The Indianapolis 500 captivated racing fans around the world on Sunday despite a four-hour rain delay. The instant classic at the Brickyard looked even better when compared to the day’s other events, a dull Monaco Grand Prix and a rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600. It’s Tuesday, May 28, 2024 and this is Racing Recap, your summary of last weekend’s motorsports highlights.
An Instant Classic At Indy
Josef Newgarden won his second consecutive Indy 500 in truly cinematic fashion. Penske’s star took on McLaren’s Pato O’Ward in a heads-up duel over the closing laps. It seemed like O’Ward would finally break through and put his face on the Borg-Warner Trophy. He made the textbook move on Newgarden into Turn 1 to take the lead on the final lap. However, he couldn’t pull far enough away from the Penske. Newgarden towed up to the McLaren down the back straight and swung his car around the outside in Turn 3. In an everything-or-nothing attempt, the pass stuck and Newgarden crossed the yard of bricks first.
As Newgarden rushed into the crowd to celebrate, O’Ward cried in pit lane after falling short again.
The year’s edition of the Indy 500 was the perfect mix of skillful driving, strategy battles and unpredictable variables. It’s a cocktail that will always have fans on the edge of their seats.
Race Results
1. – Josef Newgarden (Penske)
2. – Pato O’Ward (McLaren) – +0.341 seconds
3. – Scott Dixon – (Ganassi) – +0.909 seconds
4. – Alexander Rossi – (McLaren) – +1.169 seconds
5. – Alex Palou – (Ganassi) – +1.507 seconds
Double Trouble For Larson
The rain delay at Indianapolis meant that the 500-mile classic overlapped with NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. It through a wrench in the plans for Kyle Larson to run in both races. The weather would also play a decisive role in prematurely ending the longest race on the Cup Series schedule. As Larson arrived by helicopter at Charlotte Motor Speedway, rain began to fall at the track and cause a red flag. NASCAR held out for hours trying dry the track and resume racing, but the race was called short at the 373-mile mark. It’s difficult to imagine why the series waited so long to end the race. Was it in hopes of having Larson get some time behind the wheel?
Race Results
1. – Christopher Bell (Gibbs)
2. – Brad Keselowski (RFK) – +1.366 seconds
3. – William Byron (Hendrick) – +1.923 seconds
4. – Tyler Reddick (23XI) – +2.699 seconds
5. – Denny Hamlin (Gibbs) – +3.540 seconds
Monaco, It Happened
This year’s Monaco Grand Prix will solely be remembered for Charles Leclerc finally reversing his lack of success in his home race. He became the first Monagasque driver to win the event since Louis Chiron, the namesake of the Bugatti model, in 1931. The first lap was the only noteworthy moment of the F1 race. Kevin Magnussen sparked a crash that collected Sergio Perez and his Haas teammate Nico Hulkenberg. Moments before the red flag was flown, Alpine driver Esteban Ocon attempted an ambitious pass on his teammate Pierre Gasly. The two made contact and Ocon’s car was launched into the air. The rest of the race was essentially a parade.
Race Results
1. – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2. – Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +7.152 seconds
3. – Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +7.585 seconds
4. – Lando Norris (McLaren) – +8.650 seconds
5. – George Russell (Mercedes) – +13.309 seconds