By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. It wasn't impossible and it wasn't quite improbable either, but Takuma Sato's win in the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 was certainly inspired and in many ways satisfying. Sato (No. 26 Andretti Autosport Panasonic Honda), a 40-year-old journeyman racer with seven years of F1 experience but with just one previous IndyCar win to his credit, clawed his way to the front and out-dueled Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Team Penske Shell Fuel Rewards Chevrolet) by 0.2011 of a second at the finish line for the win, becoming the first Japanese driver to do so in the history of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." It was the sixth-closest finish in Indy 500 history.
Before Sunday, Sato was best known for his "now or never" pass attempt of Dario Franchitti in Turn 1 of the last lap of the 2012 Indianapolis 500, when Sato crashed out of the race after contact with Dario. This time it was different. "It's such a privilege to win here, so whether it was the first attempt or eighth attempt or you had a drama in the past, it doesn't really matter. Winning today, it's just superb." As for gaining some measure of vindication after the 2012 race episode, Sato added, "But, yes, I do feel after 2012 I really needed to correct something I left over. Today, I was so happy that I made it and won in a good move."
Castroneves, who was going for his fourth win in the Indy 500 - which would have tied him with A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears for most wins, all time - had an eventful day. He overcame a black-flag penalty for jumping a restart and avoided mayhem in two major race incidents to finish second at Indy for the third time. Castroneves is now one of seven drivers with three Indianapolis 500 runner-up finishes, and it was the 41st second-place finish of the Brazilian's 20-year Indy car career, which ranks second all time. "It was so close. I say, 'great job' to my guys," added Castroneves, who recovered from the worst Indy 500 start (19th) of his career. "They worked their tails off, we saw it all today. We were in the back and we led some laps. We avoided disaster and we almost got (win) No. 4."
Talented Indy rookie Ed Jones (No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Boy Scouts of America Honda) finished an impressive - and career-best - third. Jones charged from the rear of the field after having the rear wing assembly on his Honda replaced during a pit stop. "We kept pushing on, kept making up positions," the 23-year-old from Dubai said. "I had a great Dale Coyne Racing car underneath me the whole way that got me to make those passes. ... Congrats to Sato. I didn't really have the pace for him and Helio at the end, but we did the best we could."
Despite going a lap down early with handling issues, Max Chilton (No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Gallagher Honda) led the most laps (50) before finishing fourth. It was the best showing of the 26-year-old Brit's two-year Verizon IndyCar Series career. "I don't think anyone has ever won this race without a little bit of luck," said Chilton. "When we did end up getting out front, the car was really quick and you can see why this place is so special and so electric in that moment. ... To come from a lap down to lead and have a chance to win here at Indy is a massive accomplishment for the whole team."
As I predicted last week, the race was frantic from start to finish, with a record number of lead changes and some harrowing crashes thrown in for good measure, including one involving Scott Dixon, which had the entire racing world holding its breath. I have nothing more to say about the details of Scott's crash - I'm well aware that most of our readers saw the crash in real time and in replays many, many times - except that I'm thankful that I'm not having to write a completely different piece this morning. Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Camping World Honda), who escaped with an ankle injury, had this to say afterward: "I'm just a little beaten up. It was definitely a bit of a rough ride. I was hoping that Jay (Howard) was going to stay against the wall, but obviously, there was the impact. I had already picked that way to go and there was nowhere else to go to avoid him. It was definitely a wild ride. Big thanks to the Holmatro Safety Team, INDYCAR and Dallara and everyone for the safety standards we have on these cars."
And what more can be said about Fernando Alonso, who put on a spectacular display of pure talent and poise both on and off the track? The two-time Formula One champion, who skipped the F1 Monaco Grand Prix to fulfill a dream to drive in the Indy 500, started fifth, ran up front most of the day and led 27 laps in the No. 29 McLaren-Honda-Andretti Honda resplendent in the original Papaya Orange factory livery. Alonso's race came to a premature conclusion 24th place with a blown engine after 179 laps. "Obviously disappointed not to finish the race because every race you compete, you want to be at the checkered flag," Alonso said. "Today, (it) was not possible. Anyway, (it) was a great experience, the last two weeks. I came here basically to prove myself, to challenge myself. I know that I can be as quick as anyone in an F1 car. I didn't know if I can be as quick as anyone in an Indy car. Thanks to INDYCAR, an amazing experience," the 35-year-old Spaniard added. "Thanks to Indianapolis, thanks to the fans. I felt at home. I'm not American, but I felt really proud to race here."
As for the key stats of the race, a total of 15 drivers led the event, breaking the record of 14 set in 2013. The race was slowed by eleven cautions periods for a total of 50 laps. A red flag stopped the race for 19 minutes to repair the SAFER Barrier and catch fencing in the short chute between Turns 1 and 2 that was damaged in the Jay Howard/Scott Dixon incident.
At the end of the day, however, it was Sato's day. Maligned in some quarters in the Indy community for hanging around too long, Sato displayed the tenacity and the sheer will to win of a true champion on Sunday, proving once and for all that he belongs. And now he's permanently affixed in the record books of the greatest single motor race in the world.
Heartfelt congratulations go out to Takuma Sato, Michael Andretti and the entire Andretti Autosport team, and Honda on a magnificent win.
(Photo by Shawn Gritzmacher/INDYCAR)
Takuma Sato, winner of the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500.
(Photo by Shawn Gritzmacher/INDYCAR)
A close-up of Takuma Sato's winning No. 26 Andretti Autosport Panasonic Honda after a very tough 500 miles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Takuma Sato and Michael Andretti: Pure elation in Victory Lane.
(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Michael Andretti and Takuma Sato at the traditional Monday morning winner's photo shoot. Beautiful indeed.
(Photo by Chris Jones/INDYCAR)
Takuma Sato: He'll always be introduced as an Indy 500 winner.
(Photo by Richard Dowdy/INDYCAR)
A proud moment for the Andretti Autosport team.
(Photo by Shawn Gritzmacher/INDYCAR)
Not just the greatest trophy in motorsport, the greatest trophy in all of sport.
Editor's Note: Many of you have seen Peter's references over the years to the Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation (HERF), which he launched in 2007. For those of you who weren't following AE at the time, you can read two of HERF's press releases here and here. And for even more details (including a link to Peter's announcement speech), check out the HERF entry on Wikipedia here. -WG
Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD
(Courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives)
June 1, 1965. The winner's "morning after" shoot for that year's Indianapolis 500. Jim Clark, Colin Chapman and members of Team Lotus pose for their victory pictures around Clark's winning Lotus/Ford. Clark flat dominated the race, leading 189 of the 200 laps and winning with an average speed of 150.686 mph. Parnelli Jones (No. 98 J.S. Agajanian Hurst Lotus/Ford) was second and Mario Andretti (No. 12 Al Dean/Dean Van Lines Hawk-Ford) finished third.