They’ve built it up to be more than just another major event like the Olympics or the Super Bowl.
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On Sunday, one lucky driver will go into the history books as the victor of the 2016 Indy 500. “And, ‘Wow, that’s something, ‘” Rutherford said. To add a bit of positivity to Dixon’s 13th start position, the past four winners have started from 16th, 12th, 19th and 15th, so all is not lost.
Chasing him around the 2.5-mile oval was New Zealand teammate Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 champion, who turned in the third-best effort of 224.606. He did it in 1974, 1976 and 1980 and certainly enjoyed the trademark glass of milk in Victory Lane.
Australians Will Power and Matthew Brabham are at opposite ends of the experience scale in IndyCar racing, but each can achieve a career milestone in the sell-out 100th Indianapolis 500.
IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon poses for photos with the 1911 winning auto of Ray Harroun at the yard of bricks after winning the 2011 Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
What makes this race special? .
With its glitz and glamour, Monte Carlo will have the motorsport spotlight early on Sunday but the Monaco Grand Prix, in North America at least, will merely be a warmup act to the 100th running of what is hyped as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. It is the top of the mountain.
After three months and nearly 100 Indianapolis 500 facts, our list has come to an end.
“The history there, the tradition, this is something that is Americana”, he said. It’s a great place. It’s great in and of its own self, its own character, its own things that happen. There weren’t that many lead changes in any of the first 95 years of the race. “I’ve never really came to this place until I actually raced in 2002”, says Tony Kanaan, a Brazilian pilot for Ganassi who conquered the Brickyard in ’11.
“We’ve seen it many times if you look at (Dan) Wheldon winning from 16th in 2011, Dario (Franchitti) won from 16th in 2012 and then (Juan Pablo) Montoya went to the back of the field previous year after his incident and won”. I won the thing.
After winning the first, was the pressure off in getting the next two?
He is hardly the only big name who will have to work his way through the field, though. And you do have to have some luck.
“If we get it done”, Michael Andretti said, “if he gets it done, it would be incredible”.
Do you still have “star” status in Indy? Yes. Fortunately the fans here at the 500 don’t forget. Juan Pablo is a rare crossover race victor having won races in several different classes including NASCAR, IndyCar, CART, IRL, Formula One and Grand-Am. And that’s the way it is.
We’re in the most competitive era in race history. It’s part of the business.
What has driving the pace vehicle meant to you? “I think well be in good shape for the race”.
“We are focused on trying to grow this sport”.
As he waited for the driver’s pre-race parade to start, Hamilton looked in contemplative mood as he leant against a railing with his headphones on and a hot drink in his hand.
“Yeah (a month like this) was I what hoping for, but I’m not sure I expected it”, he said.
“Four IndyCar Championships is incredible, but a lot of the time you are introduced as an Indianapolis 500 victor”. My dad was in the Air Force and we moved around quite a bit when I was growing up.
Doug Boles says,”This is the biggest crowd that I’ve seen at the Speedway and I’ve been here for 5 years”.
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The Burg will cap the weekend in a big way with Memorial Day Spectacular featuring the World of Outlaws Winged Sprints on Monday. I am taking two of my children to this event so they may witness first-hand history being made.
