Billy Boat brutal crash at Indy 500 (May 10, 2003) ALL ANGLES & PICS
Billy Boat spun coming out of the 4th turn and continued spinning as the car came down the front straight. The back of Billy's car slammed hard into a plastic foam block padding the concrete wall between pit road and the track. Billy Boat's car went airborne, spun around and came to a quick stop near the outside retaining wall. The crash occurred shortly before heavy rain postponed the start of qualifying for the race.
Billy Boat, the pole-winner in 1998, was helped out of the car after the accident. Boat was transferred by ambulance from the track's infield medical facility to Methodist Hospital for further evaluation. Boat was awake and alert.
William Leonard "Billy" Boat (born February 2, 1966) is an American former open-wheel driver who raced in the Indy Racing League. Boat began his career in USAC where he won 11 straight Western Series races on his way to the 1995 championship. He won the Turkey Night Grand Prix midget car race in 1995. He was a three-peat winner in the event after winning in 1996 and 1997. He made his first IRL start in 1997 Indianapolis 500 driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises. In 1998 he won 6 poles, including 5 in a row, both league records, and won his first race at Texas Motor Speedway. It was his only IRL victory. He is one of the few drivers with the distinction to have started from both the pole (1998) and final 33rd (2000, 2001) starting position in the Indy 500. He has not appeared in an IRL race since the 2003 Indianapolis 500.
Billy Boat, the pole-winner in 1998, was helped out of the car after the accident. Boat was transferred by ambulance from the track's infield medical facility to Methodist Hospital for further evaluation. Boat was awake and alert.
William Leonard "Billy" Boat (born February 2, 1966) is an American former open-wheel driver who raced in the Indy Racing League. Boat began his career in USAC where he won 11 straight Western Series races on his way to the 1995 championship. He won the Turkey Night Grand Prix midget car race in 1995. He was a three-peat winner in the event after winning in 1996 and 1997. He made his first IRL start in 1997 Indianapolis 500 driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises. In 1998 he won 6 poles, including 5 in a row, both league records, and won his first race at Texas Motor Speedway. It was his only IRL victory. He is one of the few drivers with the distinction to have started from both the pole (1998) and final 33rd (2000, 2001) starting position in the Indy 500. He has not appeared in an IRL race since the 2003 Indianapolis 500.