Alonso first driver to crash in Indy practice!

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Fernando Alonso opened up the crash tally for the 2020 Indy 500, the Spaniard hitting the wall on the exit of Turn 4 on the second day of practice at the Speedway.

Fortunately, the Arrow McLaren SP driver emerged unhurt from the mishap that occurred when Alonso put his left-front wheel below the white line in Turn 4, making contact with the kerb the separates the track from the grass.

Alonso enjoys productive opening day at Indy

The #66 Dallara then made heavy contact with the outside wall before drifting down the track and coming to rest at the top of the pitlane, its front-right corner destroyed.

It was Alonso's second crash in consecutive years in practice at Indy, the 39-year-old wrecking his car at Turn 3 in 2019.

"You lose the car, you lose the grip of the car, and this place, the walls are coming very close," Alonso commented after his mishap.

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

Alonso had clocked in fifth on the opening day of running at the Brickyard, while NTT Indycar Series leader Scott Dixon led the field on Thursday with an average speed of 226.102 mph.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.