The most famous motor race in the world takes the green flag for the one hundredth and first time – the Indianapolis 500. Join The Roar for a live blog from 2am AEST.
What a month it’s been at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We’ve seen the fastest qualifying speeds in more than twenty years, the continuing resurgence of the Honda program after years of being dominated by Chevrolet, the debut at IMS of the two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso, and now we await the field of thirty-three crossing the yard of bricks to take the green flag.
Five hundred miles around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a long way, and plenty can happen. Will the Team Penske brigade deliver team owner Roger Penske his seventeenth Indy 500 crown? Can Alonso win on his first attempt? Will JR Hildebrand exorcise the demons of 2011? Will the fabled Andretti Curse finally be broken by Marco? There are storylines galore.
Picking a winner in what is a famously unpredictable race isn’t an easy proposition, despite qualifying and practice speed, but I’ve narrowed down group of six drivers who I think can easily win on Sunday:
Scott Dixon
The Queensland-born New Zealander was the story of the Pole Day qualifying, turning the fastest four-lap set since Arie Luyendyk back in 1996. It seems hard to believe that Dixon’s only tasted Indy 500 victory once in a glittering career, given how often he’s been at the pointy end at IMS. I have a feeling that the Ice Man, driving for the powerhouse Chip Ganassi Racing, is going to be very tough to beat on Sunday.
Helio Castroneves
The three-time Indianapolis 500 champion appeared to discover speed on Carb Day that the Team Penske squad mostly hadn’t displayed all month. The fence-climbing Brazilian was the fastest on a busy and fairly chaotic Carb Day final practice, sending a message to the rest of the field. Helio would join a special club of four-time winners if he can triumph on Sunday.
Ryan Hunter-Reay
The Floridian driving for Andretti Autosport missed the Fast Nine group last weekend in qualifying, but came out on Sunday and set the fourth fastest time, which would’ve slotted him into the fourth starting spot if he’d been a part of the Fast Nine shootout. Instead, RHR will start from tenth, and if he can find that qualifying pace in the race, watch out.
Ed Carpenter
A local product and two-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner, Carpenter is the lone owner/driver in the IndyCar Series, and will start from the middle of the first row. His Chevrolet hasn’t shown the same speed as the Hondas have this month, but Ed is as savvy as they come, and it’d be hard to find a more popular winner than him.
Juan Pablo Montoya
A two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, JPM has something to prove after being removed from his fulltime Team Penske ride to make way for Josef Newgarden. Not sure that there’s a more dangerous chip-on-his-shoulder driver than Montoya. He’ll have the bit between his teeth on Sunday, and in Penske equipment, is going to be there or thereabouts.
Fernando Alonso
Make no mistake, the two-time Formula One World Champion can absolutely win the Indianapolis 500 on debut. It has been a remarkable effort from the Spaniard to adapt to the tricky art of oval racing – which isn’t an easy thing to pick up, no matter what anyone says – and then to be in the Fast Nine and qualify on the second row. He’s going to be a force on Sunday.
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Six other drivers to watch out for
Tony Kanaan: the track would just about erupt if the enormously-popular Brazilian could go to victory lane for the second time.
2Marco Andretti: breaking the fabled Andretti Curse would be an incredible story, after years of futility for Mario and his father Michael after Mario Andretti won in 1969.
JR Hildebrand: lost the race after crashing on turn four of the final lap in 2011, so Indy owes him one.
Will Power: for Australia, it would be a huge moment. For Power, it would confirm what most of us already know, that he’s one of the best IndyCar drivers in history.
Josef Newgarden: the brightest American star to come in many years. An Indianapolis 500 victory would be huge for the Tennessean.
Simon Pagenaud: the defending IndyCar Series champion got his first oval win two races ago at Phoenix.
How will the great race play out? It’s anyone’s guess – all we know is that it’ll be exciting and dramatic, as it always is. Join us Monday morning from 2am AEST to find out!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Thanks for following along! What a mammoth race again. See you all next year!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
If you watched IndyCar racing for the first time today due to the Alonso factor and weren't thoroughly impressed, then you're crazy!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Takuma Sato is going to be a wonderful Indianapolis 500 champion.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Another spectacular Indianapolis 500! This race never, ever fails to deliver! We had 15 leader, 35 lead changes and 50 laps of caution. Quite a day!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Best news of all? We got the race in without weather interruption.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
101st Indianapolis 500 1. Takuma Sato 2. Helio Castroneves 3. Ed Jones 4. Max Chilton 5. Tony Kanaan 6. Juan Pablo Montoya 7. Alexander Rossi 8. Marco Andretti 9. Gabby Chaves 10. Carlos Munoz
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Ed Jones about to get some well-deserved TV face time.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Sato the first Japanese driver to win the 500.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Helio gracious in defeat. And positive, as always.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Ed Jones surely Indy 500 rookie of the year, narrowly over Fernando Alonso. Or can they split the award?
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Best finish for Sato before today? Thirteenth. Now he's the 71st winner of the Indianapolis 500-mile race.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
"It's beautiful!" - Sato Yes it is, Taku. Forever an Indianapolis 500 winner.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Ruoff Home Mortgage jumped on board with Sato only five days ago. Inspired move!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
This will be an exuberant celebration, no doubt!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Sato in victory lane. He has one prior IndyCar Series win, at Long Beach for AJ Foyt Enterprises back in 2013. He's now won the two biggest races the series has.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Great to see Helio congratulate Sato with a thumbs-up as Taku drove past in Victory Lane. Helio was so damn close to a fourth win!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
Michael Andretti's 5th win as an owner. The Andretti name remains locked out of Victory Lane as a driver.
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
101st Indianapolis 500 1. Takuma Sato 2. Helio Castroneves 3. Ed Jones My goodness!!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
SATO!!!! Winner!!!
Andrew Kitchener
Roar Guru
WHITE FLAG! Sato leads!