UPDATE: Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden won his second subsequent Indy 500 on Sunday, outdueling Pato O’Ward over the last lap and earning a$ 440, 000 reward for repeating as winner. Helio Castroneves, who was the last to get again- to- up Indy 500s in 2001 and 2002, finished 20th.
It was the 20th Indianapolis 500 win for staff user Roger Penske.
Before: Welcome to the greatest trip in car racing.
On Sunday, 33 vehicles will thrive in the 108th working of the Indianapolis 500. Of those 33, one has the opportunity to make real story: Helio Castroneves.
If the 49- year- ancient win, he will become the sole driver in history to get the” Greatest Spectacle in Racing” five times. Castroneves ‘ four gets now matches famous vehicles A. J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.
This time, Castroneves does aircraft the No. 06 Rocks Honda. He won his most new 500 championship with this group in 2021 through a partnership with Meyer Shank Racing. Castroneves will now be a majority partner in the team, where he will divide his time between the trap stand and the cockpit, as was previously announced earlier this year. After being cut out of the fastest finals, he may begin in column seven. Castroneves will compete in his 23rd immediately Indy 500 race, which is his fourth consecutive qualifying placing 20th or worse in the previous five years.
More than any civilization on the IndyCar plan, Indianapolis is known for its volatility. The yard team with the most wins, Team Penske, has been the subject of numerous charges of cheating in earlier races this year. The team conducted an inner investigation, and it has announced that Tim Cindric, its president, may be forced to miss the biggest race of the year, along with several designers, as well as Tim Cindric, may remain suspended for the month of May. Despite the tumult, the Penske vehicles qualified second, second and third fastest for Indy, commanding the top row.
NASCAR Cup Series champ Kyle Larson will be a star entry in this year’s 500, according to the 500. Larson will be the fifth driver to attempt “double duty” by competing in both the Coca-Cola 600 and the Indy 500 on the same day ( weather permitting ). The IndyCar/NASCAR changeup includes flying between Indianapolis and Charlotte, N. C., clinical study (usually an IV ) and a lot of emotional strength. Just Tony Stewart has completed the top 1,100 miles in each of the two tribes on the same day. Larson may start the Selecting competition fifth-fastest and will set up his NASCAR Cup competition starting position on Saturday.
A dark lurking behind the lens is IndyCar’s spread rights war. NBCUniversal has owned the exclusive right since 2019 and has collaborated with ABC/ESPN for several months. Experts in the field today claim that there are 50/50 chances that the group will stay with the Peacock as the new agreement comes up for discussion. According to the IndyStar and other nearby writers, Fox was the favorite to win the bet earlier this year.
The Indy 500 program, which is the oldest driving service still in operation, is the largest single-day wearing event in the world. Roger Penske, a business and long-time Indianapolis Motor Speedway user, sold the track and the league to the Hulman household in 2019. Penske even owns groups that race in many fields, including IndyCar, NASCAR and IMSA.
The entire prize money awarded to the field of contestants last year was the highest in recorded history, reaching$ 17 million. That event’s success, Josef Newgarden, took residence$ 3.66 million. The statistics for 2024 have yet to be released. Castroneves made the most money of any driver in the background of the race, earning a total of$ 15.5 million at Indy, including almost$ 500,000 from his 15th-place complete next year.
Called” Spider- Man” because of how he climbs the decking behind the monitor after his victories, Castroneves is a lengthy- period fan favorite. Even though he is already a member of the Mount Rushmore Indy 500 legend, a second subject would elevate him to a position of supremacy. 300, 000 or more race fans in Indianapolis and thousands more around the world may be watching on Sunday in hopes that he will drink the renowned bottle of milk from victory lane.
With help from Jason Clinkscales.
Editor’s note: The Indianapolis 500 culture, IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are owned by Penske Entertainment Corporation, which is a company of Penske Corporation that is owned and operated by Roger Penske. Sportico is owned by Penske Media Corporation, operated by Jay Penske, Roger’s brother. PMC operates autonomously of Penske Corporation.