Herta Rebounds From Indy 500 Qualifying Wreck to Make the Field; Armstrong Still Has Work to Do

Marcus Armstrong of New Zealand hits the wall in the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 17, 2025. Kirk DeBrunner/AP Photo

INDIANAPOLIS—Colton Herta began qualifying day for the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday with a trip to the infield care center after a scary wreck in Turn 1, and he ended it with a backup car that was safely in the race Memorial Day weekend.

Marcus Armstrong wasn’t quite so fortunate.