(May 29, 2016) – To sum up our impressions of the Great Race: We were not wrong, but, in the end, we were not right either. So goes the unpredictable nature of competitive motorsports at the highest level. Who would have thought that a rookie would capture the win this year – what with the pantheon of talent assembled on this storied track?
Overview
Lead changes fostered by the open oval track, high speeds and heightened competitiveness of 33 entrants…each striving to claim bragging rights for winning this year’s Big Race…all combined for one of the most exciting Indy 500’s in recent memory.
Both James Hinchcliffe (in the #5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (in the #28 DHL Honda) looked strong early in the race, occasionally changing positions as leader. Veteran Juan Pablo Montoya (in the #2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) – a name we are used to seeing near the top of the leaderboard – was pushed out early when his car made contact with the wall in lap 63. Recent cover model for this magazine Josef Newgarden (in the #21 Preferred Freezer Chevrolet) started in the top three and ended in the top three while holding off all but one challenger – congratulations Josef! Tight racing and contact with the wall forced Mikhail Aleshin (in the #7 SMP Racing Schmidt Peterson Honda) and Conor Daly (in the #18 Shirts for America Honda) to end their days at 126 and 115 laps respectively.
Strangely enough, it was Takuma Sato (in the #14 ABC Racing Supply AJ Foyt Racing Honda) who was the essential element in determining this race’s outcome. His contact with the wall at lap 163 forced him out of the race and triggered a yellow flag. As cars exited the pits following that yellow, Townsend Bell (in the #29 California Pizza Kitchen / Robert Graham Honda) drifted right…and into the rear of Helio Castroneves (in the #3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet), damaging his left rear fender – which cost him in reduced aerodynamics/speed. In correcting left, Bell entangled his car with that of Ryan Hunter-Reay (in the #28 DHL Honda)…forcing both cars to a stop just outside pit row. While both were able to re-enter the race, their chances to take the win were dashed.
In the end it was pit strategy which achieved this victory. As car after car ran low on fuel and pitted, Alexander Rossi (in the #98 NAPA Auto Parts / Curb Honda) kept on going…holding his speed down and conserving precious fuel…even with his engine sputtering on the final turn…he literally coasted to the finish line, 4.49 seconds ahead of recently re-fueled teammate Carlos Munoz. A rookie winner. Not since Helio Castroneves in 2001 had a rookie driver won “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Our Personal Back-Story: Before the season began, we were asked for our choice to win the Indy 500. We replied Ryan Hunter-Reay (to some astonishment from the other end of the phone). Were we crackers? No. Look at the box scores. Our guy led for over one-quarter of the race – that’s right, 52 laps. Was he not in contention for first place throughout the first half of the race? Yes, he was. Were we not crestfallen to see a person we featured in our magazine – Mr. Townsend Bell – end Mr. Hunter-Reay’s chances at victory with that wonky pit exit which effectively took both cars out of contention? We were indeed. The unexpected is part of what makes IndyCar exciting – and win or lose, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hello Honda: Do you remember our concern about Hondas versus Chevrolet in the earlier races? Now at the big oval, high speed, smooth corner track, who tops the list? Honda. Let’s keep an eye on this difference for the remainder of the season. Hmmm: Do the Honda Areokits provide an advantage at high speeds?
Special Recognition goes out to those drivers, who by dint of their skill and focused demeanor, moved up ten or more ranks in the field: (#1) Alexander Rossi, (#4) Tony Kanaan, (#5) Charlie Kimball, (#6) JR Hildebrand, (#9) Sebastien Bourdais, (#14) Graham Rahal, (#16) Jack Hawksworth and (#17) Alex Tagliani.
The Top Five:
1. Alexander Rossi in the NAPA Auto Parts/Curb Honda (Andretti Autosport)
2. Carlos Munoz in the United Fiber & Data Honda (Andretti Autosport)
3. Josef Newgarden in the Preferred Freezer Chevrolet (Ed Carpenter Racing)
4. Tony Kanaan in the NTT Data Chevrolet (Chip Ganassi Racing)
5. Charlie Kimball in the Tr
100th Indianapolis 500
