A PERFECT DAY.

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. Dismissed by just about everyone as being over the hill - including being dropped from his Team Penske INDYCAR ride after delivering three Indy 500 wins for the team - 46-year-old Helio Castroneves won the 2021 Indianapolis 500 in front of 135,000 spectators, which was 40 percent of normal capacity, but still the biggest sporting event in the U.S. since the pandemic began. Driving for the relatively modestly-funded Meyer Shank Racing and sponsored by AutoNation/SiriusXM, Castroneves pushed his No. 06 Honda-powered Dallara to the biggest victory of his life, joining A.J.Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as the only four-time winners of "The Greatest Spectacles in Racing." It had been 31 years since Mears won his fourth Indy 500 in 1991, so to say this was a very big deal in The Speedway's history was an understatement.

Helio's historic victory set off the most memorable celebration in Indy 500 history, as he not only climbed the fence in his patented "Spiderman" style, but he ran down the front straightaway waving to the fans while accepting congratulations from nearly everyone in the paddock, including Roger Penske, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford, and a large contingent of his fellow drivers and team crew members. 

Billed as the race between the young, super-talented future stars of INDYCAR racing and the more experienced and accomplished veterans of the sport, Sunday's Indianapolis 500 was a spectacular race. After several incidents in the pit lane with drivers having trouble with braking failure resulting in spins - with one causing an ill-timed first yellow flag that closed the pits and caught-out pole sitter Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing PNC Bank Honda) and Alexander Rossi (No. 27 Andretti Autosport NAPA AUTO PARTS Honda) - leaving them rolling into the pits out of fuel. Each driver had to wait for the engines to re-fire, which caused them to lose a lap, effectively ending their day. Graham Rahal (No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing United Rentals Honda) seemed to be confidently lurking near the front while saving fuel, but his day came to abrupt end when his left rear tire came off of the car after a pit stop and put him into the wall. A gut-wrenching - and inexcusable - mistake by his team. 

The race came down to a duel between Castroneves, 24-year-old Alex Palou (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT DATA Honda), 22-year-old Pato O'Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet) and 37-year-old Simon Pagenaud (No. 22 Team Penske Menards Chevrolet). Castroneves passed Palou with two laps left and beat him to the finish line by 0.4928 seconds for the historic victory. Pagenaud was third and O'Ward finished fourth. To top things off, it was the fastest race in Indy 500 history, with Castroneves averaging 190.690 mph for the 500 miles. (See more coverage from the Indy 500 in The Line.)

I have witnessed a lot of great races, but Sunday's Indianapolis 500 was one of the best races I have ever seen. And the scene at The Speedway after Helio's brilliant win was the most memorable I have ever seen. It was a beautifully exuberant celebration and as good a day in racing as it ever gets. Just fantastic. 

A perfect day.

Congratulations to Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing and Honda.

(Photo by James Black/INDYCAR)
Helio Castroneves (No. 06 Meyer Shank Racing AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda) on his way to victory in the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500, the biggest win in his illustrious career.

(Photo by Matt Fraver/INDYCAR)
Helio's day.

(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Helio and Mike Shank after their momentous win in the Indianapolis 500.

(Photo by Karl Zemlin/INDYCAR)
Helio's post-race celebration went on and on, and no one minded.

(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Mario Andretti congratulates Helio after his fourth Indy 500 victory.

(Photo by Doug Matthews/INDYCAR)
Roger Penske congratulates Helio.

(Photo by Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR)
Helio celebrates with his family in Victory Lane. A perfect day.

(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Helio Castroneves - with Jim Meyer and Mike Shank - at the Indianapolis 500 Victory photo shoot on Monday morning.

(Photo by Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR)
Mary Beth and Mike Shank with Helio Castroneves on Monday morning.

(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Helio joins A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as the only four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500.

(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Helio and his family on Monday morning at The Speedway.

(Photo by Doug Matthews/INDYCAR)
After a wait of 31 years, the Indianapolis 500 crowned another four-time winner: Helio Castroneves.