The endless wait
From the postponement of the start due to bad weather to the checkered flag after 200 high-tension laps, with the victory always in question and with continuous cautions due to various accidents or retirements which also had an impact on the final outcome. In the end, it was once again who prevailed Josef Newgardensixth driver in the history of the Indianapolis 500 to obtain one back-to-back victory, that is, two consecutive successes. The Penske representative managed to triumph in 2023 with an overtaking on the last lap, exactly like in this edition, ruining Pato O’Ward’s dream of being able to lift the Borg-Warner Trophy.
Race report
The 108th edition of the Indianapolis 500 had not actually started in the best way, especially for the American public who came in large numbers to witness the historic event, forced to abandon the grandstands of the basin for safety reasons (as per practice in American races) to cause of a lightning fell near the racetrack. The departure, scheduled for 6.30pm Italian time, was like this postponed to 10.45pm after the improvement in weather conditions and following the drying operations of the track which averted a possible postponement of the event to tomorrow.
A race which, once started, was interrupted several times not by precipitation or lightning, but by Caution and from the entrance of the Peace Car already from the first lap, thanks to a bad accident between Blomqvist and Ericsson. McLaughlin’s chance to defend his lead from teammates Power and Newgarden was also ruined on four other occasions during the first 50 laps alone. Added to this was the aggravating factor of Ferrucci’s good pace, already the protagonist of an excellent start from sixth to fourth position, with the first pit stops and with different strategies adopted by the leading drivers who returned for refueling and changing tires later than other competitors such as Robb and Daly. Several Cautions also at the end of the first half of the race, one of which occurred following the accident of Colton Herta, who subsequently returned to the track but ended up against the barriers just as he was in the top-3, fighting with McLaughlin, Ferrucci and Newgarden ,
Having passed the finish line of the 100th lap (with the 500 Miglia which by regulation can be considered valid in the event of suspension due to rain, a risk which did not completely disappear during the second half of the race), the other Cautions favored an optimal strategy on the part of of riders like O’Ward, Veekay, Rossi and Dixon, all good at taking the lead and fighting for the lead ahead of the Penske of McLaughlin and Newgarden, as well as Ferrucci. The decisive episode for the strategies, however, occurred on lap 147, in this case due to another Caution caused by the accident of Power, who started from the front row together with his teammates. With still one stop to be made by all the drivers and with the group regrouped, the 500 Miglia came to life during the last 30 laps, with Rossi first to enter the pit lane after an excellent team effort with O’Ward . Once the stops were over, the classification took shape with Newgarden in command ahead of Dixon, Rossi, O’Ward, Kirkwood and Palou. A challenge for victory which, especially in the last ten laps, became increasingly intense between Newgarden and O’Ward, with Dixon (3rd at the finish line) immediately behind them ready to take advantage of every opportunity.
A finish which, in a certain sense, recalled the one in which the American from Penske was always the great protagonist in the last edition, this year overtaken by the McLaren driver on the penultimate lap and back in the lead just before the Brickyard at the last chance with a overtaking on the outside in turn 3thus launching himself triumphantly towards the checkered flag.
2024 Indianapolis 500: order of finish
POS. | PILOT | TEAM | RPM/GAP |
1 | Josef Newgarden | Penske | 200 laps |
2 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren | +0.3417 |
3 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi | +0.9097 |
4 | Alexander Rossi | Arrow McLaren | +1.1691 |
5 | Alex Palou | Chip Ganassi | +1.5079 |
6 | Scott McLaughlin | Penske | +2.0593 |
7 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global | +2.5379 |
8 | Santino Ferrucci | AJ Foyt | +3.6143 |
9 | Rinus Veekay | Ed Carpenter | +3.9560 |
10 | Conor Daly | Dreyer & Reinbold | +4.6071 |
11 | Callum Ilott | Arrow McLaren | +4.9652 |
12 | Christian Rasmussen | Ed Carpenter | +5.3234 |
13 | Christian Lundgaard | Rahal Letterman Lanigan | +6.1824 |
14 | Takuma Sato | Rahal Letterman Lanigan | +6.6893 |
15 | Graham Rahal | Rahal Letterman Lanigan | +7.3608 |
16 | Sting Ray Robb | AJ Foyt | +8.5098 |
17 | Ed Carpenter | Ed Carpenter | +8.9081 |
18 | Kyle Larson | Arrow McLaren | +9.4846 |
19 | Romain Grosjean | Juncos Hollinger | +9.8321 |
20 | Helio Castroneves | Juncos Hollinger | +10.3602 |
21 | Kyffin Simpson | Chip Ganassi | +11.0931 |
22 | Agustin Canapino | Juncos Hollinger | +1 turn |
23 | Colton Herta | Andretti Global | +29 laps |
24 | Will Power | Penske | Withdrawn |
25 | Marco Andretti | Andretti Herta | Withdrawn |
26 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Dreyer & Reinbold | Withdrawn |
27 | Felix Rosenqvist | Meyer Shank | Withdrawn |
28 | Linus Lundqvist | Chip Ganassi | Withdrawn |
29 | Katherine Legge | Dale Coyne | Retreat |
30 | Marcus Armstrong | Chip Ganassi | Withdrawn |
31 | Pietro Fittipaldi | Meyer Shank | Withdrawn |
32 | Marcus Ericsson | Andretti Global | Withdrawn |
33 | Tom Blomqvist | Meyer Shank | Withdrawn |
Next appointment
Once the 500 Miglia show is over, IndyCar will be back on track next week, from May 31st to June 2nd, for the sixth round of the championship. From the Indianapolis oval we will move on to the street circuit Detroitalready home to seven editions of the Formula 1 GP from 1982 to 1988.
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