1:40 P.M. UPDATE: Marcus Armstrong is cleared to drive.
UPDATE: Marcus Armstrong was seen and released from the infield care center but has not been cleared to return to the tack. He walked out of the care center under his own power and returned to the team garages.
PREVIOUSLY: Marcus Armstrong hit the Turn 1 wall hard during Saturday morning’s pre-Indianapolis 500 qualifying practice on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.
Armstrong, a 24-year-old second-year driver for Meyer Shank Racing, lost control entering the turn, struck the barrier, heavily damaging the No. 66 Honda. He was placed on a stretcher and taken to the infield care center.
IndyCar medical chief Dr. Julia Vaizer reports that Armstrong is awake and alert, but he hasn’t been cleared to drive.
Can Marcus Armstrong be replaced in Indy 500 qualifying if he is not medically cleared?
If Armstrong isn’t cleared, MSR can replace him.
Who could replace Marcus Armstrong in Indy 500 qualifying?
Meyer Shank Racing has an alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing and Linus Lindqvist under contract. Lindqvist would not require a refresher, according to IndyCar, because he drove in the last oval and could replace Armstrong.
How many crashes have there been at Indy 500 practice?
That’s the third crash in the past two days at IMS.
Kyffin Simpson was uninjured in a hit early Friday, but he didn’t get back on track as the Chip Ganassi Racing team prepared a back-up car.
Kyle Larson hit the wall later Friday, but only his front and rear wings were damaged. After his Arrow McLaren/Hendrick team replaced those, he returned to the track for a shakedown lap at slow speed. He was confident he would be ready for qualifying.
So good to see a wave and a thumbs-up from Marcus Armstrong. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/l0XTSqZPqB
A big hit for Marcus Armstrong during #Indy500 practice. pic.twitter.com/OpQvRf8WDo
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: WATCH: Marcus Armstrong hits wall hard in Indy 500 practice
Reporting by Scott Horner and Nathan Brown, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
