Caio Collet - 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented By Gainbridge - Image Credit: Penske Entertainment: Travis Hinkle
Caio Collet - 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented By Gainbridge - Image Credit: Penske Entertainment: Travis Hinkle
Jun 7, 2026, 11:00 AM CUT
IndyCar Driver “Taking Injections Every Morning” After Rough Indy 500 Crash
The crashes in the build-up to the 2026 Indy 500 and in the race itself left three drivers with serious injuries. Two drivers, Alexander Rossi and Josef Newgarden, suffered foot injuries and have since been wearing a walking boot on the injured leg and need crutches. But there was a third as well.
AJ Foyt Racing rookie Caio Collet had a fiery crash on lap 193 of 200. Exiting Turn 2, he lost traction and slammed into the outside barriers, with his No. 4 Chevrolet catching fire. However, he walked away from the crash.
Two weeks later, Collet revealed that he suffered a rib injury, which requires him to take injections every morning since. During an interaction with the media at WWT Raceway on Saturday, the Brazilian driver said:
"I have a injury on my ribs. I'm taking injections every morning before I jump in the car. Obviously, big thanks to all of the IndyCar medical team. They've been taking care of me since I touched a wall in Indy, and they've been helping with my recovery every step of the way. Because of them, I'm always able to drive here, and also last week. So a little bit of pain, but nothing that we are not used to it."
In qualifying on Saturday for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in St. Louis, Illinois, Collet managed to secure 12th place, while AJ Foyt Racing teammate Santino Ferrucci could do no better than 23rd.
But it was Alex Palou yet again who blew the minds of everyone in the paddock.
Alex Palou Shocks IndyCar Grid With 'Unexpected' Pace For Pole
The magic that Alex Palou is producing for the second consecutive season in a row is stupendous. The reigning and four-time IndyCar champion took pole position for the St. Louis race by outpacing the field by over a mile per hour in the two-lap qualifying run.
David Malukas, who went out before him, was the first driver to breach the 173-mph mark (173.244 mph) in the field of 25. Following him, championship runner-up Kyle Kirkwood also breached it (173.206 mph), but was slightly slower than Malukas.
Then came Palou, who nonchalantly breached the 174-mph mark as if he were racing among junior drivers with a monster 174.353 mph run.
"The team I have around me is incredible," Palou said after qualifying. "My car was on rails today; it was incredible. It’s the place that I’ve struggled the most so far (in my career), so hopefully (this speed) will continue tomorrow."
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver surprised himself with the run.
"I knew this morning that our car was super quick," Palou said. "But I did not really expect to get the pole here today, honestly. It’s just incredible. Super proud and can’t wait for tomorrow."
Going into the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, Alex Palou leads the IndyCar championship by 62 points over Kyle Kirkwood, the defending winner at the 1.25-mile oval.
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