FORT WORTH - Gabby Chaves is “not sure” what happened to cause his No. 19 Boy Scouts of America Honda to spin and crash into the Turn 4 wall in the opening minutes of the Verizon IndyCar Series first practice at Texas Motor Speedway.
“Just working up to speed,” Chaves told NBCSN’s Katie Hargitt after being cleared from the infield car center. “Felt like I hit a bump and the rear came up and came around.”
Chaves had only recorded four laps when his car appeared to hit the apron in Turn 3 before spinning around and backing into the wall. The car then slid to the edge of the front stretch grass after impact.
“I can’t tell how hard of a hit it was,” said the Dale Coyne Racing driver. “I feel fine, but it’s a bit shocking. My first real crash. I’m just kind of processing it.”
.@GabbyChaves' @DaleCoyneRacing machine is back in the garage. The team will work to fix it in time for quals. pic.twitter.com/FhBNQsk1Hv
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) June 10, 2016
Chaves has started in four races so far for Dale Coyne Racing this season, beginning with the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
The best finish through those races for the 2015 Rookie of the Year is 12th in the first race of the Detroit doubleheader last weekend.