Alexander Rossi would have been cursing his luck when his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet started smoking when he entered the pit road on Lap 92 of the 110th Indy 500 on Sunday.

A crash in practice six days before the race forced Rossi to use a backup car for the Indy 500. He was starting on the front row, having been rapid through the build-up to the race. The crash on Monday sent Rossi to the hospital, where he had minor surgery to fix broken bones in his ankle. He also sustained an injury to a finger on his left hand.

However, that turned out to be the least of his concerns on race day. Speaking to Bob Pockrass on Monday ahead of the Indy 500 Victory Celebration, Rossi said:

"It’s pretty disappointing to be on fire twice in a row and not finish two Indy 500s through things that I can't control. But it's the way this sport works. Huge thanks to ECR for building an incredible race car to give us a shot out there yesterday, and it could have been a great day, an amazing story, but it wasn’t meant to be."

Alexander Rossi's No. 20 ECR Chevy had caught fire in the pit lane in 2025 as well, though not for the same reason. His frustration was unparalleled last year, as he threw his gloves after getting out of the car.

Having won the race in 2016, Rossi was looking to double up on the 10th anniversary of that triumph. Alas, it was not to be.

Nonetheless, he walked away a hero. After the practice crash, the 34-year-old was walking on crutches whenever he was outside the car. But when asked how he felt in the car, he said, "Felt great in the car." 

The practice crash happened after Rossi lost the car going into turn 2 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, slamming into the outside barrier and scraping off it before his car started moving infield. As his car rolled down the track, it collected Pato O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren.

Are Injuries A concern for Rossi Heading into Detroit?

The IndyCar grid rolls on from the iconic 2.5-mile IMS oval to the grueling street course in Detroit. With an injured right ankle and injuries to a finger on his left hand, Alexander Rossi has cause for concern. 

Both injuries were easier to manage in Indianapolis, given the oval circuit’s low demand for breaking and vibrations. However, Detroit isn't easy on the body. The 90-degree turns and massive vibrations caused by the bumpy circuit are sure to run straight up his steering wheel. Rossi needs to put in a massive shift to be competitive in Detroit. 

He will also be careful that the injuries don’t get aggravated, prolonging the time taken to get to full fitness. However, the man who got out of his car and straight onto his crutches says there’s nothing to worry about.

When Pockrass signaled that Rossi had shown concern about Detroit even before the race in Indianapolis during one of the media sessions, Rossi's reply was short and simple. 

"I don’t think I’ve once been concerned about any of this, quite frankly," he said.

The ECR driver is clearly not as concerned as others are for him. His drive for 93 laps at the Indy 500 with the ankle injury showed just why racers are built differently.

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Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Yask Kotak