Alexander Rossi, who didn’t know four months ago he would even race in the IndyCar Series, stretched his final tank of fuel just long enough Sunday to win a wild 100th Indianapolis 500.
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The Indianapolis Children’s Choir was tabbed to sing “God Bless America” before Darius Rucker performed the national anthem for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Well, he’ll remember it.
The caution flew for the second time of the day on Lap 64 when Juan Pablo Montoya spun out coming out of Turn 2. Herta won in 2011 with the late British racer Dan Wheldon and felt his former driver’s spirit as he looked and pointed to the heavens.
Whatever the young man does the rest of his career, he will be bathed in immortality, not necessarily for having the fastest vehicle or coming from behind on the final lap to overcome the leader, but for surviving, for sticking around until the end. He landed one with Andretti Autosport for the 2016 IndyCar season, and had a best finish of 10th place heading into Sunday’s race.
“If I was in Alex’s position, I’d be the happiest person in the world right now, I wouldn’t care how we won the damn race”, Newgarden said.
We’re just pleased that we saw such a thrilling race, and that nobody got hurt going at those breakneck speeds. Almost 400,000 fans packed into the old speedway to see the centennial race, and they cheered Penske as he sped by behind the wheel of the Camaro.
“Alexander has a lot of things going for him”. His team struggled to find speed in Indy all month and he pulled into the pits during the parade lap. Tony Kanaan 5. Charlie Kimball 6. There was no damage to either of their cars but race stewards penalized Power, shuffling him to the back of the field.
The next event at IMS is the Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational from June 16-19, featuring classic Indy cars, stock cars, sports cars and more on the oval and 2.439-mile IMS road course. He was fortunate nobody else collided with him. He sat in the vehicle for some time before climbing out to take that sweet sip of milk. Shoot, just having an opportunity to be here with as good of a vehicle as I did, not many people experience that.
“I think Honda’s done a good job”, he said. He added, “I have no doubt it’s going to change my life”.
The crowd got a treat witnessing the local kid Bryan Clauson lead the 100th lap of the race’s 100th running. Eventually, the two drivers had to pit for fuel, putting Castroneves back into the lead.
Thirty-six laps on that final stint.
By then Helio Castroneves had clawed his way into the lead while trying to become the fourth four-time victor. The unlikely win allowed the long-suffering Andretti family to celebrate in the biggest race of their storied careers and it left the top drivers in the field fuming over Rossi’s good fortune. “It’s been a new experience for me”, said Rossi. If I’m honest, I want to know what he did. “I was really disappointed to get second. It’s a race that’s so important”, said Castroneves, who had talked about delivering on Penske’s 50th anniversary.
He did it! It was another thrilling race as the Indianapolis 500 showcased the best that racing has to offer once again on May 29.
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Wilson’s younger brother, Stefan Wilson, was also running in this year’s Indy 500.
