“I'm doing well,” said Armstrong, whose hit came during an hour-long practice before qualifying even began. “Obviously it was a rather large hit, but I'm feeling OK now. ... Fingers crossed we'll get out for an install (run) or even a full run if we're lucky.”
Qualifying on Saturday decides the fast 12 that will have a chance Sunday at the first four rows — and ultimately the pole — for the race on May 25. Those that qualify in spots 13-30 lock in their positions, while the slowest four cars or those that are unable to post a time Saturday go into a last-chance shootout Sunday to determine the final three spots on the 33-car grid.
Herta and Armstrong both wrecked in Turn 1, where winds gusting up to 30 mph that are largely blocked by the grandstands down the front stretch suddenly switch to behind the drivers. Herta's car hit the outside wall and then landed on its side and slid into the short chute before coming to rest, and safety crews had to work together to flip it back on its tires.
Herta needed help to reach a vehicle that took him to the infield car center, but he was released a short while later. By then, his team at Andretti Autosport was already deep into preparing a backup car to get him back on the track.
“Luckily these days these crashes look a lot scarier than they feel — not to say that one felt good,” Herta said. “There were no real signs leading to it. We were super happy with the car this morning. Went out loose and couldn't even get Lap 1 in."
Armstrong also was able to climb from his wrecked car but was immediately helped onto a stretcher. He gave a thumbs up as he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to the care center, where he was released about 90 minutes later.
The 24-year-old from New Zealand said his confidence was unshaken, despite the hard hit. And if anything, it was buoyed by the fact that his teammate, Felix Rosenqvist, posted the sixth-fastest four-lap average during his qualifying run.
“That was one of my first reactions when I got to the hospital unit. I was like, ‘I’m ready to go into (Turn 1) flat again,' maybe with a little more downforce this time. But I'm ready for it,” Armstrong said. "We have fast cars, fundamentally, and Felix was quick this morning. He did like, 234 (mph) in practice having watched me do what I did.
“We want to check that the cars are all right first and the numbers are OK," Armstrong said, "before we go do anything special.”
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Credit: AP
Credit: AP