The greatest spectacle in racing set in the heart of Indiana ran it's 97th race today. For generations this is the race that young boys and girls dream of racing. You could say it is the icon of motorsports. And each year only one driver comes out the winner and this year it was Brazil native Tony Kanaan. A man who has waited 12 long, hard years to cross the yard of bricks first.
Tony Kanaan was a factor in today's Indianapolis 500 from the very start. Well into the
race he had made no adjustments to the car and was continuing to be one of the fastest.
It was obvious that the ending of this race was going to be a mystery. With a record number of 68 lead changes between 14 drivers, it left the audience in awe. Any of the top 10 cars could have ended the day in victory lane. It was, in my opinion, the greatest Indy 500 I have ever watched. Between the diversity of leaders and the passion flowing from the track, you could tell it was going to end with a fight. This race means everything to all of the drivers who get the opportunity to race it and today it was Tony Kanaan's turn.
The final 10 laps were balancing between Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay. No one knew who it was going to be in the end. During a late restart with about 5 laps to go, Tony Kanaan made the move of the race by sweeping down the track to pass Ryan Hunter-Reay for the lead. Shortly after Kanaan took the lead another caution came out involving 4-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti. This would automatically give Tony Kanaan the win since IndyCar allows races to finish under a yellow flag (unlike NASCAR) and there were only 3 laps until the checkered. Kanaan cruised the final 3 laps behind the pace car knowing he was now an Indy 500 Champion. He said it was the longest lap in his entire life and he just wanted to pace car to speed up.
Rookie Carlos Muntoz finished an impressive 2nd in his first ever IndyCar race and last year's champion, Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 3rd. AJ Allmendinger, former CART driver and NASCAR driver (after being suspended last year) finished 7th in his first Indy 500 driving one of Roger Penske's Chevrolets.
The wreath of flowers and legendary bottle of milk was waiting for Tony Kanaan in victory lane. You could see the emotion in the eyes of him and his team. This is the race every IndyCar driver dreams of winning, just as every NASCAR driver dreams of winning the Daytona 500. With such a legacy as this race it truly is an honor to add your name and picture to the trophy of champions. As Kanaan put it himself, "This is it, man. I made it. Finally they're going to put my ugly face on this trophy."
Tony Kanaan was a factor in today's Indianapolis 500 from the very start. Well into the
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| USA Today |
It was obvious that the ending of this race was going to be a mystery. With a record number of 68 lead changes between 14 drivers, it left the audience in awe. Any of the top 10 cars could have ended the day in victory lane. It was, in my opinion, the greatest Indy 500 I have ever watched. Between the diversity of leaders and the passion flowing from the track, you could tell it was going to end with a fight. This race means everything to all of the drivers who get the opportunity to race it and today it was Tony Kanaan's turn.
The final 10 laps were balancing between Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay. No one knew who it was going to be in the end. During a late restart with about 5 laps to go, Tony Kanaan made the move of the race by sweeping down the track to pass Ryan Hunter-Reay for the lead. Shortly after Kanaan took the lead another caution came out involving 4-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti. This would automatically give Tony Kanaan the win since IndyCar allows races to finish under a yellow flag (unlike NASCAR) and there were only 3 laps until the checkered. Kanaan cruised the final 3 laps behind the pace car knowing he was now an Indy 500 Champion. He said it was the longest lap in his entire life and he just wanted to pace car to speed up.
Rookie Carlos Muntoz finished an impressive 2nd in his first ever IndyCar race and last year's champion, Ryan Hunter-Reay finished 3rd. AJ Allmendinger, former CART driver and NASCAR driver (after being suspended last year) finished 7th in his first Indy 500 driving one of Roger Penske's Chevrolets.
The wreath of flowers and legendary bottle of milk was waiting for Tony Kanaan in victory lane. You could see the emotion in the eyes of him and his team. This is the race every IndyCar driver dreams of winning, just as every NASCAR driver dreams of winning the Daytona 500. With such a legacy as this race it truly is an honor to add your name and picture to the trophy of champions. As Kanaan put it himself, "This is it, man. I made it. Finally they're going to put my ugly face on this trophy."
