INDIANAPOLIS – It was certainly one of the most unpredictable Indianapolis 500s in recent years, but it had a historic finish as Helio Castroneves claimed his fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in Sunday’s 105th running of the world’s biggest race.
It was the first time in Castroneves’ career that he was driving for a team other than Team Penske. Castroneves won the race for Meyer-Shank Racing, giving the operation its first NTT IndyCar Series win.
The expected became the unexpected on lap 33 when Stefan Wilson, driving in his first Indianapolis 500 since 2018, spun his No. 25 Honda at the entry to pit road. That brought out the first caution flag of the race, but dramatically changed the prospects for the heavy favorite entering the contest, Scott Dixon.
With the pits closed, Dixon along with Tony Kanaan, Jack Harvey, Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson had to pit for emergency service on Lap 36 because they were about to run out of fuel.
Dixon’s engine would not refire and by the time the crew was able to get it to start, he was one lap down. The same thing happened to Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport and they would have to stretch fuel mileage in order to get on a different strategy that would help them get back in contention.
During the middle portions of the race, it became a fierce battle involving such drivers as Rinus VeeKay, Conor Daly and on lap 71, Castroneves. Pato O’Ward would take the lead on lap 103 before Graham Rahal took the lead on lap 114.
Rahal appeared to be a leading contender to win the race before he made a fateful pit stop on Lap 118 for four tires and fuel. The crew was unable to get his left rear tire tightened and by the time he returned to the track in turn two, the tire came off, sending Rahal’s car into a spin and a hard hit into the turn two wall.
Daly’s No. 47 Chevrolet hit the errant wheel, punting it toward the infield. Luckily, there was no infield general admission crowds allowed at this year’s race.
When racing resumed, it was a battle between Palou, O’Ward and Castroneves. Green flag pit stops began on lap 136.
Dixon, who was on a different fuel strategy after his issue in the pits earlier in the race, was the leader on lap 158. He pitted for the final time on lap 162. His fuel strategy put him in position to contend, if the other drivers in the field had to make another pit stop.
With 20 laps to go, Arrow Schmidt McLaren SP driver Felix Rosenqvist was in the lead.
With 16 to go, Rosenqvist, J.R. Hildebrand and defending winner Takuma Sato were the top three, but all had to pit one more time.
Castroneves was fourth and engaged in a tremendous battle with Palou, who passed Castroneves for position on lap 186.
At the sane time, 2019 Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud was charging from the rear and was up to sixth place with 10 laps to go.
Castroneves passed Palou with seven laps to go as the was the first to make a move in the final 10 laps of the contest.
Palou took the lead with three to go but Castroneves did not give up, taking the lead for good with two to go and driving into Indianapolis 500 history as the fourth four-time winner in the biggest race in the world. He joins A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner.
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May 31, 2021 at 02:34AM
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Make It Four: Castroneves Claims 105th Indianapolis 500 - SPEED SPORT - SPEED SPORT
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