Alexander Rossi’s Indy 500 Hopes Burn Out in Dramatic Pit Stop Fire

Indianapolis 500 fans witnessed a heart-wrenching turn of events as Alexander Rossi, a former champion, saw his race end in a blaze of misfortune. Competing fiercely at the front on Lap 73, Rossi’s No. 20 car began leaking fluid, creating chaos for trailing driver Alex Palou. As Rossi pulled into the pits, hoping for a quick fix, his car erupted in flames, forcing a frantic exit from the cockpit. Crew members scrambled, dousing the fire as Rossi, visibly frustrated, tossed his gloves to the ground.

The pit crew’s fueler, Mike Miller, also caught fire but was quickly attended to and reported okay. Rossi later shared his disappointment, noting the car’s stellar performance and the team’s bold strategy to stay out during a critical race split. 'It’s gut-wrenching,' Rossi told reporters. 'Everything was clicking—until it literally went up in smoke.' He pointed to a rising gearbox temperature as a likely culprit for the fiery fiasco.

Rossi, who claimed Indy 500 glory in 2016, has been a consistent contender, finishing fourth in 2024 and fifth in the prior two years. Yet, this incident underscores the cruel unpredictability of motorsport, where triumph and disaster are often a spark apart.