Alonso crashes in Indy 500 practice

Veteran Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso has become the first driver to crash at the 2020 running of the Indianapolis 500.

Chasing down a pack of cars, Alonso dropped a wheel onto the concrete on the inside of turn four and slid helplessly into the unforgiving walls that surround the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Following the incident, the Spaniard was checked by medics and has been given the all clear to continue with the remainder of the event.

Day 2 of practice was put to a halt after this @alo_oficial crash.

Fernando Alonso will look to rebound on Fast Friday. Watch practice on @NBCSportsGold: https://t.co/PqVUeFoq4g pic.twitter.com/xapYDsi33b

— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) August 13, 2020

Alonso said: "You lose the car, you lose the grip of the car, and this place, the walls are coming very close.

“Unfortunately, it happened again. We’ll learn from this. Nothing we can do now. Tomorrow, we’ll start again.”

Friday is known as 'Fast Friday' at the Indy 500, with the turbo boost turned up from the race setting of 1.3 bar to 1.5 as drivers adapt to the higher levels permitted in qualifying.

Alonso has admitted his move to Renault for the 2021 F1 season means this attempt at claiming victory in the Indy 500 and completing the Triple Crown will be his last for the foreseeable future.

Setting the sixth fastest time of the day, Alonso appears to be starting from a better place than in 2019 where he failed to qualify for the race.

With only 33 entrants, there is no danger of a repeat of this scenario this time around.

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