IndyCar Racing: American newcomer Alexander Rossi clinches victory at the centennial Indy 500
In a thrilling finish to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, Alexander Rossi clinched victory in his IndyCar debut. The 24-year-old Californian, a former Formula One test driver, managed a fuel-saving run to secure the win, much to the delight of the sellout crowd of over 350,000 people.
The race, held on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, was a tense and dramatic affair. Simon Pagenaud, who had won the previous three IndyCar races, finished 19th, while Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 winner, could only manage fourth.
Carlos Munoz, who expressed confidence in winning the Indy 500 in the future, took the lead with 10 laps remaining but was forced into the pits five laps later, needing only four seconds to add enough fuel to reach the end. Munoz finished second, with Josef Newgarden coming in third.
James Hinchcliffe, who was nearly killed in a practice crash last year, finished seventh, while Bryan Herta, the car owner, won the Indy 500 for the second time, with Rossi's win being the second for his merged team with Michael Andretti.
The race was not without incident. On lap 117, Townsend Bell's car struck Castroneves's car, causing damage and collecting three of the fastest cars to that point. Castroneves's left rear wheel guard came loose after being struck by J.R. Hildebrand and required repairs, taking him out of contention.
Despite starting ninth on the final restart, Rossi was fearful he would not have enough fuel to reach the checkered flag. But he managed to drain the final drops of fuel long enough to win, with his car running out of fuel seconds later. Meanwhile, Tony Kanaan's title bid was doomed when he had to stop late for fuel.
Rossi's win marks him as the ninth Indy 500 rookie to win, the first since Helio Castroneves in 2001. Bryan Herta's last win at the Indy 500 as a team owner before success with Alexander Rossi in 2016 was in 1997 when Bryan Herta himself won as a driver.
This historic victory marks a new chapter in the storied history of the Indianapolis 500, with Rossi joining the ranks of legendary drivers who have triumphed at the Brickyard.
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