In the closing laps of today’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, the Rahal Letterman Lanigan-Honda driver was trying to get around Scott McLaughlin’s Team Penske-Chevrolet, while fending off Grosjean. Rahal was having to keep an eye on his fuel mileage having gone for a two-stop strategy, whereas Grosjean’s Andretti Autosport team had put him on a three-stopper, so his tires had more life.
On Lap 87, Grosjean dived down the inside of Rahal at Turn 5, the track’s primary passing point, given that it is a tight hairpin after a long straight. Rahal took an outside line, but carried more speed through the turn, and when Grosjean realized his pass had failed, his front wheels twice made contact with Rahal’s sidepod, once at the front, once at the back.
