Alex Palou has grow to be the primary driver from Spain to win the Indianapolis 500 by holding off former Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Marcus Ericsson over the closing laps Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Palou, who has gained three IndyCar titles in 4 years — together with the final two, got here to the speedway with 4 wins via the primary 5 races. Nevertheless it was No. 6, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” that he had circled on his calendar. With out an Indy 500 win, Palou mentioned his profession resume would by no means be full.
Ericsson, the 2022 Indy 500 winner, completed second for Andretti International in a 1-2 end for Honda. David Malukas was third for A.J. Foyt Racing and the highest-finishing Chevrolet.
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Two-time defending race winner Josef Newgarden had carved his approach via site visitors from beginning on the final row into the top-10 by the eightieth lap of the race. Nonetheless, Newgarden’s bid to win three consecutive Indy 500s ended with a gasoline pump subject; no driver has ever gained from the final row.
In the meantime, Kyle Larson crashed out of the Indianapolis 500 close to the halfway level Sunday and Ryan Hunter-Reay ended the primary half on the high of the leaderboard, however didn’t get a second victory the race.
Hunter-Reay, in a one-off entry for DRR-Cusick Motorsports, gained the Indy 500 in 2014 as a driver for Andretti International. Him main Sunday with 100 laps remaining was becoming for a race that was first briefly delayed by rain after which hit with a rash of bizarre incidents.
Scott McLaughlin crashed on the warm-up lap whereas swerving to get warmth in his tires. Scott Dixon had a brake hearth earlier than the race went inexperienced after which Marco Andretti was crashed on the primary lap.
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It was harking back to the 1992 Indianapolis 500, when pole-sitter Roberto Guerrero spun out and crashed whereas additionally making an attempt to heat up his tires throughout the parade laps.
“I really have no idea what happened,” a heartbroken McLaughlin mentioned. “I can’t believe we’re out of the race. I had so much hope. It’s the worst moment of my life.”
The weird solely continued as Alexander Rossi went to pit street with smoke coming from the again of his automotive, just for it to erupt into flames and his fueler caught hearth. Rossi angrily flung his gloves over the pit street wall as he fled from the flames.
Rinus VeeKay misplaced his brakes and crashed on pit street after which Robert Shwartzman, the primary rookie to begin from the pole since 1983, misplaced management coming into his pit stall and hit a number of of his Prema Racing crew members.
“As soon as I touched my brakes, the whole front just locked and I ran into my guys,” Shwartzman mentioned. “It was really scary because when I braked, I was just a passenger.”
Shwartzman, a twin nationwide of Israel and Russia and first rookie to guide the sphere to inexperienced since 1983, made his oval debut Sunday. The 25-year-old drove below the Israel flag and is the primary Israeli within the subject.
On the following restart, Larson’s try to finish “the double” of 1,100-miles on the identical day when he was collected in a three-car collision. It ended his Indy 500 and allowed Larson to move to the airport to get to Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina in time for the Coca-Cola 600.
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“Just bummed out,” Larson mentioned. “Try to get over this quickly and get on to Charlotte and just forget about it.”
Roger Penske delivered the command for drivers to begin their engines after a 42-minute delay for rain — a pause that had already put Larson’s double try in jeopardy.
The NASCAR star had a 4 p.m. deadline to go away Indianapolis to make it to Charlotte, the place the Coca-Cola 600 is his precedence. Just one driver has ever accomplished all 1,100 miles — Tony Stewart in 2001. Larson’s bid additionally failed final yr as a result of a rain delay in Indianapolis made him miss the Coca-Cola 600.
Larson may very well be seen checking his watch from inside his automotive as he waited for Penske’s command. He’s beginning second in Charlotte and began nineteenth within the Indy 500.