While the race looked a lot different for most of us this year it was still another great Indianapolis 500. I know it was tough for a lot of fans who lost their streaks this year. I’m right there with you. Would have been my 18th and my dad’s 52nd. But if you are a true fan of the Indianapolis 500 it was still great.
I still got chills as I watched the cars get lined up on the grid and the drivers be announced. There is nothing like hearing Back Home Again in Indiana, seeing the flyover, and then hearing those famous words of “Gentlemen start your engines”.
The race itself was great as well. Scott Dixon took off and it seemed like the Iceman was going to dominate the race, but strategy took over in the middle of the race. The timing of pit stops, leader changes, cautions and penalties made for a great show.
Nobody wants to see the race finish under caution, but that’s not the first time this has happened. It’s actually the 16th. The reality is that Spencer Pigot’s crash in the final few laps was going to keep the race from going back to green for a long time, much longer than any of the other cautions throughout this year’s race. IndyCars are not made to sit for that long of a period of time then go only one more lap.
Takuma Sato drove a great race, his team had a great strategy and he got a little luck at the end which is exactly the formula all winners of this race need.
The good news is now we only have 9 months before the next Indianapolis 500.