Rossi’s shunt after 15 minutes was a strange one, the car fishtailing viciously on the exit of the final turn, despite not initially riding the curbs. The #27 Andretti car, which had been seventh fastest up to that point went onto the grass and smacked an unprotected part of the barrier, most heavily with its right-rear corner.
The top of the rear attenuator was torn off, and thrown across the track just as Rossi’s team-mate Helio Castroneves arrived on the scene, and the right-front tyre rode over the carbonfiber shard, picking up a puncture. Due to an IndyCar regulation meant that Castroneves would have to sit out the restarted session for five minutes, since he had required a tow-in.
