Sato calls Grosjean ‘reckless’ after IndyCar practice crash

A big crash between Romain Grosjean and fellow ex-Formula 1 driver Takuma Sato in the second St Petersburg IndyCar practice session could significantly hamper Grosjean’s pole bid.

Grosjean – making his debut for Andretti Autosport this weekend – was fastest in the first practice and an immediate pole favourite in the paddock last night.

However, traffic has been a constant problem on the Florida street circuit and Grosjean was involved in a crash with his Dale Coyne Racing replacement Sato with 17 minutes of Saturday morning practice to go.

Penske’s Will Power was backing up a group of four cars at Turn 10 as they all looked to prepare a lap.

But coming down the flat out straight towards Turn 10, Grosjean failed to spot the traffic jam and couldn’t stop in time.

Early morning traffic jam at the @GPSTPETE.

The red flag is back out for an incident involving @RGrosjean and @TakumaSatoRacer.#INDYCAR // #FirestoneGP pic.twitter.com/TAHrDY8Mbs

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) February 26, 2022

He smashed into Sato, ending both drivers’ sessions.

Sato spoke to the Peacock TV coverage following the incident.

“It was a shame isn’t it, everyone is trying to make a gap,” Sato said.

“Everyone was slowing down and I had to brake.

“I don’t know what he was thinking, he was reckless. He could clearly see the cars stopped.”

Sato reported not being able to get in gear on the radio so may face gearbox issues as well as rear end damage.

Grosjean’s issues looked cosmetic, but he has lost the chance to run the soft tyre for the first time this weekend, and that will ultimately be used to set pole later in the day in qualifying.

He also walked away with bruises and had to tape his hands for qualifying.

It was a scrappy second practice session with three red flags as Jack Harvey crashed at Turn 9 earlier on, clipping the inside wall which sent him to the outside wall shortly before the Grosjean/Sato incident.

It was not the ideal way for new Rahal Letterman Lanigan driver Harvey – someone brought in with significant qualifying prowess – to prep for the later session as he too misses out on driving with the soft tyres.

These streets aren't forgiving.

Red flag is out for this @jack_harvey45 incident.

WATCH LIVE:
🦚: @PeacockTV – https://t.co/Py4Niuv2PQ
📲: INDYCAR APP – https://t.co/vyuISIgHnX#INDYCAR // @GPSTPETE // #FirestoneGP pic.twitter.com/FHb7cl3zhu

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) February 26, 2022

Shortly after the Grosjean/Sato crash and with just under 10 minutes to go, Scott McLaughlin delivered a sparkling sub-record lap of 59.734s for Penske.

Just after that stunning lap, reigning champion Alex Palou crashed into Harvey’s wall at Turn 9.

While Harvey’s crash was side-on at the corner exit, Palou went almost head-on into the Turn 9 wall in a violent impact. He has been released from the care centre, and said he went “too close to the inside wall” in an interview with Peacock.

Turn 9 strikes again.

This time it's for defending champion @AlexPalou, with a hard hit in the tricky @GPSTPETE corner.#INDYCAR // #FirestoneGP pic.twitter.com/i3rMMqqo0P

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) February 26, 2022

The session did get back underway with fierce qualifying sims taking place on the softer tyre, but few drivers improved amid debris on their tyres and a messy track following the incidents.

That meant McLaughlin led Colton Herta – who was second in yesterday’s practice too – followed by Meyer Shank’s Simon Pagenaud (having a great weekend on his team debut), Alexander Rossi and Power.

Kyle Kirkwood was the top rookie in the session, eighth for Foyt.

Practice 2 Results