The Indy 500 recognized late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch days after his death.
“As the drivers exit turn four … on lap 18, we remember Kyle Busch,” an announcer said during the Sunday, May 24, race, while being honored on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s scoring pylon.
The moment was shared via INDYCAR on FOX’s official X account, with a caption that read, “A tribute to Kyle Busch on Lap 18 of the Indy 500.”
Driver Romain Grosjean also honored Busch on Sunday while driving a No. 18 car on behalf of Dale Coyne Racing. The vehicle featured the same font that Busch used while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR.
On Wednesday, May 20, Busch reportedly “became unresponsive” while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, according to the Associated Press. News broke the following day that Busch had been hospitalized.
“Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization,” the Busch family said in a statement shared on Thursday, May 21. “He is currently undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We ask for understanding and privacy as our family navigates this situation.”
Hours before his death, a 911 call obtained by TMZ revealed that Busch was at a training facility in North Carolina when he suffered a medical emergency.
“I’ve got an individual that’s shortness of breath, very hot. [He] thinks he’s going to pass out, and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood,” the caller said, noting that Busch was still “awake” and conscious. “He’s on the bathroom floor right now.”
NASCAR confirmed on Thursday that the athlete died at age 41. He is survived by his wife, Samantha Busch, and their two children.
“We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers,” NASCAR said in a statement via X. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community.”
On Saturday, May 23, a rep for the family confirmed to NBC News that Kyle died of pneumonia that progressed “into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications.”
Kyle’s final race was the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 17 at Dover International Speedway. He finished in 17th place. “You never know when the last one is,” he told reporters after the race.
He was set to race at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, but pulled out due to his hospitalization.
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