Young drivers finish strong in star-studded Indy 500 field

But that prompted further criticisms, including from @buijules, who tweeted: “Maybe next time, include why you’re apologizing… i.e”. “For Japan, for the team and for (engine suppliers) Honda, this is a special victory”.

Former Indy victor Ryan Hunter-Reay, with arguably the best vehicle on race day, would have his engine blow.

But he emerged with a fearless finish made all the more impressive by the memory of 2012, when his last-lap attempt to grab the lead from Dario Franchitti ended with the Japanese driver in the wall. Alonso, Sato, Hunter-Reay and Rossi all led multiple laps. All led laps in the race.

He also anticipates a return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“You’re obviously concerned”, said vehicle owner Michael Andretti, who had six cars in the race, including Sato’s. We hope you will accept our profound apologies. “But that’s why we have six bullets in the gun”. “I don’t blame Honda at all”. “You know, winning today, it’s just superb”.

Fernando Alonso left the Brickyard without a fairy-tale victory to cap his Indy 500 adventure. Castroneves twice came within inches of passing Sato entering Turn 1, but Sato was able to hold him off and Sato won the race by 0.20 seconds. I know I bumped Sato’s auto a few times. “I know better, and I’m angry at myself because there was no constructive goal to it”. It’s unfortunate. It’s another bitter one.

Alonso announced last month he would take a break from a subpar F1 season and skip the Monaco Grand Prix to race in the Indy 500 for Andretti Autosport. Alonso displayed his talent, but the engine problems that have plagued him on the Formula One circuit this year continued at the 500. One, he was faster than Alonso on many days, Tuesday practice day, Wednesday he did not run because of the wind, Sunday practice Ed was P1 and P2 on Monday the full tank day a full 2 miles per hour faster than Alonso.

“Helio is just a gentleman, and I knew I was racing against a real champion”, he said. We didn’t see anything on the telemetry.

He watched Monaco earlier on Sunday before climbing in his No 29 vehicle for the 500-mile race. They’re meant to do 500 miles. “But you have to finish to finish first”. “I have to say, Takuma Sato prevailed”.

“I really thought we had it”, Castroneves said. “We had gotten a little loose but they had dialed it in”. “I felt at home”. “He put himself out there and exposed himself, delivered the goods, which isn’t a surprise to anyone that has watched Fernando race”. But when his Honda power-plant went out with a white puff of smoke, the Alonso show was effectively over.

A Denver sportswriter has been fired from his job for an insensitive tweet about the victor of the Indianapolis 500 being from Japan.

“Taku did an awesome job”, Andretti said. I can really trust him on the outside. Really happy for Honda.

“But we’re in a new era now”, he said, “and Chevrolet’s bringing everything they’ve got and we have to kind of walk that fine line”.

“This is going to be mega big”.