sport news Fan with car damage by Indianapolis 500 tire is set to be offered a brand new ... trends now

View
comments

The owner of the Chevrolet that was badly damaged by a loose tire that sprung off Kyle Kirkwood's vehicle during the Indianapolis 500 is set to get a replacement, per ESPN.

A spokesperson of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway told the Indianapolis Star that Penske Entertainment, which owns the racetrack in Indiana, as well as the IndyCar series, is set to offer a new car to Robin Matthews - a race fan from Indianapolis. 

Cars are usually supposed to have a tether that keeps the wheel attached even in the event of a wreck. But when Felix Rosenqvist hit the wall in Turns 1 and 2 in the closing laps on Sunday, and Kirkwood launched off the rear of his car into the catch fencing, the wheel went soaring over the fence and the corner of the grandstand prior to its landing in the parking lot, where it smashed the Chevrolet. 

IndyCar owner Roger Penske said he is certain series officials will investigate what led to the wheel flying so far away from the track. 

'We haven't had a wheel come off in a long time,' Penske told reporters post-race. 'We were very fortunate we didn't have a bad accident.'