Overview
- Rossi spun entering Turn 2 in Monday practice and struck the SAFER barrier in a three-car crash that also involved Pato O’Ward and Romain Grosjean.
- He was taken to a local hospital Monday night for outpatient procedures on his right ankle and the middle finger of his left hand and has been wearing a protective boot and using crutches.
- IndyCar doctors cleared Rossi on Thursday after he completed simulator runs, timed ingress and egress drills, and reaction tests designed to confirm pedal control and cockpit function while injured.
- Ed Carpenter Racing is assembling a backup chassis Rossi has used before and Arrow McLaren is building a spare for O’Ward, with both drivers able to keep their earned starting spots if they remain the driver.
- The final operational hurdle is Friday’s two-hour Carb Day practice or a Saturday systems check if rain forces a change, and race readiness will hinge on on-track confirmation of setup, comfort and any brace or cockpit adjustments.