From multiple crashes, cars getting airborne in scary fashion and serious injuries to a fan-favourite driver. The lead-up to this year’s Indianapolis 500 saw focus shift to the race for all the wrong reasons.
However, after a clumsy start, it once again delivered a day of dramatic twists and a spectacle like no other.
A first lap crash for rookie Sage Karam slowed things down even before they really got started and then as the field prepared to restart the race Juan Pablo Montoya was tagged from behind by Simona de Silvestro and had to stop for repairs, relegating him to the back of the field.
Finally the race got going but Montoya would make another mistake during a later pit stop over-shooting his pit box, once again setting him back in the field. All of the obstacles didn’t matter, however as the veteran racer and his Penske team knew they had to be smart, understanding there was still a lot of racing ahead and be there at the end.
They were.
With his skill behind the wheel and the benefit of another later caution period that bunched up the field, Montoya found himself back in the hunt. The race would come down to a 15-lap dash to the finish and the Colombian would find his way past Ganassi’s Scott Dixon, who led the most laps on the day, and his teammate Will Power who appeared poised to capture his first Indy 500 win.
Montoya would lead only nine laps but he was first to the checkered flag only a fraction of a second ahead of Power in one of the closest finishes in Indy 500 history. Thus, after a 15-year stretch between wins, he was sipping the milk in victory circle, much more appreciative of the accomplishment this time around.
After all the nervousness leading up to the event, it was dispelled with an exciting event and for the third straight year and dramatic finish. Yes, there were crashes during the race, hard hits by a number of drivers, but none of the cars flew into the air as we’d seen previously.
After posting a hospital photo on Facebook, James Hinchcliffe sent me a message to relay to the Canadian fans thanking them for their support, and then it felt OK to be excited about the race again. For a few stimulating hours the focus left the aero kit debate and Chevrolet domination of the series and it was all about the race.
Being with a few colleagues who were witness to the greatest spectacle in racing for the first time added to the enjoyment for me. It was nice to see the awe in their eyes looking around at the enormous crowd and feel the energy of the place.
Planning is already underway for the 100th anniversary running of the race next May and with it being the centennial celebration, the energy and adrenaline rush should be even more incredible.