(Indianapolis) American Josef Newgarden (Penske) won the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday after a race marked by two spectacular crashes on the track and several collisions on the way out of the pits, each time having upset the hierarchy.
The podium was completed by the Swede Marcus Ericsson (Chip Ganassi), second, and the American Santino Ferrucci (Dreyer
This is the first time in twelve participations that the 32-year-old driver, IndyCar champion in 2017 and 2019, has won the legendary event. He now has two victories this season, after the Texas Grand Prix, and 26 since the start of his career in this discipline.
Starting from 17th position, he took advantage of numerous racing incidents to move up to the front.
Among these, 16 laps from the end, the single-seater of Kyle Kirkwood (A. J. Foyt Enterprises) turned over after hitting the wall, unable to avoid the McLaren of Felix Rosenqvist who had made a mistake. The American pilot was finally able to get out of his car unscathed. And one of its wheels, torn off in the shock, crossed the protective mesh, without however reaching the spectators. A miracle.
With nine laps to go after the red flag, Newgarden then passed Pato O’Ward who had inherited the lead after that crash. Whereupon, the Mexican lost control of his McLaren, whose left rear road was lightly hit by Marcus Ericsson (Chip Ganassi), hitting the wall quite hard.
In the lead, with four laps to complete, Newgarden was then passed by Ericsson, in search of a double after their victory last year in similar fresh start conditions, but a collision involving several cars from the bottom again halted their momentum, forcing the race marshals to wave the red flag a third time.
The Swede finally couldn’t resist the American’s newfound speed, managing to overtake him to win on the last lap.
