Marcus Armstrong Cleared to Race Following Concussion Protocols

Marcus Armstrong is set to race in the Indianapolis 500 after being cleared following a heavy crash during Saturday morning practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Armstrong, who drives the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda, spun and hit the Turn 1 wall on the left-rear and left side in a hard impact that threatened to end his qualifying hopes.

The car slid to a stop but did not flip or lift off the ground, unlike the frightening incidents that involved Kyffin Simpson and Colton Herta earlier in the week. After the accident, Armstrong was removed from the car on a stretcher and taken to the infield care center.

He was sitting up and gave a thumbs up as he was escorted away, which was a positive sign. However, he was not immediately cleared to drive and entered concussion protocols while being evaluated by IndyCar’s medical team.

Dr. Julia Vaizer, the chief medical officer for IndyCar, said Armstrong was awake and alert but stressed that every precaution would be taken before making any decision about his return. For more details on IndyCar’s safety protocols, visit the official IndyCar website. While Armstrong underwent medical checks, the Meyer Shank Racing team began preparing a backup car.

The team pulled out their road course car from the previous Indy GP event and worked quickly to ready it for action. The process lasted nearly five hours as they made adjustments, hoping to give Armstrong a chance to rejoin qualifying before the session ended.

Late in the afternoon, Armstrong received clearance from IndyCar’s medical officials to return to competition. Speaking afterwards, Armstrong said, “I’m doing well. Obviously, it was a rather large hit, but I’m feeling okay now. Fingers crossed we can maybe get out for an install lap or even a full run if we’re lucky.”

Armstrong remained upbeat and mentioned he was “ready to go into Turn 1 flat again,” though he noted he might use a little more downforce on the car for extra grip. Armstrong’s crash came less than a day after Colton Herta’s car flipped upside-down during qualifying, and just one day after Kyffin Simpson went airborne in practice.

Both drivers escaped serious injury. Armstrong’s teammate, Felix Rosenqvist, expressed concern for Armstrong but was encouraged by updates that he was doing well and expected the team to recover quickly. For further insights into driver safety in motorsports, check out the FIA’s safety initiatives.

With medical clearance secured, Armstrong’s focus turns to getting the backup car on track for at least a systems check lap before the day ends. The team’s effort showed strong support and quick response under pressure.

Armstrong’s goal is now to qualify for the iconic Indy 500 and regain his momentum after a challenging morning. Fans at the Speedway and those following at home will be watching closely to see if Armstrong can complete his comeback in time for Sunday’s qualifying grid. For more information about the history of the Indianapolis 500, visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s official page.