From IndyCar.com
Ryan Hunter-Reay, driving the No. 28 DHL car for Andretti Autosport, held off three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves by a hair-raising .0600 of a second -- the second-closest margin of victory in the history of the event -- in a six-lap shootout to claim his first Indy 500 victory.
Hunter-Reay’s teammate, Marco Andretti, finished .3171 of a second back for his third third-place finish in nine starts.
"It's a dream come true," said Hunter-Reay, who is the first American winner since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006.
"This (race) is American history. It's where drivers are made; where history is made. I hope the fans loved it because I was on the edge of my seat. The Verizon IndyCar Series, with superspeedways, short ovals, road and street courses is a true drivers championship, which is what I love about it."
There were 34 lead changes among 11 drivers in the fast-paced 200 laps (186.563 mph average; second-fastest in history), with Hunter-Reay regaining the point from Castroneves for good by a scant .0235 of a second at the end of Lap 199.
Carlos Munoz, who finished second last year as a rookie, finished fourth and 2000 Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya was fifth. Kurt Busch, who had 600 more miles of racing left on the day in the NASCAR event North Carolina, placed sixth in his first 500 Mile Race.
Canadian James Hinchcliffe, who started second and led early, was involved in a Turn 1 incident with pole sitter Ed Carpenter on a lap 176 restart.
Sebastien Bourdais, driving the KVSH Racing car that won the “500” last year with Tony Kanaan, placed a career-best seventh in the 500 Mile Race and Will Power finished eighth.
Other Canadians endured a tough afternoon. Former Indy 500 race winner Jacques Villeneuve crossed the line 14th while Alex Tagliani arrived home one spot ahead, in 13th position.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, driving the No. 28 DHL car for Andretti Autosport, held off three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves by a hair-raising .0600 of a second -- the second-closest margin of victory in the history of the event -- in a six-lap shootout to claim his first Indy 500 victory.
Hunter-Reay’s teammate, Marco Andretti, finished .3171 of a second back for his third third-place finish in nine starts.
"It's a dream come true," said Hunter-Reay, who is the first American winner since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006.
"This (race) is American history. It's where drivers are made; where history is made. I hope the fans loved it because I was on the edge of my seat. The Verizon IndyCar Series, with superspeedways, short ovals, road and street courses is a true drivers championship, which is what I love about it."
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| 2014 Indy 500 photo gallery. (Photos by Jeff Roberts) |
There were 34 lead changes among 11 drivers in the fast-paced 200 laps (186.563 mph average; second-fastest in history), with Hunter-Reay regaining the point from Castroneves for good by a scant .0235 of a second at the end of Lap 199.
Carlos Munoz, who finished second last year as a rookie, finished fourth and 2000 Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya was fifth. Kurt Busch, who had 600 more miles of racing left on the day in the NASCAR event North Carolina, placed sixth in his first 500 Mile Race.
Canadian James Hinchcliffe, who started second and led early, was involved in a Turn 1 incident with pole sitter Ed Carpenter on a lap 176 restart.
Sebastien Bourdais, driving the KVSH Racing car that won the “500” last year with Tony Kanaan, placed a career-best seventh in the 500 Mile Race and Will Power finished eighth.
Other Canadians endured a tough afternoon. Former Indy 500 race winner Jacques Villeneuve crossed the line 14th while Alex Tagliani arrived home one spot ahead, in 13th position.
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