IndyCar Series driver Alexander Rossi celebrates after winning the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Munoz, five months younger than Rossi, indeed figures to have plenty more opportunities to find victory lane.
Rossi watched the 500 as a young racer in California his first memory of “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing” is Marco Andretti almost winning as a rookie in 2006 but he never had any plans to be a participant. Rossi completed the 200 laps with an average speed of 166.634 miles per hour.
The 24-year-old American knew there was milk involved, but wasn’t sure what to do with the bottle.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s really heartbreaking, to be honest”, he said in the post-race press conference.
Rossi started 11th in the field and led the race from laps 121 to 138, when he stopped for tires and fuel, and made his final stop on Lap 164.
Although hes a relief driver for Manor Racing in F1, Rossi came back to America this year to drive for Bryan Herta in a partnership with Andretti Autosport.
Rossi’s win was also the second as a auto owner for Michael Andretti, who is arguably the greatest driver in 500 history without a victory. Alexander Rossi smiles after wining the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 29, 2016.
Andretti Racing team-mate Munoz eventually came home second – his second runner-up finish in four years – with Newgarden in third ahead of veteran Tony Kanaan.
Rossi was ninth on the final restart and fearful he would not have enough fuel to reach the checkered flag. “I think this (win) has kind of cemented the fact that, A, I don’t have an issue with (oval-track racing), B, I do enjoy it, and C, I’ve fully committed to this program and being successful in IndyCar”. He clearly slowed down after taking the lead on Lap 183 in an effort to coax another two laps out of his Chevrolet engine.
The IMS sales team has identified the first-time customers at Sunday’s race, and Boles says IMS plans to market to them differently than it does the track’s lifelong customers in order to maintain a large percentage of that new audience. “The fuel strategy didn’t work out”.
Helio Castroneves had a chance to join that 4-win club on Sunday which added some drama until he faded.
“I can’t compare (the wins) other than to say I am so happy”, Herta said”.
“This is what I’m looking towards for the future, and I definitely want to finish out the year in the strongest possible way”.
Monday night, Rossi accepted a winner’s check for $2,548,743 that will be shared with the team. The overall purse for the 33 drivers was $13,273,253.
Of course, this being the Indy 500, Rossi’s fun came at the expense of a host of other competitors.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2014: Hunter-Reay did not have a good weekend, crossing the finish line 16th out of 22 drivers in the opening race.
Herta had won the Indy 500 in 2011, with Dan Wheldon, using a similar strategy.
Unfortunately for 2015 victor Juan Pablo Montoya, his race ended in retirement on Lap 63.
On lap 94, rookie Sage Karam tried to pass Townsend Bell, who showed no quarter, and Karam slid into the wall. Daly, from Noblesville, was credited with finishing 29th. He patiently worked his way back through the field and into the top 10.
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Andretti and Gaga followed the four parade cars and lead the official pace auto on three laps before the race.
