Romain Grosjean hits bird during Indianapolis 500 open test, but he avoids disaster

During Indianapolis 500 open testing on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, driver Romain Grosjean struck a bird while traveling approximately 230 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The impact left debris on his helmet, race suit, and inside the air vents, requiring a pit stop for cleaning and an inspection of his No. 18 Honda for damage. Grosjean, a three-time Indy 500 veteran, was unharmed and compared the incident to a 2018 Formula 1 event where he hit a groundhog on track.