WISH-TV & The REPORTER
AJ Foyt Racing announced on Tuesday afternoon that Sting Ray Robb was cleared to race in this week’s INDYCAR race in Toronto.
Robb was injured in a four-car crash during the last lap of the NTT INDYCAR Series race last Sunday afternoon at Iowa Speedway. The crash also involved drivers Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter and Kyle Kirkwood.
Robb went airborne after hitting the back of Rossi’s car out of turn number two. He then slid down the backstretch upside down.
Kirkwood and Carpenter each lost control their cars in an effort to avoid Robb and Rossi. They would each hit the inside wall. Carpenter’s left rear tire actually ended up on top of Kirkwood’s aeroscreen.
Rossi, Kirkwood, and Carpenter were okay. Robb was injured in the crash, the Associated Press said Monday.
Robb, a driver for A.J. Foyt Racing, was airlifted to a local hospital “out of abundance of caution for further evaluation.” He would soon be released after “further assessment at Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center.”
A post from A.J. Foyt Racing on X, formerly known as Twitter, added that “Sting Ray’s family and AJ Foyt Racing would like to extend our gratitude to the AMR Safety team for their quick response, to INDYCAR medical staff for their thorough care and INDYCAR for the high safety standards of our race cars that allowed Sting Ray to walk away from a horrific accident today. Thank you to everyone for your well wishes. We appreciate your support!”
Right before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, A.J. Foyt Racing posted another statement on X. It said, “After a final evaluation by INDYCAR Medical, we are happy to share that Sting Ray has been cleared to compete this weekend in Toronto. He’s looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the No. 41 Goodheart Vet / Pray.com Chevrolet. Thank you to everyone who’s reached out and showed their support.”
Ninety minutes later, Robb followed that up by posting the following on X: “My family and I are so appreciative of the outpouring of well wishes, support and prayers received. I’m also thankful that no other drivers were injured in that wreck and we’ve all been cleared to race in the @hondaindy.”
Robb has a local connection. He is engaged to Hamilton Heights graduate Molly Mitchell; the couple talked to The Reporter about the story of their meeting. You can read it here.
Team Penske’s Will Power ultimately won the Hy-Vee One Step 250 on Sunday afternoon. News 8 Sports’ Andrew Chernoff spoke with Power on SportsLocker Sunday and asked him to share his thoughts on the safety of the cars after hearing about the accident.
He said the cars are “significantly safer” with the aeroscreen.
“When you look at the thickness of that glass, and then also the halo device, you could call it – that big frame – that is an incredible structure to break through,” Power said. “Compared to our heads, used to just be hanging out there. Much, much safer situation.”
It was Power’s second victory of the season and moved him into second place in the current standings. He is 35 points behind Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou for the championship lead.
The NTT IndyCar Series will race on the Streets of Toronto this upcoming weekend. The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto takes place Sunday, July 21 at 1 p.m. EDT.