Nelson Piquet smashed head-on into the concrete barrier that surrounds the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Piquet suffered multiple fractures of both lower legs and feet as well as a concussion.
The Brazilian, driving here for the first time after winning three Grand Prix titles, had been the fastest rookie most of the week and had posted his fastest lap, 228.571 m.p.h., just before he lost control of his Lola-Buick. The car did a complete spin as it slid 400 feet before slamming into the wall coming out of the fourth turn.
Replays of the accident indicated that something either fell off Piquet's car or that he ran over something going down the back straightaway. After going through the third turn without incident, the car suddenly lost traction in turn four when Piquet abruptly took his foot off the pedal to enter the pit lane, which resulted in his hitting the wall and Piquet became merely a passenger. The car hit with such impact that the rear end lifted before it spun away from the wall and skidded another 760 feet before coasting to a stop near the entrance to the pits.
Piquet was airlifted to Methodist Hospital, where Terry Trammell, the official Indy car orthopedic surgeon who has pieced together broken legs and feet for Mears, Scott Pruett, Shirley Muldowney, Danny Ongais and numerous others, began surgery immediately.
Piquet attempted to race in the Indy car series and was hired by Team Menard to drive in the 1992 Indianapolis 500. He had taken to the track well, and appeared comfortable driving at high speeds despite never before racing on an oval.
He returned after rehabilitation in 1993 and managed to qualify. He started in 13th position, but finished in 32nd, dropping out with engine problems after only 38 laps.
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