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IndyCar
INDYCAR: An Indy 500 To Remember
Minutes after Sunday’s Indy 500, Randy Bernard received a text message from Tony Stewart: "Congratulations, that was the best Indy 500 I’ve ever seen.’’
For Indy 500 rookie Rubens Barrichello, the 96th running of the event was beyond comprehension from the cockpit, and for the fans in attendance, it also delivered a whale of a show. (Photo: Doug Werner)
A few minutes after Sunday’s 96th Indianapolis 500, Randy Bernard received a text message from Tony Stewart. "Congratulations, that was the best Indy 500 I’ve ever seen,’’ it read.
Looks like Stew and I saw the same race.
From the five-wide flying start to the endless overtaking to the insane restarts to a record 34 lead changes, it’s never been better at 16th & Georgetown.
Oh hell, of course there’s been closer finishes – Johncock and Mears, Little Al and Goodyear and Hornish and Marco all came down to the final few yards while the Rathmann and Ward duel was second to none.
But, from start to finish, nothing in the previous 54 races I’ve watched could match Sunday’s in terms of non-stop action through the pack for three hours.
"We’ve never raced that well in the seven times I’ve run here and I’ve never experienced such a fun race with so much passing,’’ offered pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe, who led 15 laps and wound up fifth for Team Penske.
"It had to be a pretty good show for the fans.’’
No, it was an exceptional show for the hearty souls who endured the oppressive heat and humidity as they were treated to:
Dario Franchitti going from last to first after being spun out on an early pit stop.
Takuma Sato’s spirited charge to the front, which ended up against the wall on the last lap as he went for the win.
Tony Kanaan storm from fifth to first on a restart BEFORE the cars got to Turn 1 and finish third.
Oriol Servia start 27th, drop to last with a flat tire and blast back to take fourth place in his Chevy debut.
Justin Wilson start 21st and climb all the way to third before settling for seventh.
Ed Carpenter charge from 28th to second before spinning out.
The heroes of this day were the drivers and DW12 chassis.
For the fifth straight race of 2012, the folks holding the steering wheel and pushing the pedals did a superb job of racing each other hard but relatively clean as they jostled for positions on restarts that used up every bit of that narrow front straightaway.
Looks like Stew and I saw the same race.
From the five-wide flying start to the endless overtaking to the insane restarts to a record 34 lead changes, it’s never been better at 16th & Georgetown.
Oh hell, of course there’s been closer finishes – Johncock and Mears, Little Al and Goodyear and Hornish and Marco all came down to the final few yards while the Rathmann and Ward duel was second to none.
But, from start to finish, nothing in the previous 54 races I’ve watched could match Sunday’s in terms of non-stop action through the pack for three hours.
"We’ve never raced that well in the seven times I’ve run here and I’ve never experienced such a fun race with so much passing,’’ offered pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe, who led 15 laps and wound up fifth for Team Penske.
"It had to be a pretty good show for the fans.’’
No, it was an exceptional show for the hearty souls who endured the oppressive heat and humidity as they were treated to:
Dario Franchitti going from last to first after being spun out on an early pit stop.
Takuma Sato’s spirited charge to the front, which ended up against the wall on the last lap as he went for the win.
Tony Kanaan storm from fifth to first on a restart BEFORE the cars got to Turn 1 and finish third.
Oriol Servia start 27th, drop to last with a flat tire and blast back to take fourth place in his Chevy debut.
Justin Wilson start 21st and climb all the way to third before settling for seventh.
Ed Carpenter charge from 28th to second before spinning out.
The heroes of this day were the drivers and DW12 chassis.
For the fifth straight race of 2012, the folks holding the steering wheel and pushing the pedals did a superb job of racing each other hard but relatively clean as they jostled for positions on restarts that used up every bit of that narrow front straightaway.
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