Newgarden completed the podium in third, coming close as well but falling just short in the final laps.
“It’s Indy and you have to go for (the win), especially with as good of a car that I had,” he said. “That’s what we were doing the whole race, was trying to trim out and go as fast as possible. I knew we could out-race people today and I was so excited for that last 10 to 15 laps — I really wanted to have a shootout and battle with someone. I didn’t get that opportunity today, but I hope that I can come back one day and have that chance.”
“I wanted to win the thing, man. I had the car to win it. I was ready to go at the end. I’m reall disappointed for my guys, because I wanted a chance to do something there at the end. They gave me everything I needed today, and it just wasn’t in the cards for us this year.”
Kanaan and Charlie Kimball rounded out the top five, followed by J.R. Hildebrand, polesitter Hinchcliffe, three-time winner Scott Dixon, Sebastien Bourdais and Will Power.
Hunter-Reay slogged home to a disappointing 24th after leading the most laps (52) of anyone in the race.
After not knowing what — or even if — he would be racing in 2016, Sunday’s win was a watershed moment for Rossi. The young rookie said after the race that it’s a moment that will stick with him and change his life forever.
“At one point in this race today, we were 33rd, and we rolled the dice and we came through and we made (the impossible) happen. This is just phenomenal — I had no idea before this year that I’d be even in IndyCar. I didn’t know I’d be in the Indy 500. But now I’m here, and we won, and I’m at a loss for words. This will change my life for sure. It’s truly amazing.”
RESULTS: Verizon IndyCar Series; 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500; Indianapolis Motor Speedway; May 29, 2016
- Alexander Rossi
- Carlos Munoz
- Josef Newgarden
- Tony Kanaan
- Charlie Kimball
- JR Hildebrand
- James Hinchcliffe
- Scott Dixon
- Sebastien Bourdais
- Will Power
- Helio Castroneves
- Oriol Servia
- Marco Andretti
- Graham Rahal
- Max Chilton
- Jack Hawksworth
- Alex Tagliani
- Pippa Mann
- Simon Pagenaud
- Gabby Chaves
- Townsend Bell
- Matt Brabham
- Bryan Clauson
- Ryan Hunter-Reay
- Spencer Pigot
- Takuma Sato
- Mikhail Aleshin
- Stefan Wilson
- Conor Daly
- Buddy Lazier
- Ed Carpenter
- Sage Karam
- Juan Pablo Montoya
Caution Flags: Six for 46 laps
Lead Changes: 54 between 13 drivers
Lap Leaders: Hinchcliffe (Grid, 3, 5, 9, 11, 14-16, 18-23, 59-60, 75-77, 81-84, 88-91, 161); Hunter-Reay (1-2, 4, 6-8, 10, 12-13, 17, 24-27, 33-41, 49-56, 58, 61-66, 78-80, 85-87, 104-108, 110-112); Newgarden (28-29); Munoz (30, 149-153, 191, 194-196); Karam (31-32); Bell (42-48, 57, 113-116); Power (67-74); Castroneves (92-96, 100-103, 138-148, 154-157); Clauson (97-99); Kanaan (109, 158-160, 162-163, 168-178, 182-183); Tagliani (117-121, 123-128); Rossi (122, 129-137, 197-200); Hildebrand (164-167); Newgarden (179-181, 184-190, 192-193).
Laps Led: Hunter-Reay (52); Hinchcliffe (27); Castroneves (24); Kanaan (19); Rossi (14); Newgarden (14); Bell (12); Tagliani (11); Munoz (10); Power (8); Hildebrand (4); Clauson (3); Karam (2).
Time of Race: Three hours and two seconds
Average Speed: 166.634 mph
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
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