Kanaan Wins Indy 500
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INDIANAPOLIS – Tony Kanaan realized a dream that began decades earlier that took him from Brazil to Europe to America.
In a race that featured an astonishing 68 race-record lead changes among a race-record 14 drivers, the popular Brazilian earned the victory in the 97th Indianapolis 500 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His average speed of 187.433 was the fastest Indianapolis 500.
Kanaan, cruised to the checkered flag under caution when three-time champion Dario Franchitti’s No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car made contract with the Turn 1 SAFER Barrier on a Lap 197 restart. He found himself in front after he and rookie Carlos Munoz overtook race leader Ryan Hunter-Reay entering Turn 1 on the restart for a Lap 194 on-track incident involving Graham Rahal.
As he circulated under caution, Kanaan wiped tears from his eyes as he guided the Chevrolet-powered No. 11 Hydroxycut KV Racing Technology/SH Racing car to the waiting Borg-Warner Trophy.
Three Andretti Autosport drivers — Munoz, Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti — finished second through fourth. Justin Wilson advanced nine positions to finish fifth in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing car. Three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves was sixth and Team Penske teammate and first-time Indy 500 competitor AJ Allmendinger placed seventh.
Andretti, who started third in the No. 25 RC Cola car and led 31 laps, wrestled the points lead from Takuma Sato after five of 19 races. He leads Sato, 168-157, heading into the inaugural Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans on the Belle Isle circuit June 1-2.
