the accident, which might have played a role in the failure.
“So, I saw him just hang up for it for a second on pit road and then, you know, went into three and immediately knew it was going to come off. So, you know, it was less of a hit than I thought, which is good. So, I feel fine. Happy about that. But just disappointing. Just fast car.”
—Erik Jones, Driver
On the restart, Jones found himself in a tough battle with Josh Berry, further complicating his race strategy and setting a challenging tone for the incident that unfolded.
“Just crossed up on that restart there with the 21 (Josh Berry). He missed a shift, and we’re just trying to work our way back, and it’s gonna take the rest of the race, but just wanted to have a shot, you know, we don’t get to see where it worked out.”
—Erik Jones, Driver
Jones noted he realized trouble was imminent only moments before the tire actually left the car, emphasizing how quickly things turned for the worse as he entered the turn.
“No, not other than knowing that they had taken some on pit road on it. Soon as I turned though, you know, it didn’t turn at all. So, yeah, just came off.”
—Erik Jones, Driver
Performance Leading Up to the Incident
Jones showed strong pace throughout the Indianapolis weekend, notably placing second in both top speed and five-lap average during practice for the race. He had also been running well in recent events and seemed poised for a solid finish, making the abrupt end even more difficult to accept.
Although the pit road repair may have contributed to the wheel’s detachment, Jones emphasized that some factors, such as restarts and missed shifts by other cars, are unpredictable in racing.
“It’s great, I mean, I’d love to have speed. Got to do everything right, and we just didn’t. The restart wasn’t on us obviously. Miss shift, but just didn’t work out.”
—Erik Jones, Driver
Jones’ Season So Far and What Lies Ahead
This result marked Erik Jones’ highest starting position of the 2025 Cup Series season but also his fourth DNF at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in six races there. Despite these setbacks, he remains 22nd in the overall standings, with two top-five finishes this year and a previous second-place result at IMS to his name.
The Erik Jones Indy tire failure incident is likely to prompt discussions within Legacy Motorsports regarding pit procedures and wheel security. As the Cup Series continues, Jones will aim to rebound from this wrenching setback and capitalize on his car’s evident speed in races to come.
