NASCAR's Kurt Busch crashes during Indy 500 practice

Andretti Autosport has confirmed that Kurt Busch will drive Marco Andretti’s backup car in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 after his heavy crash in practice this afternoon. Busch’s No. 26 Andretti Autosport Honda can be fixed after its run-in with the Turn 2 wall, but the repairs will not be completed in time for Race Day. However, Busch will be able to retain his starting position of 12th under Indy 500 rule Number 8.4.3.9 (as conveniently tweeted out by INDYCAR director of communications Mike Kitchel.The 2004 NASCAR Cup champion exited the damaged car on his own and was taken to the speedway's infield care center for a mandatory examination. Before the accident, Busch had completed 56 laps of practice, with his last lap clocked at 223.433 mph. "One-hundred percent just working in traffic," Busch said. "Just trying to settle in and not make mistakes, and I just made a mistake."Maybe I didn't keep up with keeping the car underneath me. Trying to get into that rhythm and feel other things around you and I got behind on my adjustments in the car." Moyer said the team has spare cars back at the shop on Zionsville Road. Busch, a rookie in this Indianapolis 500 field, is scheduled to start 12th in Sunday's 500, but this car would seem to be destroyed. Team manager Kyle Moyer put the possible rebuilding of the car at "50-50." Using another car in this circumstance will not cost Busch his position.Busch is trying to become only the fourth driver to complete the double, joining Tony Stewart, John Andretti and Robby Gordon. “I was starting to feel comfortable," IndyCar's website quoted Busch as saying after the wreck. "That's when I made the mistake of just letting my guard down."If you're going to have [an accident] it's better to have it early in the week so there's time to work on the car, get back on your horse and get out there again," he said.