The 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg presented by RP Funding on Sunday was yet more evidence as to why the introduction of the Aeroscreen was so important to the sport.
The Aeroscreen which was developed by INDYCAR, PPG Aerospace, Red Bull Advance Technologies, Dallara and Pankl was introduced in the series in 2020 has proven to be extremely affective in saving drivers from serious injury.
On the opening lap of Sunday’s race, Andretti Autosport’s Devlin DeFrancesco got airborne and went over the top of AJ Foyt Racing’s Benjamin Pedersen in the No.55 Sexton Properties Chevrolet.
Pedersen escaped the incident uninjured and as INDYCAR President Jay Frye tweeted it is a result of safety innovation brought on by the Aeroscreen introduction that the Danish American was uninjured.
#Aeroscreen @IndyCar @GPSTPETE pic.twitter.com/3Bnvs8CSBV
— Jay Frye (@JayRFrye) March 6, 2023