Chaotic crashes caused in NASCAR race by faulty kerb on Indianapolis Speedway

In a tragic end to the NASCAR Cup Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, two major incidents were caused when the curb in the turns 5-6 double bend was removed and multiple race cars ended up crashing. 

Nine drivers were officially involved according to NASCAR. There were no injuries, according to NBC News reports.

The section of the track was first created for the inaugural IndyCar Grand Prix in 2014. The chicane acts as a shortcut to the previous interior loop design and was done to increase passing at the end of Hulman Boulevard into turn 7.

But going into the race, there was already a lot of contention about the aforementioned point on the track. After numerous cars got airborne during the doubleheader races, NASCAR removed one of the curbs, a raised edge connecting the road median and the track, in that part of the track during the end of the Xfinity Series race on Sunday. The other curbs did not appear to have been disturbed overnight.

However, during the stage breaks, marshals were seen taking sledgehammers to the curb in an attempt to keep it bolted to the ground.

But the makeshift repair could only last until the 77th lap of the 82-lap race.

After a late-race restart, a piece of debris was seen flying right following which Martin Truex Jr. spun into the tire barriers. On the very next lap, the initial few cars went across the aforementioned curb without issue until William Byron’s car hit it.

Mayhem unveiled as Byron’s car spun, followed by Kyle Busch’s car, while Joey Logano’s front splitter appeared to dig underneath the curb and launch his car into the tire barriers.

Multiple other drivers — including Daniel Suarez, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Preece — crashed after hitting the curb.

Soon a red flag was issued, but rather than mending the curb at turn 6, NASCAR and IMS quickly removed it.

Without that curb, a curb behind it was exposed and caused another incident on the re-start. Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon, Michael McDowell, Cole Custer and Martin Truex ended up crashing in the second accident.

Meanwhile, amid the madness, A.J. Allmendinger, the full-time Xfinity Series regular for Kaulig Racing who took the lead coming to the white flag and went on to claim his second career Cup victory.