By Allyus Fritz
I admit that I don’t consider watching any other Indy Racing League races the entire year. I’m interested in seeing who wins during the course of the season and who wins the championship, but never do I ever watch one of the races.
With that being said, I watch the Indianapolis 500 religiously. Watching it always feels like I’m reuniting with old friends, confronting old enemies, and taking part in a vibrant new chapter of history. I feel this way because the race itself is living history. Moments before the race beings, Jim Nabors sings ‘Back Home Again in Indiana” and Mari Hulman George says the six most famous words in racing.
“Ladies and Gentleman, start your engines.”
The track roars to life as Gasoline Alley erupts. The noise is deafening, yet sweet and pure. Adrenaline that each of one us didn’t know we had starts to boil and course through our veins. It’s time to race.
Sons of legends such as Graham Rahal and Marco Andretti are strapped in to vapor trail creating speed machines while the legends themselves, such as A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti, look on with intense focus. 33 drivers are about to embark on a journey that each one of them hope lasts for 500 miles. Each driver knows that in the IRL series you are not defined by championships. You are defined by what you do at Indy.
This Memorial Day weekend tradition was back again. It didn’t disappoint.
Occurrences
Clean racing was the theme of the day. There were wrecks and cautions like there always is, but the majority of the race was executed perfectly. The first caution was on lap four. J.R. Hildebrand slammed in to the wall and ended his day before it could even begin. I’m sure Hildebrand would prefer to wreck on lap four instead of on the last lap while leading the race, which he did two seasons ago.
Four women were in the starting field this year, and none of them were named Danica Patrick. Simona de Silvestro, Ana Beatriz, Pippa Mann, and Katherine Legge all had minimal luck on Sunday. Mann brushed the wall and wound up finishing where she started, in 30th position. Beatriz had the best day of all the ladies, finishing 15th.
At the halfway point A.J Allmendinger was having an incredible race. He was leading and was clearly in the zone. Allmendinger, who was racing in his first IRL race in years after losing his NASCAR due to taking Adderall, was in a fantastic position to make a surprise run. Shortly after, Allmendinger had a loose seatbelt and had to pit. Just like that, he was a lap down. 20 laps later he was back up to third! His car was one of the strongest in the field, which led to his seventh place finish.
There was a record number of lead changes Sunday. 68 lead changes were completed by 14 different drivers. In a race that is so often marred by rain and multiple crashes, we all finally got to experience a year where the majority of the race was clear and crisp. For full race results, click here.
Tony Kanaan
Kanaan has become a fan favorite and deservedly so. Each season he comes so close to winning this celebrated race only to experience heartbreak again and again. Last year he made one of the boldest moves I’ve ever seen on the track, going from fifth to first in turn one. He would lead several laps but would eventually be passed on lap 194 and would finish third.
Not this year.
Kanaan had the strongest car all race. He gradually made his way up to the front of the pack from his starting spot in the fourth row. His good friend and three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves was lurking as well, however Castroneves never made the passes he needed to in order to catch Kanaan.
After years of consistent bad luck, Kanaan was finally in the right place at the right time. Dario Franchitti crashed with three laps to go. Once race leader Kanaan got back to the finish line, there was just two laps to go, meaning he would get to follow the pace car the rest of the way to his first Indy 500 win in 12 tries. The crowd stood and cheered as he passed, knowing what winning this race would mean to Kanaan and to the sport.
No one on the track deserved to win more than Kanaan. Tears flowed as they always do in victory lane. His frustration is finally extinguished. He will no longer be known as the best driver not to win at Indy. Kanaan now has a different moniker.
Tony Kanaan: Indy 500 Champion.
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