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from America’s Heartland we say good morning actually it’s a great morning there is no sporting venue Like It in America the massive Indianapolis Motor Speedway it’s also no day like this in American Sports for the first time in 3 years around 325,000 fans set off this morning Bound for their spot at the brickyard and the renewal of a Memorial Day American tradition known simply as the greatest spectacle in racing it’s the 106th edition of the Indianapolis 500 and we welcome you to our pre-ra coverage Mike too thrilled to be back with Danica Patrick come on we’re walking the yard of bricks Let’s Go Danica ran this race eight times six top 10 all right so we have no pandemic the crowds of 2020 were not here last year about half full this year we’re full of fans it’s the largest G gathering in sports in America in 3 years it’s like the Indie you grew up coming to as a kid it is but let me tell you my favorite moment of the whole month was when I drove in underneath the tunnel and saw this pagot lit up in light blue because Indianapolis Motor Speedway has its own energy whether or not anyone’s here so what I’m glad is that all these fans hello all 350,000 of them here today are going to be able to experience the magic of this track and there’s so many great stories going to happen on the track and our team’s ready to set the table for the day and we start with the story of last year’s winner who’s going for his fifth here’s Marty Snider yeah Mike who can forget the images of Spider-Man ELO castr nevas climbing the fence here at Indianapolis for a fourth time today he is after this the biggest single day prize in the world of Motorsports the Borg Warner trophy ELO trying to put his face on this trophy for a record fifth time and at 47 the Brazilian as as vibrant as ever he told me earlier this week I love how I have to get better if I want to win the Indie 500 every year and not only do I feel better this year I feel like our car might be a little bit better as well so Dave Mike mentioned the drive for five it’s very much alive for ELO Castro NZ I’m already the front row at the Indie 500 it’s more than just a pretty picture it’s a testament to speed and bravery and nowhere was that more present than last weekend when this man Scott Dixon sat on the front row for the seventh time with a pole qualifying record over 234 mph the fastest ever right just a tick behind him Alex poo and Reus V youngsters who are superstars in the series couldn’t quite match the veteran they will be the first three to see the yard of bricks for the first time under green but will any of the three be the first to Victory Lane today we’ll see for that call and everything else James hclip towns and bell and Lee DIY Dave as you know all too well the entirety of the NT Indie Car Series across the season is 17 races and we have many magical weekends we have many special moments many great days but Townsen this is the sports big one this is the day no question this is the big one the biggest crowd on the biggest day in racing at the greatest racetrack in the world but I’ll tell you what’s big let’s talk racetrack these are Big speeds right here just over my shoulder going into turn one in practice 244 milph this was Friday in perfect conditions Colton Hera into the fence Big Time upside down watch the onboard here it goes away and then inside the cockpit Sparks as Colton Hera luckily able to walk away but James that was in perfect conditions the wind’s picking up now and all the drivers chasing the biggest prize in racing and why is it the biggest town it’s because of the history 1911 we had the first Indianapolis 500 right here today we start the 106 the greatest of the greats have raced here the greatest of the have one here and that is why all 33 drivers are going to be risking it all to put their name in the history books and their face on that Borg Warner trophy you to hear the three of us talk a lot across the scope of the day about speed skill daring danger and the business end of it but we’ve also got to have fun here today right and for that we go to the snake pit with d oard Jr and rot lynchwood take it away R oh lee we would say hang on there Jimmy Hing Cliffs we have found the party Dale erard Jr and I are here at the snake pit which Dale we’re about 30,000 or so people strong over here it’s incredible that simultaneously during during the race there’s over 30,000 people here at the Snak pit having their own party it’s a scene out here man this race there’s nothing like it Steve aoke dead mouse this place is packed we’re going to have a lot of fun today Mike cannot wait you guys enjoy settle in over there as you can see the part’s going the cars are ready the weather is warm and sunny everything in place to see who will win the race that means so much Indie 500 one of the biggest race of the world it’s unlike anything else I’ve ever done it’s really intense anytime you’re at Indianapolis Motor Speedway It’s a Good Day LA one going into turn one where you’re almost 250 mph arriving at speeds like that side by side and trusting you can go 2 by two together you have to surprise people it’s not about just nailing a lap you have to nail 200 laps when it does go wrong you don’t really have too much time to think about it the only race that I’m actually nervous for I love the energy from the fans you pass for the lead you can hear the people outside when somebody says 8500 I think of it is something I want to win it’s just one goal to win the race it’s my time to to try to get a win put my name right there with my dad on the trophy I think I think my face needs to be on there that’s the greatest trophy it’s the greatest milk the greatest drink when you wake up that day you know that someone’s like life is going to change I can win that that would be the biggest thing in the world to me you know it sounds cliche but I always say it’s a it’s a magical place you’re watching n500 pre-ra coverage brought to you by Liberty Mutual insurance only pay for what you need and by he gets us someone who defended the poor learn more add he gets us.com this is the greatest spectacle in racing the fans are back the soul is back at the speedway this is the Indianapolis 500 Colton Hur it he moves inside of Scott Dixon side by side rek goes to the lead the crowd comes to their feet Conor Daly has taken the lead Here Comes Elio castz into fourth he’s looking for third side by side they go in a turn number three listen to the crowd Roar as Elio Castro NZ chases his fourth win ready for me yeah we fell off they’re cheering loudly Alex P to the inside of to go you know what to do here to theight turn welcome to the four time Club elot C last time the fast everyone come on everyone I love [Music] Indianapolis what a scene last year if there is one singular headline story this year it is Elo castris and his quest to become the first driver in the history of this race to win it five times and last year he made the sports elite club a for some of four-time winners joining AJ FY Rick Mir and Allen senior who sadly passed away last December today it’s ELO’s chance to stand alone and now we standing by with Kevin Lee Mike we are in the driver bus light while all these fans have gathered to see their racing Heroes today and a chance to see something we haven’t had a chance to see since 93 someone going for a fifth win and it’s this young man here eloc castres have you allowed yourself the chance to think about doing something that no one’s done before here well certainly I dream you know about it uh but you got to there is a there’s a lot going on obviously um to think in the end you got to First think in the beginning and that’s what we’re doing right now we have a a huge challenge ahead of us uh but I do have an amazing group of guys from Maya shank racing you know everyone is really excited and yeah we um it’s a long race we got to be patient but we got to be aggressive at the same time how do you get to the front from row 9 well we just got um find Opportunities um and those opportunities is going to create U situations that you can uh pass otherwise if you don’t do that you got to go different plan so you got to you got to keep it going you know it’s it’s a constantly changing because of you never know if there is a yellow or who’s in front of you that is being a little bit aggressive so those are the little details believe it or not that people sometimes don’t see see that but we got to consider good luck today Mike if he gets to the front and wins it’s a $400,000 bonus from Borg Warner for winning backto back 500s for Elio castra Nez and Kev it’s another piece of History he’d be the second driver to start 27th and win the 500 only other time it happened 90 years ago so that fence behind us that’s where ELO took the climb Spider-Man enjoying the moment last year Dan gets four wins separated by two decades and you’ve known Leo for a good part of that it’s amazing he really hasn’t changed much has he no and it was so exciting to be on the Pagoda and to watch him climb right there was such a great view but what you see is what you get with Elio and I think that he talked about the dream I think you have to have that passion and that that energy to be able to keep coming back like some might just dream to do it once but he’s obviously dreaming to do it for a fifth time so he’s that guy he’s happy he has an incredible personality and I really feel that he has been such a great representative for the sport of indie car to be able to show everyone how amazing this is and bring them in here for the indie 00 to maybe see his fifth time will he go over will he go over the fence over top that’s a good challenge he loves the challenge right the beauty of Indie is it brings back at stars and the two other living fortime 500 winners are on hand today Rick MIRS who was an early mentor to castr Evis me’s won four times in 13 years last in 1991 and how about 87-year-old AJ Foyd who’s race team will left three cars in the field of 33 today more on the drivers making up the 11 rows of three who will start from R3 who are going to call the race the Great lead Diffy and two Indie vets who have run 19 combined 500s towns and Bel and James hinchcliff diff and Mike Kevin Lee opened up what you do at any of the Triple Crown races and that is looking at the form guide of the competitors so let’s go right to the head of the field and talk about 41-year-old kiwi Scott Dixon who starts on the pole position and hinch he’s been with his team chip gassie Racing for more than half of his life so give the viewers at home a reason why they shouldn’t be looking at him uh carry the two there isn’t one Lee there’s no reason not to look at this guy to win let’s look at Scott Dixon’s statistics here at the Indie 500 three runnerup finishes five pole positions record setting Pace doing that he’s got the chance today to be the all-time lap leader here at the n500 but he only and I use air quotes when I say it has one500 trophy when he got that he was a one-time Series champion he’s got five more of those six-time series champ he wants nothing more than to get that second Borg Warner and the question I get all the time James is why is Scott Dixon so good well let’s take a look at some some Telemetry data from qualifying thanks to Firestone you can see Dixon’s onboard camera during the four lap run and on the upper left hand corner of the screen you can see the tire use data this is the load that are going into all four tires on Dixon’s car and I think what’s really impressive is how smooth Scott Dixon loads the steering wheel watch this into turn three he’s just going to nurse this thing into the corner ease in those loads he is so easy on the tires that makes the tires last longer gives them a better chance to be stronger later in this race and Mike when you see that footage he is so smooth that there is no surprise that he posted the fastest pole speed ever to head the fastest qualifying field ever at the Indianapolis 500 can’t wait for the speed diff and guys who wouldn’t be surprised if Dixon’s the one who ends up with the three symbols of victory at the 500 the Winner’s wreath the bottle of milk and that trophy the unique Borg Warner trophy over 5 ft tall it weighs 110 lb unique for bearing the likeness of the winners trophy’s 85 years old and the source of plenty of stories um here’s one maybe you haven’t heard before the borner trophy is the most iconic trophy in all of sports and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was looking for somebody to be the caretaker so in 1953 there was an ad in the Indianapolis Star Jack McKenzie a college student went to Butler University he needed to pick up some extra money he was going through the W ads and wow the Indianapolis Motor Speedway needs somebody to take care of the Borg Warner Trophy this is my dream job as a college student so the first year Jack got paid $75 it stayed in his room at the fraternity house of Butler until one night he went on a date he tucked the trophy away under his bed he was the custodian of it 24/7 well his fraternity Brothers obviously knew he had it when he got back home that night after his date it was gone so Jack walks into his room he reaches under his bed nothing I mean his heart starts pounding he’s sweating and nervous I mean he’s panicked where is the Borg Warner trophy well he hears everybody down the basement so he’s going to go ask his buddies finally found it at the party and some of his fraternity Brothers using the trophy as big communal cup they’re drinking beer out of the boror trophy but more than Mad Jack was relieved I found the trophy so he goes I got to clean this up and makes it respectable again and says I don’t ever want to see you guys drinking beer out of the borner trophy again it stays locked in my room unless I say [Music] otherwise lesson learned it’s under a bit better security these days and if you don’t believe that story we got a little proof there is a picture of a beverage inside the Borg Warner trophy maybe the winner can do that in a private moment but it’s not happening to the real deal as we said that security is much better these days the question for today will it be a new face or a familiar one added to one of sports great trophies our pre-race coverage continues in a moment oh that music means big month of golf on the horizon US Women’s Open next week and in 3 weeks the 122nd Us open at the country club in Brooklyn nass Father’s Day weekend on NBC USA and peacock there’s golf here in Indianapolis four of the 18 holes of the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course inside the track it’s just a medium iron from where the drivers spend more time than they do on the track in the month of May the bus lot our James hinchcliff has driven in this race nine times let’s just say it’s a neighborhood he knows pretty [Music] well welcome to the bus lot here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this place is the home away from home home for all the drivers and team owners that are going to be competing this weekend and it’s also been known to be the home of a prank or two first day of practice Tuesday here at the speedway we um heard that something happened to Connor DA’s hot tub I came to investigate this is what happened these are little gel balls hundreds of pounds of gel balls we don’t know how it happened we don’t know who did it but we’re going to find out we still don’t know who did the hot tub no do you know I I can’t say what do you mean you can’t say you’re literally here as an investigative journalist Conor dy’s hot tub prank right you know the things that he that went in there what are they called what are they oh you don’t know do they like expand or something yeah yeah I see I was trying to catch him I was trying to get him to say the name exactly what they did how they work I have a theory it was you Conor has there been any developments on who may have been the culprit no but it’s probably you what oh like all guilty parties they show up to the scene of the crime why’d you do it Scott what Conor’s hot tub no I didn’t why you do it I’m literally locked out my bus right now oh actually yeah like I actually can’t get back in I know for a fact that you’ve already taken a shot back at Joseph newart is he a suspect well absolutely I mean look at his face he’s a dad now yeah he’s dads are known for pranks yeah exactly I’m putting it right out there I it could be Jimmy Johnson breaking development well he’s a dad it’s always the ones you least suspect exactly and while we did try our best to get to the bottom of hot tub gate 2022 fact of the matter is we may never know and the truth is as we stand here at the front of the grid guys we still don’t know who the culprit is but there’s a reason that drivers are comfortable doing pranks town so why don’t you tell us about life in the bus lot you know there’s a smirk and the purple suit and the whole it’s suspicious it is still super suspicious but there is an area an air of seriousness to the bus lot and that’s consistency for the race drivers when I raced here I wanted the same routine every time when you strap yourself into the race car there’s no halftime there’s no sideline you can run to if something goes wrong I wanted my muffins from San Los abiso right there I wanted my own bed my own Linens I wanted consistency on race day you don’t get that with us forget about that how about this for a nice heartwarming story in a family angle will power who has won this race back in 2018 hadn’t seen his comedian brother Daman in three and 1/2 years and he surprised him in the bus lot that could be the winning difference today for team Pensky willpower what a beautiful story all right time to hear from the Indiana native the man with the hot tub Conor Dy is without Dylan Welsh Dylan and still no culprit as Hing said as to who Bamboozled his hot tub but all about the race car today and let’s talk about last year the hometown kid led the most laps until that errant Tire just kind of fell out of the sky on you but to do that to lead laps Indianapolis how special was that for you last year I mean even just walking out right now almost uh almost get emotional looking at everyone uh it’s just good to have everyone back here the speedway and Roger Pensky and his group have done such a great job and last year was such a great you know such a great experience um but it also added a lot of knowledge to my uh to my memory bank and so now I think we definitely know how to get there and uh when we get there I think we know what to do so uh you know we have a a clear mission in front of us today and I do believe we have the car to do it so I I can’t wait to get going I mean it’s it’s it’s this is the most confident I’ve ever felt and uh you know to have bit Nile here for their first IND 500 across three of our cars and um you know to be a part of the Chevy Camp is is really awesome as well Mike Connor Dy the hometown hero from just up the road in Noblesville rolls from 18th today and Dylan you know what he’s feeling too you’re an Indiana guy as well enjoying a special day at home you can hear the emotion in his voice before he climbs in his car here Danica he’s from Noblesville 30 Mi north of here he led the most laps last year in this race he talked about the experience he got what’s interesting is when he went back and saw the video of him taking the lead he heard the crowd root for the hometown guy and go nuts he said he gave him chills and got him emotional now you had a moment similar to that your first time here when you took the lead the videos are great of this place going nuts I’m sure you get asked a bunch could you hear any of the crowd going wild when you were in the car funny I got asked that a lot a lot of people said could you hear the crowd when you took the lead at the end and I was like no it’s 700 plus horsepower and 300,000 people and 30 of my friends um no but it it just like obviously it’s such a big deal here there’s so many people the Roars are triumphant I go back and watch that video and get goosebumps so sometimes when you don’t win there are still moments that are insanely memorable but I got to tell you when you’re a local guy like Connor Daly or Ed Carpenter it definitely boosts the crowd just a little for I’m glad you mentioned Ed Carpenter starts on the inside of Road two same team terrifically fast cars great chance to win this 5 and be a HomeTown hero you can get involved in the Indie 500 action with the NBC Sports predictor app it’s simple predict the outcome of today’s race for a chance to win the $50,000 jackpot downloaded and play for free one of the eight questions for your chance of 50 Grand which former IND 500 winner will finish the highest today maybe that’ll help you with an answer we’re over an hour until the green flag but the party is well underway inside the track we are bound for the snake pit with rut Dale and a whole mess of their friends as we continue live here on NBC throughout the Indie racing season you can grab your mobile device and scan the QR code or the one right there on your screen it’s a chance to win $225,000 at Hib deals.com it’s simple just scan that QR code register to win and we thank our friends at HIV beautiful day temperature will be in the upper 70s in our aerial coverage here in Indianapolis is brought to you by Honda as we get set for our broadcast for the first time the 8500 has a companion broadcast on a domestic Spanish language Network it airs today on universo enjoy that Roger Pensky took over this Indie Car Series and the speedway a couple of years ago and so this is third year in charge but the First with a full house to enjoy everything that has been upgraded $30 million of improvements around the speedway and this guy he found a pretty big wedding venue at least proposal venue ear earlier this morning outside the pagota a proposal she gave him the green flag I’m going to guess the wedding is held in a slightly smaller Hall but congratulations to them there also a graduation on the track this morning everything happens on 500 Sunday it’s a big place how big I’ll tell you think of the number of fans you can fit about 400,000 fans in field and stands and a whole deal well if you take everybody who’s at Roland Goos watching the French Open on NBC Yankee Stadium the atad where Man City won the the Premier League Sofi where we’ll be for the start of the NFL season an AT&T Stadium for the opener of Sunday Night Football with the Cowboys in the Bucks all those folks together would fit in here with room to spare speaking of the Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott one of the many VIPs on hand to take in everything that there is to take in at the Indie 500 now we still have 20,000 people over in turn three the snake pit it’s a playart Dale arhart Jr discovered on his 2019 visit to the Brickyard some ni telling you man you’re going to go to the snake pit or there’s a thing called the snake pit I mean your imagination is like what could that be I’m working with rut all day when we walked up to the snake pit it’s just a sea of people I look over and there’s this balloon uh that’s probably about 20 foot in the air and it had a white cross on it it’s a red balloon I said the R I said hey that’s like a sign hey man if you need help if you need medical attention come this way this is a pretty intense place if there needs to be a weather balloon in the air this lets everybody know like this is the way to help this is how this is where you go if you’re in trouble you know the music starting and the Bas is shaking the whole place you know you ever been a car when the Bas is going and it tickles your nostril hairs I mean that’s what was going on they’re looking at us wondering what we’re about to do and you’re getting a little nervous like what are they going to do they don’t care about live television somebody might Street buckneck it across the front of the screen anything could have happened one thing they told me we had to see before we left was the snake pit but the people around us were like happy we were there you know and they were enjoying their moment I can’t believe how insane this party is I parted hard but I’ve never pared this hard there’s so much happening at that racetrack that I had no clue what’s going on all my life and there’s not another race that I know of that you can go to where you’re going to witness something like the snake pit happening simultaneously and so the snake pit sort of its own experience and we’re back live at the snake pit right we had so much fun in 2019 we know that the race itself has a Grand Marshall well so is the snake pit WWE Superstar Titus is here what does the Grand Marshall of the state pit do oh I mean clearly I got to add to the energy that this crowd is getting ready to do it’s a 106 running of the n500 I came here last year at 30% but this is definitely not 30% 100% participation both inside of the track and outside of here I got to get these people going I got to get these people going man this is unbelievable we saw him here last year for the 500 so we know fan frame it right hell in the cell is coming up exclusively on peacock next Sunday at 8 p.m. but Titus if Junior and I wanted to try to be in the WWE what what do we need to have this Swag like you and your fellow athletes do what are we missing oh well you definitely need character you definit need personality athletic ability is a must but most of all in all you need to be able to connect with the people and let people in Smile as a good guy and be as minent as possible as a bad guy and if you’re a good enough bad guy you’ll definitely turn into a good guy and if you’re a good enough good guy you’ll turn into a bad guy so I think both of y’all have been villains at one point in your lives and you definitely are good guys know all right you what you think can we try it I think we can do it right maybe we’ll get it together raw is tomorrow night 87 Central in USA who knows maybe we’ll be there too Mike in the s next Sunday neither one of you guys could ever be a bad guy and you know what Titus ruton Dale bouncing in the snake pit you can check that off our bucket list of things You’ seen in the snake pit once before so that’s the scene a few might see a little bit of the race but most of those people over there will not see anything in the race so we’ve said it you’ve come here as a kid you ever been to the snake pit well it sounds but they won’t even be able to hear the cars over there um well technically here’s the reason why I haven’t been to the snake pit so my dad used to come here in the 70s and he would go and he’d set up scaffolding like 20t tall on the back of a truck with like wooden planks so that they could see the race and he wasn’t even the highest and it was a crazy crazy scene and so then he meets my mom and my mom wants to go to the n500 and he goes no it’s no place for ladies so that means you haven’t been there we can assign you there next year if you want to go over only if you go not dressed like this we have to clean it up a little bit when we come back and is back to the cars and back to the stories including one of the big stories of this weekend Jimmy Johnson there with his family one of the Five drivers for gassie racing but getting so much attention because of his story through his great career and his chance to make history here today at the Indie 500 back here in Indie let’s take you back to your childhood do you remember when you race slot cars as a kid well this is the grown-up version The spindy 500 you’re the engine powering the cars around a mini Indie and some of the drivers already had fun with it today it’s the fans turn to get their chance to do it here at IMs speaking of turn first turn for some rookies on this big Stage Nine have won the IND 500 as a rookie including Ray herun his win in the first race of 1911 counts you go on through the first International winners in there jul cou of France and three of this year’s drivers Juan Pablo Monto won twice four time winner Alo castris and Alexander Rossi won the 100th in 500 in 2016 there have been few if any to wear the rookie title like Jimmy Johnson who as many of you know won seven Nascar Cup Series titles but makes his n500 debut today Guided by a familiar voice from his great racing career his Spotter and father Gary we’ve had a crazy Road through racing starting on motorcycles off road we never even planed on racing a stock car and it’s and then that all happened it was like a dream come true and and now to be here and this is my first nd500 so this is huge to me and be part of it and be with Jimmy here is this is absolutely amazing I can remember watching the nd500 on the couch with my dad and my grandfather kind of planted that seat in my mind that maybe I could race Indie Car someday the very first time it took him on mini bikes we went cleared PKA City Oklahoma and I don’t know who was more nervous this first national event you know him or me and the gate dropped and he didn’t even move the whole all the bikes left and I knew then we had to go do those things get ready for something as big as this this is and always will be the greatest spectacle in racing and then to be a to really look at this opportunity and and think how we could work together uh again and and have fun and and kind of reminisce on these moments of my childhood and you know it’s it’s just really special and that’s what the indd 500 is about I think the thing that I’m getting better at in in in savoring so far is just taking a quick second to enjoy the moment so three wide I’m coming around to salute the fans knowing dad’s going to be up in turn three uh I’ll certainly smile and and enjoy that moment and he’s been waving at me so we we’ve been waving back and forth so that’s pretty cool cuz he would usually give me the hand signs when I was on the track on my dirt bike and every time by it was this for think that too yeah think and and go um so I still I still feel that think that um in some respects when I go by where I know he’s spotting um that that’s like deep in the back of my mind and pops up the family environment I grew up in with with my mom and dad making racing so available for me and my brothers um we are a racing family uh through and through and it’s it’s been quite a [Music] journey racing is always all about family and it continues to the Next Generation as well as Jimmy daughters here are here as well Lydia and geneveve and uh boy when we talk Thursday you said the nerves not really there no pressure really there we’re an hour to green flag Jimmy are you still not nervous and don’t feel the pressure we’re starting to build it’s hard not to have them build with this type of moment in front of me and 300 you know 300 plus thousand fans in the stands but just thankful for this opportunity we look forward to it your entourage today will be Darius Rucker Andy rodic Brooklyn Decker and some guy named Blake Shelton over there so tell us about the program you’ve got going on with Blake and your helmet design yeah just you know so honored to represent the men and women um that have served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice for Memorial Day weekend and my association with thean American Legion Blake and I both have family members that served and we wanted to honor them and make a helmet in their honor and and you had a big part in this design didn’t you Blake oh I’m I’m a I’m a helmet designing dude I got to tell you right now man I he didn’t Implement my one idea was to put a mullet in the back of the helmet just to Flap in the wind I thought would be cool but Jimmy didn’t want to go for it it that helped the aerodynamic so we didn’t do it so who’s a good luck charm today you or or the girls he offered a side car for me just I I don’t want to be that much of a burden um but I like to feel like I you know I know you love your daughters and they love you but I feel like I’m the good luck charm Blake Shelton hanging out with Jimmy Johnson today when I asked him Thursday if Jimmy felt like his chance to win this race was real he said oh yeah we have a real shot to win today Mike and Marty the car showed it especially in qualifying Danica one of your peers from Nascar days why do you think Jimmy’s doing this you know my dad watched qualifying with his dad on Pit Road and he just said he is having so much fun and so I think whether it’s bikes stock cars Open Wheel cars he just loves racing and I think it’s so cool with his dad spotting it’s such a family affair and speaking of Family Affair you know who just walked away that I said hi to Chad canos and now he’s not his dad but they have spent so many years together so that’s cool to see so many folks rooting for Jimmy pulling for Jimmy in here to support him he’s a 46-year-old rookie one of seven making their Indie debut there’s another rookie who has plenty of Big Time Racing Experience 36-year-old Roman Gran the Formula 1 vet he’s standing by now with Kevin Lee Mike and the American fans have taken toong Gran it’s been quite a journey for you what do you make of this first experience at the Indie 500 I cried coming to The Green Room ah it is it is big it is really big bigger than everything I’ve I was expecting and I’m glad to be here I cried because of all the journey from the bin accident because my kids and my wife are here and because because they allow me to do that which uh which is a dream so I’ve been enjoying those last two weeks and hopefully today I do a good job Mike it’s a wonderful story groan starting from Row three today it is such an interesting story with groan of course we saw the dramatic moments with groan those of you who’ve been following Formula 1 you know about November in 2020 this horrific accident in the Bahrain Grand Prix literally rising from the Flames to escape with his life he told our Marty Snider recently that during his time in the hospital over com those injuries his mind was on making it to his first day of Indie card testing so he could join Jimmy Johnson the rest of the rookie class and be a part of this Indianapolis 500 it’s a little bit behind the scenes some family some of the celebrities who are here but the drivers as they all assemble for driver intros and what a moment it will be we just experienced this walking out from the pagota out here to the track as you look to your left you look to your right all you see are people no gathering this size not just in amer American Sports but anywhere the gates opened at 6:00 a.m. there have been some fans in those seats for the last 4 and 1/2 hours just waiting for the race which doesn’t happen without the drivers we’re going to be introduced to this crowd of over 300,000 right now and here’s Alan bestwick fans let’s welcome special guest Superstar DJ Steve Aoki and now let’s meet our pace car driver for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by gamebridge nine time Indie 500 competitor Sarah [Applause] fiser and now the drivers for the 106 running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by gamebridge starting in 33rd position competing in his 4 5500 from Sheffield England Stephen Wilson also from England making his sixth Indie 500 start it’s Jack Harvey and the first driver from his country competing in the Indie 500 from Denmark Christian lard [Applause] in row number 10 he won his first of two IND 500 championships as a rookie in 2000 and won again in 2015 from Columbia Juan Pablo [Applause] Montoya in the middle starting in his third Indie 500 from Ontario Canada Dalton kellet this rookie won last year’s Indie LS Championship it’s Florida’s Kyle [Music] Kirkwood starting in row N last year’s Champion pursuing an unprecedented fifth Indianapolis 500 Victory it’s the Spider-Man Elio Castroneves [Music] winner of this year’s Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg from Christ Church New Zealand Scott [Applause] mclarin and this year’s gmr grand prix winner back for his fourth Indie 500 Colton Hera [Music] now the eighth row a rookie from Toronto Canada welcome delin D Froman [Applause] chesco in the middle he’s completed 3,000 laps over 16 career IND 500 starts Marco and [Applause] readyy and the 20 13 Indie lights Champion he moved up 24 places to finish seventh last year Sage [Music] [Applause] [Music] carob in row 7 starting in his 15th consecutive Indianapolis 500 Graham Ray Hall he took the checkered flag at the 100th Indie 500 in 2016 and finished second in 2019 Alexander [Applause] Rossy and competing in his first IND 500 from Cambridge England cyot [Applause] [Music] in the sixth Row from Noblesville Indiana starting in his ninth Indianapolis 500 Conor [Applause] [Music] Daly he was the 2011 runner up and rookie of the year now starting as 12th IND 500 Jr [Applause] hilderbrand and 2016 NTT Indie Car Series champion and 2019 Indie 500 winner Simon [Applause] [Music] piono in row five 2019 rookie of the year starting his fourth Indie 500 Santino [Applause] fuchi two NTT Indie Car Series champion from 2017 and 2019 Joseph [Applause] narden and Indie light sensation with seven wins in 2021 making his Indie 500 debut David malucas [Applause] on to row number four he captured four Brickyard 400 championships here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and makes his IND 500 debut today Jimmy [Applause] Johnson in the middle he swept the month of May in 2018 winning the Indie 500 and gmr Grand Prix from Australia will power [Music] and two-time champion in 2017 and 2020 from Tokyo Japan takuma [Applause] [Music] Sato here comes Row three starting in his first Indie 500 from Geneva Switzerland Roman [Applause] Gran the NTT Indie Car Series Rookie of the Year from 2019 from Sweden Felix [Applause] rosenquist the winner of this year’s Indie Grand Prix of Alabama from moter Mexico poto award [Applause] [Music] on to the second row from Brazil the 2013 champion making his 21st in the 500 start it’s TK Tony Canan in the middle back for his fourth n500 from Sweden Marcus [Applause] Erikson he was the poll sitter and runner up in 2018 from Indianapolis Indiana Ed [Applause] [Music] Carpenter I’ll take the girls here and now the front row 2020 NTT Indie Car Series Rookie of the Year and winner of the 2021 gmr gr free Reus VK winner of the 2021 NTT Indie Car Series championship and last year’s Indie 500 runner up from Barcelona Spain Alex poo and after a record fastest poll qualifying time of 234.40 mph from Auckland New Zealand it’s the ican Scott Dixon there they are fans the 33 drivers for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500m race presented by gamebridge and those final introductions the two team and qualified one two we’ll start side by side the six time Indie Car Series champ Scott Dixon and the reigning series champ Alex pelo the teammates sat down with ar Le Diffy Scott why hasn’t this place been a little bit kinder to you when you have done pretty much everything right you know this place always mean nothing you know it’s a privilege to race here and and uh you know for very few people that get to experience it in the world you know I’m one of the lucky know less than 70 people that have had the opportunity to win here Scott Dixon from New Zealand and he is the winner of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 M race I don’t know man I’ll just keep trying to knock on that door and and hopefully one day it opens again but you know the competition is very tough Alex you gave us a thrilling finish last year we could be talking about you being the 2021 winner it was so close it was close but it was still like a lot of miles far from winning it and that’s a difference I’m still learning a lot obviously I’m still feeling a lot more comfortable old than I was last year even when I finished so uh I’m looking forward uh hopefully I know a bit more stuff I’ll keep knocking on the door as well I know it’s only my third time but I’ll I’ll KN harder you both have to go barreling into turn one on Sunday who’s going to lead into turn one well the pole sitter should lead going into turn one you know yeah yeah yeah I I hey it’s it’s a long race as long as we do it and we don’t hit each other that’ll make chip happy let’s get through the first turn right that’s part of the uh story of the start three AR breest here at Indie Dixon is the betting favor for the third consecutive Indie 500 Danica six Series titles fifth time on the poll I think of being an Indianapolis Payton Manning unmatched Hall of Fame career but that second Super Bowl that was the one that you say okay now he’s in that Elite group as well can you make that parallel with Dixon 100% And I’m so glad you said that because that’s how I feel about Scott that’s how I feel about any Champion like him or Payton or any of them that have won in multiple decades and over a really big span of time and he just stays at it I like I really want I want to sit down and interview him and ask him like what fuels you cuz he’s been going at it and being so successful sucessful for so long but I tell you what if he wins here today this will solidly put him second most successful indie car driver of all time between AJ FY and uh Mario Andrey so that’s not so bad that’s crazy if he does win this Indie 500 he’ll have a second Indie championship and Hill time Mario for the most Indie Car wins don’t forget the driver on the outside of Row one Reus F the Dutchman we are expecting big things out of him starting in that same spot for the second straight year very confident he was on Friday well his teammate Scott’s teammate also looking for a second Indie 500 win Tony Canan last month American Legion and Canan unveiled their special Indie 500 paint Scheme it’s called be the one it’s an effort to help veterans through their toughest Times by creating an outlet for vets to be the one to ask listen and reach out for help learn more at www.be thee one.org when we come back more from the four time chat castra Evis Elio chasing history for win five today at the 500 this is and always will be the greatest spectacle in racing look at the crowd they know history on the line welcome to the four time Club Elio Castro [Applause] if history happens today there will be plenty of people to see it more than 325,000 fans settling in on this gorgeous Memorial Day Sunday here in Indianapolis largest gathering in America since the pandemic everyone finding their place to watch the greatest spectacle in racing and no doubt smartphones are going to be out pictures taken when the green flag drops in less than 45 minutes and to do that the honorary start for today’s race standing by with d r guys so exciting Mike I mean Miles Teller star of Top Gun Maverick is here with us hey first off thanks for being here man thank you I appreciate it’s just uh it’s one of the biggest sporting events in the world so I when they invited me and wanted me to start it I I was just very flattered I’m excited so I got to ask you I’ve waved the green flag in a few races it’s kind of nerve-wracking I want to know if you’ve practiced it all first I got I got a little I think test they just said you know figure AES and commit and just you know be brave with it that’s great advice yes absolutely go for don’t drop it don’t drop it that’s the biggest thing I mean man to to be in a movie like this we know you’ve been in acting for a long time but to to see the reaction to a film like this Memorial Day weekend I know you spent a lot of time with people in the Navy you learned a lot what was what was training like what was this experience for you to get so close to so many soldiers well it was it was really intense training Tom kind of did a boot camp Forest we were flying for 4 months before we ever started filming graduated all the way up to the f18s and we were flying with the best fighter pilots in the world and you’re not going around there sightseeing you know when when you’re filming Top Gun you’re going up there and you’re ripping it pulling 7 and 1 12 G’s and it’s uh yeah it was intense but the audience really gets to reap the benefits of it because there’s no CGI the cameras are in the cockpit and we are you know grip and rip man it’s a it’s a it’s an incredible film with all the things that you’ve had the opportunity to do in your life coming to the n500 three 300,000 plus here today I mean there’s people everywhere you look if you see anything like this before I’ve never seen anything like this before I’ve been to some NASCAR races you know I’ve done like the Kentucky Derby the things that just feel like the Pinnacle of of um you know these American Sports we have and to be in an event like this it’s a bucket list for me too have a great time today buddy thanks for being here St Mike you got to go see a top gun Maverick right here we won’t be alone when we do that run everybody looking forward to that talking about the celebrities you see that scene behind us in the grid and backstage as well when you were back there as a driver did you ever to the celebrities and say ooh that’s pretty special person oh yeah and it’s one of those opportunities where they’re the one that actually wants to meet you and you’re like you want to but you know you need to focus so yeah that’s the hobnob area back there when the drivers come out and they see the crowd what are the emotions like for them cuz they’re just waiting to get in the car and get this race finally underway it’s tough to take it in completely because you really do have a job to do but the nerves I’m telling you Mike the nerves from basically where I’m talking about for driver intros all the way till it said they say drivers to your cars is the most nervous time and then of course you walk out here and you’ve seen what you haven’t seen in well now a few years since 2019 with over 300,000 people here and then then you have the the pageantry it’s Memorial Day weekend you have Taps you have back home again in Indiana and then when the national anthem plays and the Jets fly over it’s like you can’t avoid the emotion of it even as a driver all that coming up here in a couple of minutes all these fans have their favorites and one of the odds makers we mentioned earlier that Scott Dixon is the favorite in this race right ahead of teammate Alex pelo now tied for sixth on that list is Colton Hera his odds got worse but did get better as the days have gone on but his chances may have got worse after Friday and Carb Day scary flip after hitting the wall in turn one the newly added technology to the Aros screen in 2020 helping to protect the cockpit and in part leading to her to being healthy enough to race today and he’s standing by now with Dylan Welch yeah Mike certainly glad to have Colton in the field today after that frightening incident biggest uh difficulty he’ll maybe fac today is the fact that it’s a backup car today a car that hasn’t been an oval trim all month long the good news is it’s the car that won on the road course here at Indianapolis just a couple weeks ago but Colton in a car that you haven’t turned any overlaps in until you go down into turn one on lap one what will be the biggest challenge of your day I think knowing the arrow balance um you know you always have small discrepancies between your front wing and your backup front wing and vice versa with the rear wings so um that’s probably going to be the biggest thing but luckily we’re we’re pretty far back um which isn’t a great thing normally but in this case I think it is cuz we will have a lot of cars in front of us that will really dictate the balance of the race car we’ll probably have under steer to start with but um amazing job by by all my guys to get the car done and and ready it was a it was a brand new everything engine gearbox chassis whole right side a little bit of the left side so uh promise them for getting it done for me today new car but he’ll keep his starting position Dave C 26 and Colt mahura rolls from 25th this afternoon Dylan in 10 tries Joseph duard has not won the n500 he knows that is something he can do to make number 11 special how do you what do you have to change I don’t think anything you know we we know we can get to the end of this race and be in position to win it and I think the thing for us is we get there we’ve just got to be able to close a deal we we’ve done that a couple times where we’ve been in position and just couldn’t close today we want to try and execute and get it done but I feel so confident in the fuel rewards car our team team Chevy uh it’s a big weekend for us you know shell announced that we’re going 100% renewable fuels in 2023 huge announ announcement for our series and where we’re going in the future and to have the 8500 back full capacity here there’s nothing better than this race day and watching Joseph walk around Mike he’s been loving this with his wife Ashley and they just love the atmosphere here he’d like to win for the first time today with this huge crowd and New Garden heard a couple of drivers who you talk to folks who know the sport and are around it all the time those are guys you would normally pick with a great chance to win and breakthrough Talent Team all of that but the heard of incident from Friday D we were sitting next to each other along with Dale Junior on the peon pit box it’s a reminder of how big this place is and how you need to respect it at all times 100% if there’s one thing that you have to remember with Indianapolis Motor Speedway is that there’s no room for error here the track is very flat um so you can’t catch it it’s just things happen really quick and you’re going faster than just about anywhere that you that you go over 230 mph so the accidents are even bigger there is so much on the line here respect the track and it will probably respect you back what about people who say just hanging there to the last 50 laps well I think that that’s a good theory only from the perspective that anything can happen but I tell you what the best advice I got was that you’re never out of it so you’ve got to keep your head in it for the whole time but of course you have to watch to the end because anything can happen here esally with the hotter temperatures and the breeze as you can see that has picked up this could be a history making day for ILO castris as we’ve been talking about throughout this day the seemingly always caffeinated Brazilian today has the opportunity to become the first man to win 5500s you can’t slow ELO down on or off the [Music] track you know being 47 I just feel that she just another number right I’m going to keep it going as long as I feel I’m competitive because I just don’t want to be driving just to be driving I want to be fighting for the win we on time no we’re late no worries I can get you on time even if we’re late my at the race car driver he won the nd500 four times and he’s a really fun Dad it’s okay it’s fashionable late isn’t it he’s like nonstop he’s going going going like the energizing bunny seriously he has more energy than my daughter all right have fun that’s what I’m talking [Music] about you know a lot of people don’t understand but when you win the Indianapolis 500 the pace car is typically the tradition for the driver to keep it right now we are at the starting point the first SUV in history yes people sometimes is this a piss car so what’s wrong with it I know it’s an SUV but I like it you know it’s pretty it’s a character it’s a different one C winning my first win in the 500 was special for many reasons I remember my name changing from Al cast NIS to IND 500 Champion winning the second time was absolutely mind blowing he’s done it Elio crois wins the 86 Indianapolis 500 back to back I mean come on how cool is that [Music] right 7 years later boom 2009 this one’s particular is very special ELO becomes a three time winner of the biggest race in the world El cast wins at Indie there was a beginning of a new life for me a different life Adriana was part of my life mik was on the way basically I start changing to becoming more balanced as a family man than just a guy focusing racing I remember vividly last year people like hey you’re running out of time maybe you’re not going to make it and what do you think and like wo wo wo wait a minute I wouldn’t be doing what I do if I didn’t have the passion welcome to the four time Club Elio Castro NZ I think I still got it don’t you think it’s not the end of it it’s the beginning I tell you what after the race Mikela told me you’re my hero and uh yeah that was very special Misty Eyes right [Laughter] now R ceremon is about to begin here in Indianapolis this is The Unofficial start of summer Memorial Day weekend and a time for celebration for so many and for some it’s very hard to reconcile after the tragedy in your valdi Texas one week after what happened in Buffalo and the raw emotions that so many around the country are feeling it’s something that we try to reconcile when we come here every year for the Indie 500 because this is a celebration of America and sports but it also happens on Memorial Day weekend while fun for so many and looking forward to a Carefree couple of months of joy that is so much needed a reminder of what Memorial Day truly means and truly stands for it’s a day to spend a moment and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice defending our country protecting its Liberties and giving us the chance to do all the things like this that we love so much with that in mind we watch the Memorial Day themed pre-race ceremonies again here’s Alan bestwick ladies and Gentlemen please rise remove your hats for the presentation of colors invocation and a moment of homage as we salute those those who gave their lives unselfishly to defend our freedom to deliver today’s invocation please welcome Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C Thompson let us pray almighty everliving God May our time together today be a joyous expression of the freedom that has been preserved for us by those who have given their lives in service of our country with deeply grateful Hearts we commend them to you for all eternity Giver of peace and healer of division receive into the arms of your mercy all victims of recent tragedies in Texas Buffalo and California and all communities touched by violence and hatred Deliver Us from every Affliction may this competition remind us of the Zeal with which we strive to please you now we ask your protective care upon the drivers their teams the officials and all the fans may God receive this our prayer may God bless America yeah yeah Mar time mar mar Mark time Mark detail up order AR right face stand by ready ready hey ready hey ready hey ready present us [Music] the for [Music] [Music] [Applause] for spous SK for amber waves of GRA for Purple Mountain mesty above the fruit and [Music] [Applause] am [Applause] am God shed his grace on thee and Crown thy good with Brotherhood from sea to shining sea [Music] from sea to shineing se America the Beautiful performed by season 21 winner of NBC’s The Voice girl named [Music] Tom the Indianapolis 500 is so much more than just a race we line up at 3:00 a.m. gates open at 7: for 20 years we have camped in this same spot so much more than bricks and speed and milk it’s pageantry one of the things I’ve really missed is the parade families getting together with their kids tradition secret parking spots bumper to- bumper long lines when that green flag drops it’s worth it wild outfits memories to last forever it is a way of life in all its forms today after 2 years made smaller the 500 is whole again and it’s time for a return to routines that had been put on hold each with their own rituals but these are important things you need to understand because you’re going to be among the largest crowd you’ve ever been through your entire life for Creative Commerce when a yard becomes a parking lot I am four doors from turn four my grandparents parked cars my parents parked cars and and now it’s my responsibility to carry on that same tradition for old friends and close families linked across Generations the Kelly family has been coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1941 it’s a part of our DNA and every year we make a shirt to commemorate last year’s winning driver welcome back to IND for those loved and lost this is more than just a race to us we have lost military members within our family we started this tradition bringing this Banner to the Indie 500 on Memorial Day to honor those that have fallen it is a somber moment where we all pause and remember those that have lost their lives it’s important for us that we all remember and on this day that we cele celebrate Indianapolis and family and especially our military on this Memorial Day weekend how about another great Round of Applause for the men and women of our United States military here at the speedway watching around the country and watching around the world thank you and now ladies and Gentlemen please remain standing gentlemen remove your caps for the performance of our national anthem it is singer songr WR actor and producer please welcome Mr Jordan fiser you see by the dawn’s early light what so proudly we’ fail at the Twilight last gleaming who’s brought stripes and bright Stars through the peress fight or the ramp Parts we’ve watched were so gallantly [Music] streaming and the rocket red glare the bombs bursting in air G Pro through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star spangled bner yet wave or the L of the free and the home of the bra no place like it no day like it pre-race ceremonies will continue you’ll be with Lee DIY on the other side of this break from Indie you might think it’s just a park you might think it’s just a field you might think it’s just a race track it’s got dirt and grass fall PES two end zones two goal posts I start Finish Line like any other ball field like any other grid iron any other oval but if that’s really what you think you just don’t get it I mean you really just don’t get it there’s only a few of them across the world different from all the rest say the names and the spirits come to life Legends of the past moments people remember forever it’s not always just about what you accomplish it’s really about where you do it all the other tracks are just tracks this is Indie wherever you’re from you hear the words Indie 500 you know what people is talking about everyone who’s into sports at all grows up watching the race it’s tradition and everyone who’s ever wants to race a car dreams of racing here this is the day becomes alive all those ghosts rise up out of those bricks and they lift every driver in the race believe me as an athlete as a competitor you want to succeed in the most famous places you want to make your mark you want to become part of history and the very best will do whatever they have to to get there first drink all the milk join all the Legends become a champion become part of the greatest spectacle in racing these walls this Turf this track these are the greatest places in sports these are places that make Sports matter these are places where Legends are made gentlemen gentlemen gentlemen start your agents things don’t get any bigger or better than this a blue sky day the backdrop on one of the world’s most iconic sporting venues the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and this Indianapolis 500 telecast is presented by Firestone this place is renowned for making Heroes and the 33c car field is fueled by passion and desire the final ingredient is the fans and they are back in the hundreds of thousands and it sure feels good hi folks welcome to the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 Lee Diffy Townsen Bell James hinchcliff ready to go you know people come here for what it represents the big biggest single day sporting crowd in the world the greatest spectacle in racing there are newcomers who are wowed and there are regulars who come here for the familiarities and the Traditions like drinking the milk if you’re the winner in Victory Lane do you think there’s going to be somebody who knows how to drink the milk or a first timer I think we might see a first timer and if we do I think it’s Joseph narden Joseph newgarden is the most talented driver in this field that has yet to win he’s a two-time Indie Car Champion most importantly he won the last oval race of this season the only oval race of this season at Texas in spectacular fashion but I think the biggest boost to his chances today Joseph newgarden drives for team Pensky they’ve won this the greatest spectacle in racing 18 times they stand alone among all Indie Car teams so I think this American driver in the prime of his career is a good bet today Hench people are intrigued to know in your first NBC indd 500 broadcast who’s catching your eye honestly I love watching history be made and there’s a lot of possibilities out there but there’s two that I’m really keeping my eye on the obvious one Elio castron Nas being the first driver ever to win five Indianapolis 500s but there’s another cool one out here guys if Jimmy Johnson drinks the milk at the end of this he’ll be only the third driver in history to win both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 behind AJ and Mario and ready so like I said I’m a sports fan I want to see history be made today one way or another all right before we get things going let’s go to the guys on the ground we kick it off with Dylan Welsh Dylan and Lee last year ELO Castor nevas joined Rick MIRS Al luner and AJ Foy is four-time Indianapolis 500 winners on the line this year an unprecedented 5ifth 500 Victory he said to me last week the last thing that takes the win away is if I’m not confident in the car good news he’s confident again this year and he should be it’s the same exact car he drove into Victory Lane here last year he’s got work to do starting 27th but you can never count out Spider-Man at Indie Kevin Lee Dylan these Pace laps in just a few moments will be the first time that Colton Hera and this car have been on track after a frightening crash in the final practice on Friday afternoon the car destroyed a new backup built and this by the way is the same car that won the GP two weeks ago but a backup is never the same he still says we can win this race today Burns Kevin Townson pick Joseph newgarden hasn’t won this race in 10 tries and until Friday his pit crew had never won the pit crew challenge but they dominated on Friday afternoon perhaps that’s a good open six others have won this competition on the pre-race and then won the 500 Marty hey Dave I asked Scott Dixon one word to describe the Indianapolis 500 he said frustrating that really stems from the fact that Dixon has had the best car really in the last two Indie 500s and zero wins to show for it in fact it’s been 14 years since the six time champ won diff he told me we have unfinished business in the 500 he is looking good for sure remember remember I told you about familiarity and tradition it is time now for a Tim honored tradition it’s time for a song that lets us all know exactly where we are ladies and Gentlemen please welcome back Jim Cornelson accompanied by the Purdue allamerican marching band it’s good to be back home again in Indiana [Applause] back home again in Indi and it seems that I can see the gleaming candle light still shining bright through the sck of M for me the newon sends all his fragrance from the field I used to ro when I dream about The Moonlight on the W then I long for my IND [Applause] with as much spirit and conviction and passion as you’re about to see these 33 drivers display here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and to give the command today the man who has been the steward of the Speedway and the sport for the past 2 years it is so appropriate we go to the captain for the magical woods and now for the most famous words in Motorsports please welcome the chairman of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Mr Roger [Applause] Pinsky welcome race fans 300,000 fans here today and millions around the world are helping us put on the greatest single spectator sport in the world the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 it’s Memorial weekend we want to thank the men and women in our military and our First Responders who make our country safe and secure so we can have the greatest spectacle in racing the Indianapolis 500 be safe have fun and now for the command drivers start your [Applause] [Music] engines when Roger Pensky speaks people listen the engines are fired all the right ingredients are in the mix it’s almost time for the IND 500 now this is the site we’ve been waiting to see here at the Brickyard cars roll in preparation for the 106 Indianapolis 500 at the top of your screen the Firestone starting grid it’s going to scroll through you can look for your favorite driver as towns and Bell hooks up with the four time and defending winner Elio Castro NZ let’s see if we can get him Elio Townsen in the NBC Booth you got me yep lot and clear thousand hello my friend big big day today going after that historic fifth win you’ve got to do it from 27th though is this the biggest challenge you think you’ve ever faced in this race let me tell you it’s always a challenge you can starting to 500 doesn’t matter if it’s in the front or if it’s in the back you just got to I’m going to go with the same o always been with the pre season you know calm cool and collect so you’ve won four you’re part of that exclusive Club what are we going to call it if you win five to be the only one H that’s a good one let’s say uh the ultimate league how about that the ultimate league all right well the ultimate driver we’re going to be watching you closely best of luck today copy that guys and for everything that every driver has going on we can’t thank Elio Castro NZ enough for giving us that time as we get closer and closer to the green flag time now for our Honda track preview guys talk us around well here we go Colton Hera on board and just look at the fans guys going through turn three now or turn two now for him you see the sweets on the outside 9 degrees of banking in the corners and he’s going to pick up a big Tailwind today the win right now about 13 to 14 miles an hour blowing this direction down the back straightaway you’re going to be pulling gears catching a draft and seeing speeds of close to 240 on the opening laps in the turn three and these straightaways are 5/8 of a mile long the Corners themselves are a or qu mile long add it all up with the short shoes at an eighth of a mile there’s your 2 and 1/2 miles of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and col her here in the 26 gain Rich car will be with Castro NZ on row N trying to charge forward all right let’s show you some of the onboard shots that we have with thanks to Mission Foods this is the seven Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet of Felix rosenquist how about gram Ray Hall in the number 15 thanks to United Rentals this guy was at the front of the field last year before lost a left rear tire there’s Conor Daly with a bit Nile on board Conor starting a little further back than his teammates but very popular driver looking to move forward first ever Danish driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 with thanks to people ready this is the view that Christian lard will have in his Rayle L at Lanigan Honda and this is loard’s teammate Jack Harvey the number 45 high ve car and ellio CZ teammate Simon Paso with the Auto Nation on board today he’s going to be get G us some great shots as he tries to move his way up the [Music] field one last check in with rut wood before we go green right what you got Le 3.2 million of these Culver block hand Place bricks used to line this entire track now this 3ot section is all that you can see and it runs right through the infield through the pagota and we’re going to find out today who is our winner who’s going to be kissing These Bricks guys that’s the question we all want to know and it’ll be answered uh in 200 laps we can’t wait for the story that’s about to unfold the story is plural because they are in abundance right across the 11 rows of three and the next time by we see them here we will be racing as drivers towns and you’ve done 10 of these hints you’ve done nine what is this like it is so exhilarating you know that you’re going through free wide the only time you do this at any point during the season you got to cinch your belts check your controls and get ready for the biggest challenge to your racing life for me it’s all about finally getting to go it’s such a long month you spent so much time here at the speedway so much practice so much pressure through qualifying weekend now you finally get to get in the car almost relax switch into race mode and go for it at this point in time we need to say thank you the sport owes a Deb of gratitude to Roger Pensky for keeping this facility and keeping this series alive over the past two seasons throughout the pandemic and now for the first time since 2019 all we see a packed Grand stands blue skies above and ready to celebrate a memorial weekend Classic this is and always will be the greatest spectacle in racing this is the Indianapolis 500 the field already spread got Dixon the pole man will lead them into turn one they’re spread wide but they are stacked deep cars going two and three wide I saw will power in that red and orange multicolored car making moves to the high side down two by two through turn to the arol McLaren team teammate side by side everyone files to as Alex poo goes down to the inside Scott Dixon and turn three the blue and white NT D the Honda the man who finished runner up last year takes the lead on the opening lap bold move from Alex P especially on his teammate as there’s action further back there’s Joseph nard the golden white car already moving forward Santino fori doing what Santino does hanging on the outside to turn three four there as Reus VK now looks at the P sitter and takes him into one and Dixon’s experience says guys you have added I’m not going to get tangled up in anything early and you may have noticed Jimmy Johnson in his first 500 had a very nervous moment on the opening lap indeed he did looking back for Johnson there he is the blue car with the neon yellow trim the 48 is under attack from The Young David malucas looking to the outside malucas another driver a rookie driver but another driver that had a crash on Friday they had a fully rebuild that car and that car did not do a Shakedown so this is the first lap in Anger for David malucas challenge is on for the lead as P ward in the number five arrow McLaren and Chevrolet makes a nice move up the inside he’s able to get himself up there now into the top seven Marty Snider hey de the original pass by Alex poo to get the lead on his teammate Scott Dixon was by design by chip gassie racing their plan early in this race was to sort of swap the lead get as much fuel mileage as they could to get them to the first pit window orena VK knew that plan and he told me before the race I’m going to do everything I can to interrupt that he did it made his way up to second good movers early on Alexander Rossy up five positions the rookie delin D Francesco up four Jack Harvey up four oh Tony Canan and Ed Carpenter that was close Tony Canan the fifth carar for chip kassie racing he wants to get up there and join his teammates poo and Dixon at the front of this field not too far behind although running in sixth place two very experienced drivers and Ed Carpenter and Tony Canan going head to-head there both of them knowing that hey guys this is just the beginning of a very long race dip at first I thought Dixon might be in trouble he was dropping back a couple of spots but I think Dixon knows that experience matter matters and patience matters in The Last 5 Years the average age of the winner of this race 40 years old Dixon and his experience maybe not Dixon going forward past reena’s VK in a turn one chip kassi racing now runs one2 told you about people making good progress early on in this 106500 have a look at it bottom left of your screen Rossy Santino fuchi Devin D Franchesco Firestone biggest movers there they are we’ll keep you updated on that as will power loses another position to another arrow McLaren Chevy that’s Felix Rosen Quest as we ride on board with thanks to [Music] Verizon Kevin Lee what you got so power picked up four immediately has given a couple of them back but he’s still confident that he can get to the front and really he just said I want to be up to about fifth by about lap 150 so he’s on Pace we told you the story in pre-race his brother Damen power he sees him for the first time three and A2 years from Australia he’s been to 18500 it was the one that will power won maybe that’s a good omen look at the bright orange car third in shot that is 21-year-old Dutch driver Reena SP this kid is not afraid of anything he is so aggressive and experienced now in his third season not making nearly the mistakes we saw in his rookie year VK one of the best drivers in this field fiercely determined to win his first Indie 500 you can see there he already has one Indie Car win here at Indie in the road course race but not on the Super Speedway just yet he’s been a qualifying specialist here at 3500 it’s a worst start of fourth twice on the front row let a bunch of laps last year guys this month he’s come in with a quiet confidence he has matured a lot and it’s been really interesting to see how calm and confident he is in himself and this ECR team and somebody who did not Garner a lot of attention in our pre-race show or even in the month of May is that red and white husky chocolate Honda running fourth in this race early on there it is there that is Marcus Erikson of Sweden one of two Swedish drivers running in this race there’s only been one Swede to win the Indie 500 as the fight is on between the teammates or is it a fight maybe that was a strategic move as Dixon retakes the lead in the PNC Bank Honda if it’s a like the pelaton here where the teammates I think are going to take turns leading it the front why are they doing that because you’ll get better fuel mileage working together than if one car leads out front the whole time the trailing car has some draft to work with less air to push and speaking of air look at the back Wing here of Scott Dixon that is a medium span gurnie flap across the rear wing that’s more downforce than we’ve seen teams run in practice the reason for that it’s hot there’s less air a ailable in terms of density for downforce and gassie has opted both Dixon and poo for more downforce to help grip in the corners and on top of that the track temperature is coming up Townson it’s 108° these Firestone Tires don’t love hot track temperature so the more downforce you put on the car the more you can help those tires take care of those tires over a stint as we see guys coming through turn one with a lot of speed Felix rosenquist had a little step out there Marty Snider Felix caught that though and yes to answer Town’s question the gassie plan back on Dixon intentionally getting the lead here so working with the teammates as you guys put it to sa fuel they want to make it to about lap 31 if they can do that meanwhile Venus VK and here you see the intentional swap again with hello going back to the front BK behind them they’re having to tomm him down tame him down he loves to lead doesn’t he diff but they’re saying hey this is all about fuel right now get to that first window then we’ll be okay last year BK LED 32 laps and loved it in that right orange bit Nile machine for red carpenter racing the Chevy is flying he’s the lead Chevy behind the two Hondas of Chip gassie racing we’re up and running here in Indie 14 laps completed here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the PNC Bank Honda of Scott Dixon leading once again for the man who is fast approaching leading 600 laps in his career here at Indie and look this is the team game that’s going on poo goes to the lows side his teammate Scott Dixon rounds him up they’re helping each other with fuel economy fuel efficiency a man on the move is andred Autos Sports Alexander Rossy since the start Rossy is up five positions and not hanging around puts a move there on Jr hilderbrand going into turn three and this is mclin also up five positions we’re looking out the back of Graham Ray Hall mclin to the high side but up front with Scott Dixon and Alex poo teammates swapping back and forth they’re not getting the same kind of mileage doing that as reena’s VK who just sits there very patiently and impressively for a young driver in third spot he’s just grabbing all of that draft air he can probably lifting a little bit on the straightaways trying to extend this first in yeah I know he said he didn’t want to didn’t want to let the gassie cars run their plan he wanted to disrupt it but right now not having to lead any laps but staying in touch with the leaders that’s going to be helping his fuel mileage as we watch devil and D Franchesco in the bright yellow and orange car P off scott mlin in the Pensky de Franchesco another big mover so far up four spots on the day now as somewhat calm and meated as this looks and seems right now it only took him to lap 32 last year for the first caution as mlin works on the rookie rounds him up in the hen Chevy mlin up another one make that six positions made real nice work nice and smooth here real nice work is the call for mclin the second year intt Indie Car Series [Music] driver know you talk about calm and mature Alex poo who leads right now won a championship in just his second season of indie car racing James is such a precise and measure I call him the surgeon because every move he makes is so precise and surgical like and I asked him the other day when’s the last time you got upset about anything and he pointed to a race last year where he got taken out at Gateway but other than that this guy has been the the measuring stick for temperament in this Championship now in fact he’s caused a lot of drivers like guys like will power to rethink how they approach poo drawing inspiration from his teammate Scott Dixon who used to be the high watermark for temperament once someone sets the bar in a competitive sport everyone’s going to try and match it and there’s a reason Scott Dixon has six championships to his name it is that level measured approach often he’s not the driver that wins the most races in a season but he picks up those thirds he picks up those six when that’s all the cars got doesn’t force a mistake Alex poo used that to beautiful effect last year guess why he’s a lot calmer this year he sold his coffee shop in Barcelona and got married Marty Snider less stress without the coffee shop over there in Spain so everything going very well for Alex P so far he’s LED 12 of the 18 left but is there a potential problem on the 10 car listen in Alex our Telemetry is kind of in and out so whenever you see the blue light you got to let us know and that blue light would be the fuel light so they’re going to have to keep an eye on that they are hoping to get the Telemetry situation resolve though on the 10 Camp Dylan and Marty for Scott mlin off to a good start which was his game plan coming from 2 six knew that he had to make things happen to make up spots in this first St and that was his instruction from his spotter or his strategist rather Kyle Moyer he said go go go at the start we got to run hard especially in this first St Scott came on the radio a bit ago he is really really happy with that race car Kevin remember colon Hera has a brand new race car this is like a Shakedown at the Indie 500 as we ride the gain bridge on board let’s listen in for an update on how it’s going this thing is so sketchy to drive not fun at all hey copy that you tools right now and then Brian hertis said just hang on we’ll make some changes to make it better at the first stop Dave keeping an eye on Fourth Place Marcus Erikson in his fourth Indie 500 the 31-year-old swed wanted to improve his game even more for ovals this year in fact he had a third in Texas that was a huge boost for him but he watched hours and hours and hours of onboard footage from his second place running teammate Scott Dixon who has been so successful here and I asked him about it this week he said yeah team might chuckle just a little bit but I do want to know how to do it better where he places his car what kind of moves he makes to win and you see Dixon once again moving around his teammate Erikson is a veteran of 97 Formula 1 grand prix the man in the red and white car this is his third year with chip kassie racing his engineer Brad Goldberg told me yesterday here’s a move Santino fuchi no David MCAS pardon me on will power who continues to fall back in that Verizon Chevy didn’t look very comfortable there in turn one for will power in dirty dirty air as MCAS went by on board here with power the nose cam I think he was getting some coaching there from the stand I heard to the right maybe weight Jacker moving cross weight on the front axle that’s a button you can use on the steering wheel to move cross weight to the right front or potentially right front bar and you can hear on that onboard Townson he’s he’s Feathering the throttle quite a bit through turn three when he was going through even though he has a decent amount of clear air behind him so he is just falling back into the clutches of Alexander Rossi in the Napa Auto Nation Honda running behind him who’s already up five spots from his starting position so will power under threat right now from Alexander Rossy and they they’re going in opposite directions Rossy might be up five will power is down seven positions from where he started you’re watching NBC’s live and exclusive broadcast of the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Firestone now a reminder that you can scan now for Verizon 5G Ultra pass and get exclusive 360° immersive views of the Indie 500 powered by the ultra F speeds and massive capacity of Verizon 5G Ultra wideband and speaking of Verizon 5G I painted a more dire picture for will power than it actually was he’s only lost three positions not seven but he is struggling the ganassi DU at the front the orange and blue machine is Scott Dixon the PNC Bank Honda the white and blue car is his Spanish teammate the defending Series champion we ride with Alex poo with this special Indie 500 helmet this beautiful Chrome white and blue with special 3D effects on the side and said I wanted to do something really special for this year’s race coming in here as the Series champion Series champion and he was second place in this race last year so badly wants to do one better but he’s already up against it a little bit with that Telemetry issue these cars beam hundreds of sensors worth of data back to pit Lane the engineers are pouring over it in real time now a lot of that information is available on the steering wheel the driver can see it but the driver is trying to navigate a racetrack at 220 M hour they don’t have a lot of spare time to look at that so hopefully there’s something they can do to get that Telemetry working take a little of the pressure off Alex poo well speaking of telemetry thanks to the Firestone Telemetry no issues up here we’re getting a nice clean stream but just watch the bottle Trace here for poo you’re going to see him lift a little bit on the back straightway looks like maybe we are dropping out cuz the speed kind of got hung up there a little bit but on the front straightaway you’ll see poo lift a bit save some fuel in that draft and still handling well as Dixon goes low I think Dixon’s coming to pit lanane he is Conor dy’s in Dave what you got and Lee we heard how much confidence he had in the pre-race show today I’m the most confident ever and he has a confident pit stop there first one of the day Marty and Dave this is a lap that chip gassie racing wanted to get to lap 31 for Scott Dixon originally they were going to leave him out a little bit longer very happy with the handling of the car he did ask for a very slight adjustment on the handling and we’re going to dive a little more into that Telemetry issue for his teammate Alex fow as well Hench I think they’re a little concern here on the timing stand as well fresh Firestone tires for Scott Dixon again getting inside that fuel window they wanted here on lap 31 took a few extra seconds there for that front wing adjustment so because it’s a green flag stop Dixon will come out in clean air by himself and here comes poo have to see how they blend back out after the 10 comes to pit Lane Marty you’re there Barry wer telling his guys here on Pit Road nice and smooth no issues we need a clean stop here below unlike his teammate Scott Dixon very happy with the handling of the car he led the majority of those laps in fact 16 to this point when they were swapping the lead back and forth and the Telemetry issue still there I just confirmed with them a moment ago Jimmy Johnson’s pitting behind him coming down Pit Road right now lot of UND steer for Johnson we saw those so lose those spots off the initial run Jimmy told me this week listen halfway that’s where I want to get to in the race at that moment I think I’ll take another step forward in my progression that’s what I’m looking forward to Johnson with a solid run inside the top 10 so far all right there’s Scott Dixon at speed tires warm going into turn two teammate Alex P is going to blend out and just like clockwork chip kassie racing joins back up on the track Dixon goes by po will tuck in and that was even with a slight issue on the right front for the 10 car so that overcut going that lap longer Marty I think really did give poo a little advantage and look who sat behind the chip gassy racing cars Reena VK he gets here and he gets uh Firestone Tires and leav so they saved a little bit more fuel on the 21 the young driver showing a lot of patience here we’ll see where he Cycles out with those chip gassy r watch the blend watch the blend here’s reena’s VK up against Scott Dixon and Alex poo it’s going to be the gassie one two that it all just fly on by but VK is closer than where he was [Music] before that is amazing 2 and 1 half miles at 220 mph average and a pit stop and they come right back out with each other Dave Marcus Ericson complained about a little bit of under steer with his car four fresh Firestone Tires and Fuel and he got here Tony can out of Pit Road as well good launch there from Ed Carpenter and that elend that purple and ARA Chevy for his own team the only owner driver in the field there he is there exiting off Pit Road right behind Marcus ericon Kevin Lee will power lost position really really loose big Wing change and power is back out so pretty interesting James as we see will Po’s nose cam here tucked in behind I believe that’s the the 15 of Graham Ray Hall pretty interesting with poo and Dixon the mileage was two laps short of what Reus VK and Marcus Erikson went one lap longer than VK so I don’t know if this thing stays green a long time I’m not sure the gassie cars are going to want to take on the lead of this race with the mileage they’re getting doing that well that’s just it you know Reena VK did not actually lead a single lap so it just shows you how much more fuel you burn when you’re out front pushing all that air compared to when you’re in the draft like Reen VK is right now here we go here we go is this going to be the first little disruption to the gassie strategy formulat greena VK in that bit Nile Bitcoin bright orange car he’s running his nation’s colors and if I’m Scott Dixon here I’m happy to sit back I’ll run third I’ll take that mileage all day long and try to get myself back on the same fuel window as reena’s V okay BK being pretty aggressive right now I don’t know that he needs to this early but he wants that P2 position the question is does Renos VK want to lead this this early let’s take a look at the pit time differential right here Scott Dixon versus Alex poo on the pit in a little bit of an advantage to Scott Dixon the time on pit Lane was 9/10 of a second in Alex P’s favor that’s the driver getting down from 60 mph to zero in the pit box and then from zero back up to 6 60 and then of course the time in pit box like we said a little hold up on the 10 2.5 seconds slower and that’s part of the advantage there that was powered by NT Dylan iio castris in for his first stop he went six laps longer than the leaders that’s what they had to do if they weren’t able to make up the track position they wanted ELO down and away so these initial pit stops just give everybody a chance to kind of take a breath reset make any adjustments that they weren’t happy with in that opening stint and then start to refocus his Jimmy Johnson one of the things he was concerned about was those stops he said I just be need to be clean I want to execute those as Scott mlin and the penoil shimy rounds up the seven time mascot Cup Series Chan speak for yourself maybe you get to take a breath during those pits ups but I promise you these drivers their heart rates are through the roof it is so difficult going from 220 mph Townson down to 60 you’re in the pit Lane there’s exposed crew members you have to hit your marks perfectly and as we talked about the inaps and out laps are so important for these green flag pit cycles that no you are not getting a break as a driver I think it’s huge diff that the two drivers that went the farthest on the first stint won Pablo Montoya a two-time winner and Elio castres a four-time winner the veteran drivers saved massive fuel went so much further than most everybody else in the field that could pay off huge down the road and that paid off big for Caston Evans last year for both of those veterans OT Castro NES going for win number five one Pablo Montoya could be a three-time indy500 winner at the end of today Major drama here in the early going in the Indie 500 the spectacular young Dutch driver Reus VK crashes out of this 106th running the AMR safety team as they always are spot on fast on the scene and the 21-year-old climbs from his car just watch happened wow big gap between VK and Alex pelo just got loose down in the middle of turn two wow Fireball as the gearbox explodes dumps probably all the oil [Music] out and I mean Scott Dixon heads up having to avoid that accident looking behind from the back of Alex below you see a big wiggle he catch it very similar to that practice Crash from Colton Hera just in turn two not in turn one and that is all she wrote for the 21 bit Nile car man just six laps on the tires diff I wonder if he had really adjusted the car in traffic and then ended up in some clean air and all that front down for us as mom looks on Mom on the right hand side that’s Eevee she knows how good her boy is but his day is done Marty and if he said it just snapped on me and you could hear it in his voice he knew how good of a car they had he said I am so sorry guys and you know hinch it’s going to be an issue today maybe with the temperatures coming up up and you can feel it here on Pit Road I know the track temperatures are creeping up as this race goes along temperatures are coming up wind’s coming up be the result always as you know hinch this always changes the complexion of the race the first caution on lap 38 ring VK the first retirement one of the most celebrated returns to Indie 2022 in addition to the Grand stands being open for everybody is this the legendary snake pit and if you thought things were crazy on the track maybe it’s time you go and visit the snake pit that’s where our rutle wood was before but where do we find R now you know Lee with 300,000 people here the snake pit had 30 it was packed I just needed a little time to myself to enjoy this racing and I’m in a swan booat I’m having the time of my life but the wind is strong out here too and it doesn’t seem to matter which way I steer I just sort of Bob around but hey I got room if one of you guys wants to join me bu all right note on the scander r rut complaining about too much under steer out there in the swan boat thanks rut up here in the peacock pit box Scott Dixon pit right behind us rest of Pit Road down behind Dale Jr you’re over there closest you’re feeling the wind that’s part of the story here thus far yeah I think it’s going to be part of the story and get more you get stronger as the day goes it started out about 10 mph winds and it’s going to get up to around 13 14 M hour but the gust are the problem uh the gust will be over 60 MPH by the end of this race it’s head on into the driver’s face going down the front straight away going to make the car loose into one and then it’s going to be behind you pushing you down the back straight away going to have some big speed into three but no air on the nose and the car is going to be real tight so going to be interesting how the drivers will have to adjust the car Danica as they’re running the lap to accumulate that wind well one of the things that we have in Indie Cars is a lot of controls a lot of cockpit adjustments so these drivers are not a stranger to having to make a lot of adjustments a lot of the time out there they might be changing their weight Jacker and all kinds of different things but between end and end and they do that in qualifying it all the time so they’re pretty conditioned and ready for that but it’s still it’s if things get busy out there in traffic I mean you forget to make an adjustment and all of a sudden it’s you know one of the ends doesn’t grip and you’ve got a problem always part of the story what happens on Pit Road got through those first pit stops without a problem but 1/5th of the race gone by and we’ve lost somebody from Row one Reena VK out of the race R Li wood in a oneman race that he might not win on a swan and a boat and Indies dancing challenges are coming to NBC with Shakira Liza Koshi and Nick Jonas match their moves and win big money Dancing with Myself Premier Tuesday 109 Central on NBC and streaming on peacock sounds like towns and Bell’s former life dancing by myself we want to thank our friends Honda for giving us the wonderful aerial coverage but back to things a little more serious uh reena’s F out of the race spectacular crash he was okay the 21-year-old Dutch driver stepped from the car it has reset this field but somebody Kevin Lee who wasn’t really enjoying things again was team Pensky will power tell us more he said the car was really good the first half of the first 10 then just went Wicked loose they made changes on the stop no better so they came in again under this yellow and then staled as well coming that out lost a few more spots so he’s all the way back to 30 it’s a lot of work to do for will power and what’s great about these pit stops in an opportunity like that is these these cars are tunable we see the crew guys adjusting the front wing on the car that’s adjusting the angle of that front Wing which controls how much air is pushing down we call it the center of pressure essentially the balance between the amount of air pressing down in the front of the car versus the back of the car it can really affect the handling so will not happy with this car but over this long race and all these stops down so you can come in you can not only work on it in the car with those tools Dano was talking about but also the pick gr can help you with wing changes and also tire pressure adjustment yeah but you will not want to be stalling that race car if it comes to a green flag stop luckily for power that happened under caution he just lost a couple of spots but stayed on the lead lab couple of Indie 500 rookies yes feels weird saying rookie for 10-year Formula 1 veteran Roman Gran but in the DHL Honda the andred Autos sport driver is really settling beautifully here at the Brickyard so Roman runs 11th behind him David MCAS David had a huge crash after colliding with Santino fuchi on Carb Day on Friday so the Dale coin with hmd racing has done a terrific job with this car and the 20-year-old is doing awesome and Connor Daly Indiana’s zone is tucked in behind them as we get ready to go back to racing almost quarter race distance let’s get back to it here the 106th Indie 500 three chip kassie racing Hondas up front but there’s a bunch of Chevys four wide bad start from Felix rosenquest Santino fuchi Tuma Canan up the inside look at all his position change that was an incredible run I think Santino fuchi comes out okay in that deal s went right around the outside the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner we’re on board with conad Dy lot of big eyes right now because at Indianapolis restarts means opportunity as Tony Canan to the inside of Sato there in the purple car that’s a Ryan Hunter race special down into turn three but a great drive from the number one Tony Canan to get that position this white and blue car for chip gassie racing he wants to get up with his teammates and he is getting there four gassie cars in the top six and this is award to the inside of Ericson and that orange and black car now arol McLaren SP wants to mix it up with the strongest team in the field so far this Mexican youngster has just had his contract renewed through the end of 2025 he’s not going anywhere and he will continue to be a star of the NT Indie Car Series so Dixon poo award Erikson Ed Carpenter and Tony Canan in that American Legion Honda Tony told his teammate Jimmy Johnson before this screen flag even flew hey if you want to go somewhere tuck him behind me cuz I’m not hanging back today Tony Kanan aggressive early as he always is and he’s never shy about declaring that before the start of the race it’s a bit of a Babe Ruth moment every year with Canan he makes crystal clear to the field hey guys watch out I’m going high early going to go around some people on the start yeah I mean bab Ruth used to point to the Outfield to call a shot he he points to the outer line that High Line and does not mind hanging it out there on those restarts and he’s doing a great job Dave Burns and hinch his balance was okay earlier today before the first round of pit stop so very happy for the 47-year-old who doesn’t know uh how much longer he’s going to do this but he says every time I can get in the competitive car and come back to Indie I’m going to do it this year he would have run more ovals but of course it was Jimmy Johnson’s choice to run the ovals with his road courses this year that he shared last year so Canan fan favorite having a great day in six right now Marty hey Dave what a move from padle Ward to get up to the third position we mentioned his teammate while Pablo Montoya going longer than almost everybody else in the entire field along with ELO castas will award was just one lap short of that he went five laps longer than the ganaste cars right in front of him that could be a big advantage on this run it’s right on board here with poto award look at that Firestone Telemetry about 216 mph minimum speed in turn four you’re going into the wind here but you’ve got the benefit of the draft with poo and Dixon as the leaders switch places poo back to the front they’ve been doing this since the start working as a team and now pwa Ward finds himself in the same place green as VK was just sitting back in third here watching these gassie guys run up front taking their turns but again never a lap you’re going to save that much more fuel he was already much later to his last Pit Stop 35 for p Ward 30 for Dixon a huge Advantage right now for the number five car and he told us during this month of May that he learned a lot last year he learned a lot by simply running at the front he led 17 laps but he was in that mix towards the end here’s Dixon setting up for a move on poo again we’ve seen that multiple times Poo’s LED 29 laps Dixon has led 17 so it’s Honda Honda and then the first Chevrolet is p Ward further back there’s the number one of Tony Canan who was making some big moves a few laps ago look at Canan there on the top side of the screen he’s the one that made it four wide going high on peruchi across the bricks and that’s Felix rosenquist and the other McLaren the views car back there that I think wisely backed out of that four- wide situation I think we may have [Music] circled so they start to stretch back out here there’s Connor Dy up behind Joseph newart and surprisingly we’re 50 laps in not a single team Pensky car in the top 10 just yet new at 11 these guys are going at it that’s iot and Colton Hera the green and white and black CS the hos hullinger Chevrolet of Indie 500 Rookie Callum isot this is the gamebridge Honda of Colton herder who we showed you multiple times in the preow show suffered that massive crash on Carb Day where the car got air went upside down and fortunately Big M for herder almost went into the wall I think Colton might have gotten the left front on that Apex curve big lift and this is going to allow KET to draft up and get by pretty easily to the high side it looks so unassuming from the on board camera but from inside the seat colon Hera is catching his breath big time try to bring his heart rate down that was a huge moment at these speeds and especially after what he went through on Friday and knowing he’s already in his backup car that isn’t been hasn’t been as good to him so far yeah this is the Indie 500 but there’s an indie car Championship with a race next weekend in Detroit Hera’s already had one car destroyed as the spotter says settle down and this is why this is final practice on Friday Hera same deal back end loosens up this this time in turn one huge hit up and over destroyed the tub the engine the gearbox the suspension the only thing left was the safety cell the cockpit where the driver sits hang in there we can make a front Wing adjustment we can take front Wing out when we stop that’s the voice of his father Brian who made six Indianapolis 500 STS with the best of third back in 2005 he’s the voice of reason to this talented young California and he’s he’s telling his son we can take some Wing out that means that Colton her’s car is loose the rear end not as much grip as the front look up at the top of your screen you can see how wide he got that was from a wiggle in the middle of the corner so takes him Wing out that’ll move the balance a little bit further to the back yeah clearly something happened down low in the corner Hera had to chase it with his hands and he’s really hanging on now you’re turning into the wind right there and Hera still several laps of tell his fuel window and he is desperately holding onto his race car so it’s time to hear from the man who is out of this race Reena okay how is he mty he is fine and that’s the first thing he said to me and then he walked up and he said man we had such a good car I could hear it in your voice the dejection what happened over there uh well first of all I have to say sorry to to all the fans and the team and everyone who worked hard uh we put the car in the front row we were in P2 but it was it was tough out there uh car was a little bit free L race and yeah I just I turn into turn two and car gets loose and well once that happens your passenger and couldn’t do anything so uh yeah just a bummer really uh I think we had a good shot at at a good finish or maybe a win but uh yeah just caught me off guard and you heard a mentioned there diff he said it’s tough out there he came out and told me it’s tough and it’s getting tougher as it gets warmer warmer and windier they are not great conditions here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but we have quite the race on our hands as the teammates at the front continue to dominate you’re watching the Indianapolis 500 live here on NBC presented by Firestone the Sirius XM listen free event is on now through June 6th press the button in your car to start listening right now welcome back folks lead ify towns and Bell James Hinchcliffe with you on the call for this what has been a very intriguing Indie 500 already just the one caution just the one retirement Reena VK we just heard from him with Marty out of the infield Medical Center at okay just very regretful and remorseful for what went down the car just got away from him this event so far has been dominated by chip gassie racings Alex poo who leads the way in that NT data Honda and his six time Championship winning teammate scottt [Applause] Dixon probably two to three laps I would expect until these Front Runners have to pit again not getting the same sort of mileage as some of the cars hanging further back like Erikson poto a ward a lot of these guys getting better mileage in the draft and it’s going to put a lot of pressure like the first round of stops on pit Lane the guys are going to have to execute well hit their marks and Marty Precision is everything in the pits they have orchestrated it so well so far Tal’s and 138 laps to go though so yeah you can play with your teammate nice right now towns and right but when does that go away and when do you say hey we’re not going to play the game anymore and then also it’s got to start factoring in we’re not getting better fuel mileage we thought this would work we thought this would get us to where we need to be but clearly the rest of the field able to do it better yeah just no way to get around the fact that if you want to lead even if you’re swapping places you’re going to be pushing the full force of clean air and working that Honda that much harder burning that much more fuel and I guess to answer your question when do you play nice or when do you stop playing nice Marty I think once you know you’ve got Checkered Flag in sight with 20 to go you’re going to send it getting ready for the second round of stops we’re going to duck away we’re going to go non-stop you won’t miss a thing Alex blow putting Colton Hera a lap down but pit stops happening Jimmy Johnson on Pit Road the seven time Nascar Cup Series champion coming down Pit Road and saying man I am just struggling with under steer meaning that car wants to wash out to the wall from the center of the corner off fresh firestones and another adjustment trying to free up that 48 he had a good passage though despite having under steer he had a good passage tucked in right behind the four-time and defending winner Elio Castro NZ back to Pit Road Cold Hera is in in the car he said just feels like it’s broken he feels like he’s going to crash every lap we knew this was a possibility with a repaired race car Marty Scott Dixon coming down Pit Road his teammate Alex blow will come down this lap as well Dixon’s been pretty happy with his race car but they’re also altering Dave when they come down Pit Road Dixon does it first then P will come down next solid stop for Connor Dy one thing they’ve had trouble with today oh cyot big crash inside at the exit of turn two the hunos Hollinger rookie is out of the Indie 500 oh boy so another one of the youngsters in the field crashes out in spectacular style as Alex poo made it to Pit Road hey def he entered the pitch when it was closed they told him to drive by so we’re have to watch what happens here with Alex below he didn’t catch the Light he came in when Pit Road was closed that’s exactly what happened to Scott Dixon last year on the initial stop good to see C myot the young British driver out of the car under his own Steam and walking and talking with the AMR safety team this is what happened just loses it looks a lot like Reus VK in a very similar spot much earlier in the corner it seems like he lost the back end got all the way around on board from Christian lingard right now not knowing which way to go trying to keep his own car from spinning out hitting debris have to worry about a puncture now from that sharp shards of carbon fiber and then here’s p and take a look there’s going to be a yellow light You See It come on right before he gets to this line that’s the pick commit line he was so close to getting away with that this is very much going to change the structure of his voice in real time it just looks so Savage and some big pieces of debris that likely were collected by a few of those trailing cars in that second hit to the inside wall nearly headon a massive massive hit for the rookie driver let’s talk more about Alex poo his Marty Snider lot of radio conversation between Barry wer there on your screen and Alex poo they’re telling him save all the fuel you can you called it right hinch this is exactly what happened to his teammate Scott Dixon last year they are worried it might run out of fuel they think they think it can make it one more lap to get around once Pit Road is open they’re not sure well that’s just it he was coming to Pit Road cuz he was out of fuel and now he’s having to circulate still he might 27 now he might have to enter under a close pit to get fuel and that would be catastrophic for the day of Alex poo in this NT data car man what a tough break would send him all the way to the back of the field which is exactly the opposite end of where he’s been this is the driver who has led the majority of the race 42 laps poo has led the other thing that happened there is that as Scott Dixon was trying to get to pit Lane it was Colton herder that was kind of holding him up on the in-lap and Dixon had to check up as well so all of a sudden it goes from Total dominance and control from Chip gassie race team just completely managing the race to this racetrack managing those two drivers and towns and they’re going to have to bring to 10 down Pit Road and the Pit Road will not be open so emergency service here for Alex blow again they thought they could make it until they were able to open Pit Road they will not be able to I mean chip gassie has got to be sitting here diff thinking what do I have to do to win this race as a team same situation as Scott Dixon last year exact situation he’s going to come in now under emergency service to get fuel there is the man behind the name chip ganassi the legendary team owner and onetime Driver um and then he’s going to have to serve a penalty once the race goes back to green so this is truly a hurtful situation to Alex P’s chances he can only get fuel here no tires then he will have to come in do the full stop get the rest of the fuel and the new set of tires and then serve the penalty so this is devastating but it’s going to work out for Scott Dixon having just got in before this yellow happen where all the other cars in front of him are going to have to pit maybe this is the day this is the day where the luck and Fortune has changed for Scott Dixon it certainly hasn’t for Alex poo we are back you’re watching live here on NBC and pit Lane is alive let’s kick things off with Dave Burns Dave couple more chip kassy racing drivers Marcus Harrison top right top left Tony Canan Tony’s pretty happy with his race car Erikson really happy with his race car and saying also back from his team that the fuel numbers are great everything’s going well for this team Marty bottom left P Ward pissed from the lead saying his car was too draggy when he was in traffic much better when he was out front Ed Carpenter comes in running third the race off Pit Road is going to be a tight one here but again they’ll cycle through here with the ones that already pitted they’ll stay out and they’ll go to the front look at that performance for fuchi that small team dryer Reinbold racing taken fuchi to the front on pit Lane guy who has an amazing history here sadly for the first time at calot and hos Hollinger it’s over NBC’s coverage of the Indie 500 brought to you by Firestone tires for driving Indie Car Legends NT official sponsor and Technology partner of the NTT Indie Car Series hi ve throughout the Race season HIV deals.com provides a chance to win $25,000 highve deals.com proud sponsor the number 45 car and by United Rentals official equipment rental services partner of indie car and rayall Lan Lanigan racing what a beautiful dat is here in Indie as we are under our second full course caution now in the fourth episode of Reinventing the wheel Jimmy Johnson faces broken bones and a broken Indie Car during a challenging Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach persevering through the pain he and the carvana team at chip kassi racing show show their strength and resilience clearly I want to be in the race as long as I can manage the in the right hand he is searing just with these two fingers I hate making mistakes and I mid tune now a little fire on car as the safety team races out to check on the driver we are under our second caution and the field has been jumbled this is now starting to turn the complexion is changing stick around we’ll be back back here in at Indie we just saw those pit stops pit Lane comparison powered by NTT shows Scott Dixon currently showing as the leader who’s LED 24 of the 75 laps so far the comparison just about a half second faster than Conor Dy shows second at the moment up here in the peacock pit box with Danica Patrick and Dale nhart Jr it’s you feel for what happened here with pois he was just about to enter pit Lane and obviously the yellow comes out with the accident with eyot your uh observation so far 75 laps through yeah well it just shows how quickly things can change I mean there was nowhere for poo to go Alex had had to stay and he probably would have been more dangerous to try and stay on track so like I said You’ got to keep your head in it I mean we’ve got VK running second basically spinning and crashing we’ve got poo that was running so well and then now he’s basically last because of that pit scenario things happen so quickly here they change so fast you’ve just got to keep your head on straight and know that there’ll be opportunities for you in the end if it goes wrong or we know a lot of these teams committed to a certain strategy at the start of this race these cautions falling like they are how’s that going to change that pit that fuel strategy for a lot of these teams and also it’s always going to be fun having Connor Daly and fuchi up in the top 10 fi’s been really aggressive on restarts I hope he’s there all day long cuz he’s going to be entertaining just like he was your first time here in 2019 when he was a rookie as well ready to go back to green we go back to di Mike one of the moments of this race last year was a guy who’s a few ahead of of Santino Ruchi local driver Connor Daly when he took the lead last year this crowd which was nowhere near the size of what it is now they went crazy imagine if Dy can go to the front on Scott Dixon here the end of the second caution period let’s go back to racing watch the white and blue American Legion car fifth in shot there here goes award here goes Canan look at this into turn oneide clear four wide behind them con go now they seem to figure it out Conor held off p a ward into turn one and now he’s going to chase down Scott Dixon try to get that lead back looks like a ward had a check up a little bit there that bunches up the whole rest of the field as Canan goes to the high side in that white card on teammate Marcus Erikson Canan no has to back out Erikson holds the position groan tucks in behind syes car ahead of gram R Hall Devin D Francesco running the high line through turn three trying to make up some ground find some clean air to get onto his front Wing as a pass with the lead is coming Conor Daly and that number 20 blue and gold fit Nile car stays in line behind Scott Dixon thought twice didn’t he he thought twice and that was smart he had a taste of that lead last year he also had a taste of what it’s like to burn more fuel and probably have his team good job buddy Saint stick with him is Connor going to lift here in Coast let’s watch and listen yep patience patience from the local boy before we forget right at the bottom of your screen you seeing those daylow letters behind the Indie 500 logo Connor is paying special tribute to some Fallen mates some Fallen drivers Justin Wilson Brian Clawson and Dan welen that is a beautiful touch creep up on us here plus six plus six here a good spot buddy that’s his spotter telling him about six car lengths behind is pwa Ward the spotters up in the grand stands in turn one and turn three giving the drivers all sorts of information as they drive and I wonder if there’s any chatter from the number nine team Marty are they talking at all about telling Dixon to think about maybe giving up the spot and tuck it in for mileage the phrase there goes our plan was uttered on the radio a little while ago for Scott Dixon and his race team here we go inside ton outside clear and you can hear the Roar from the crowd they love Conor da at the front this local lad LED 40 laps last year and the crowd loved every single 40 somehow I think the master Scott Dixon knew let him go let him go for right now listen to the [Applause] crowd it’s almost like watching the wave at a baseball stadium you know as Connor comes around the track Each corner the grand stands are standing up with Scott Dixon lining up to take that lead back clear it was short lived but it felt goodie racing ahead of Ed C into racing McLaren maybe Scott Dixon sending a signal let’s work together at this phase of the race even though they’re not teammates Dixon knows I’ve got to work with somebody if my teammate’s not in this with me right now I’ve got to find somebody else to dance with at the front pwa Ward essentially lost his five laap advantage that he had from that first in because of that yellow but he still has a few lap Advantage lap 72 was when he last pit 68 for the lead Duo and was we right on board the blue and orange PNC Bank car Marty what do you know about it well I was going to talk about the conversation I had with Dixon yesterday he told me I’m done saving fuel with the nd500 I really feel like it’s kind of hurt us the last couple of years and this is the test this is when it’ll be put to the test he doesn’t have a wingman any longer he’s not up front with his teammate Alex below so now how hard will Dixon run he showed hey I like Conor Dy lead one lap but I want to go right back to the front so a little further back in this field but we should not take our eyes off the penzo Chevrolet here goes a move for the lead conad goes again fairly straightforward there’s the Yellow Submarine Scott mlin in his second Indianapolis 500 started 26th after a qualifying gamble went wrong he was in 15th gave away his time when again conditions weren’t optimal and so he started 26th mlin and Elio Castro NES have been storming through this field mlin now finds himself 14 positions up and is looking strong Dylan Welsh and this track position plays right into their wheelhouse as far as their strategy goes Kyle Moyer told him you’re okay to use fuel here to get a few more spots but he’s quick to remind him too the car that they’ve had to start this race will not be the car they have to finish so he said do not be a hero early in this race just take it as it comes that’s what they’ve done so far they’re up 14 spots in right and 12th right now for mclin a little further back another car that’s on the Move eloc castr Nas he’s up 13 spots kind of a similar approach for them they went six laps longer on fuel on that first stint than everybody else so they know they can do that here if we get some more green flag stops but just letting this race come to them as well Adam rozini his strategist said Elio is so good here he just knows where to be when to be there and also lets this race come to him better than anybody else he’s ever worked with so they’re in a great spot right now too of 13 spots for Elio as he rides 14 and again Dixon and Dy swap the lead just watching the hands there the white gloves from ELO castres you see patience I see quiet determined hands and a race car most importantly James that looks perfectly balanced in dirty air Elio knows he’s going to get great mileage right now but work on your race car get it in just the right window that’s what made him a four-time winner last year that’s what might make him the first five-time winner this year you don’t see him hanging on to it this the way we saw colon Hera he’s gentle with his hands gentle with his throttle the way he rolls out of it and rolls back into it as he now hounds David malucas who’s doing a great job at 13th the top running rookie he lost a bunch of spots in that pit sequence but still running first of these rookie drivers and he has anything but a rookie hounding him with Elio castres you talk about patience look at Castro NZ on this last restart three wide in front wait what four wide in front where am I going to go answer nowhere I’m going to sit here and watch this sort itself out castona is doing a great job exercising patience and protecting his race car and immediately ahead was immediately ahead was Roman Gran saying what is happening get me out of [Music] here look to the left Sage carum woo that’s some Mario Kart action right there boys takes the draft off gr Ray Hall Roman Gran threads the needle slots in behind I believe it was Elio there no what slot in behind that was uh Rossy maybe Ray Hall groan and Castro evz so you got three dads with kids and one single guy in his early 20s diff in the Indie 500 he’s married that’s true Roan now says now I know what they’re talking about here in IND here in the greatest spectacle in racing One driver could not only win the Indie 500 but could check off the oval course on their list and be in the running to win1 million people ready is proud to advance its mission to be a force for good in communities Across the Nation for more information on the people ready Force for good challenge visit people ready.com and what it’s all about is If a driver wins on three different types of tracks you win that million and in the spirit of the race and the spirit of giving at the 500 people ready is doubling the usual 10,000 Force for good award for the winner to $20,000 which can be donated to the driver’s charity of choice or split between them but the big prize is a million for the first to win on three different types of track and Joseph New Garden is 2/3 of the way there and that will carry on all throughout the season so will somebody do it in 2022 Scott Dixon in the PNC Bank Honda for chip gassi racing has land LED 38 laps as we fast approach the halfway mark and a difficult situation here for Dixon and Dy cuz they’re just sort of outside the fuel window to make it on three stops because they pitted right before the yellow on the last round of stops everybody behind him award on down has about four laps to the good advantage on fuel to Dixon and Dy let’s talk about tum masato the two time Indie 500 winner with Dave Burns and Lee when he went to dalecoin racing with Rick wear racing a lot of people wondered why you would go to such a small team and he said the passion that these people have for the Indie 500 and the fast cards that they bring that’s why I want to go there everything has proven that Marty as he led most of the practice sessions last week at the top of the chart hey Dave the point Townson brought up a moment ago is so key starting to creep into the conversation for the nine of Scott Dixon they know everyone behind them has a little bit better fuel situation and the interesting thing to me Townson is they’re sort of doing this on the Fly it’s Honda helping Chevy Connor Dy helping Scott Dixon are they doing it with hand signals are they putting the spotters together how do they make this work so they can save fuel but your point is right everybody behind them has a better fuel situation in the first place well they’re two competing drivers on two different teams and if Connor dy’s been asked hey take turns with Dixon at the front I don’t know I think I’m happy to just hang back because it was Dy again last year that led so many laps in this point of the race and really took him out of the mileage game despite the fun and the thrill and the spectacle of bleading the indd 500 yeah I mean Marty mentioned Scott Dixon’s approach this year he’s been caught out more than once on being conservative and sort of waiting for the right time to pounce the yellow comes out the strategy changes and it’s taken away a couple any 500 victories for him so Scott’s going to go a different approach now hammer down let’s see how this plays out wouldn’t it be so cruel if it went the wrong way because of this approach d right well they’ve tried every approach three of the top five are chip gassy racing cars which is emblematic of the way qualifying went and the way that the practice the final practice on CB day went here’s the American Legion Honda of Tony Canan Series champion and M500 winner and similar to his longtime Brazilian mate ELO Castro Nez these guys the age is no barrier they are ageless Tony’s been racing a variety of cars he’s still doing his triathlons and Iron Man’s the father of four he brought two of his four kids up onto the uh driver introduction stage and just lives for this event now as an official charity of indie car and chip gassie racing American Legion is encouraging fans to support our veterans now more than ever text on a vets to 41 triple4 or visit legion.org to show your support and maybe show your support for Tony Canan as well he’s running in the top five just behind Tony Canan is Santino fuchi driving for Dry reinbolt racing you got to remember this team and this driver this is the only race they do this year it is a huge accomplishment the pace that they have shown already but also how well fuchi has raced his way to the front and on pit Lane this team this little team from Indianapolis outperformed some of the biggest names in the sport and jumped up three spots and Dave they are having a perfect day so far at the track that he does so well at and towns and some of our viewers may have noticed why is he the only one with what you may have called in recent times the limo tint right that tint of glass little wiggle there from a nice catch and it is because he says he has sensitive eyes and he asked the team hey can we tint the arrow screen on my race car and I’ll wear a clear shield on my helmet that’s what they’ve done it’s worked out well for him in fact he thought Others May copy it but I don’t see anybody else on the track that’s doing that so fuchi with the limo tent and now running in sixth place well we mentioned earlier in the broadcast that Santino was involved with an incident with David malucas on the final practice on CB day on Friday and and it was just one of those awkward situations heading into turn one it could have involved both cars being damaged unfortunately it was David Lucas’s car that was damaged check this out but the positive is here it is turn one malucas on the inside fuchi coming down malucas going up this is how it ended with a cut down tire and then the Dale coin with hmd Motorsport team had to go to work but both of these young men are running well the teams respective teams have done a great job fuchi running in the rookie malucas running in 13th highest Place rookie in the field could Santino fuchi give dry and rinald racing their best Indie 500 result ever we’ll find out halfway there as p a ward has taken second place want to remind all your race fans that all season long grab your mobile device and scan the QR code on the screen for a chance to win $225,000 from hi ve scan the code register at highb deals.com for your chance to win the big prize so p a Wards got his eyes on the big prize he slid into second day F Conor Dy is in they’re going to take some front Wing out for Connor Daly and they will change the four tires very good balance for him he likes it he likes being up front there remember he told us he gained knowledge last year running the top five Roman groan crashes out of the Indianapolis 500 another massive hit is that at the exit of turn two I believe it is turn two has got all three has really been a handful today yeah the DHL Honda sorry guys for an Dre Autos sport comes to rest there not too far beyond the pit exit the word sorry guys from Roman Gran it’s good to hear Roman on the radio yeah I I think this these winds are really picking up Town that’s late in the tire stin right you’re really losing the grip in that tire the car starting to slide around more in that dirty air track temp at 115° now as we see Roman get out of the car so these are these are the toughest part to to hold on to well it’s the end of the stint and just a couple laps maybe until groan was coming into the pits and let’s take a replay and try to figure out exactly what the driver of the 28 was dealing with and like we’ve seen from VK and iot the two drivers that crashed earlier the rear end just St steps out in traffic and that is a massive left side hit as you see suspension arms steering arms big pieces of debris going down the racetrack view from Gram rle watch watch watch you can hear the debris pinging off the car it just shows you how much stuff comes off carbon fiber bits metal bits but again that was a very late snap that’s really happening late in the corner but look at it in full speed that steering arm you can just see it bouncing there lower left hand corner of the screen luck nobody hit that cuz that can go right through an oil cooler a radiator take out a wing look at the dejection the body language there there’s no worse feeling you never want a dnf in a race but I can’t tell you guys how much more the indd 500 means to these drivers it means to these teams and when it goes right it is so much better a high so much more Elation but when it goes wrong the disappointment is crushing well I think the 36-year-old father of three Marty thought that he was had a chance he was hanging in there he made it to half Race distance he was getting the groove of Indie unfortunately it’s all over good to see that he is okay unbelievably same song second verse for chip gassie racing Scott Dixon was coming down Pit Road there you see his wife Emma in angs right now they were coming down Pit Road that lap they are not sure if he can make it back just like his teammate Alex blo earlier in this race they’re not sure if he can make it back before Pit Road is open Dixon doing all he can shades of last year for this race team and there you go pits are open it’s going to work out for Dixon how about that D wow oh boy Big Break big saw of relief you can hear Scott Dixon just coasting you he’ll drop the clutch accelerate a little bit here we go accelerate L and and then pull the clutch to just Coast in and keep that engine revving as low as possible to use as little fuel as possible but mercifully the pits are open and Scott Dixon of avoids the same fate as his teammate Alex poo and he will lead the field into the pits he maybe it’s his new helmet design maybe that’s going to be the change in Fortune go new colors halfway just passed halfway in this race and this is where the best in the business are going to go over the wall and compete to get their drivers forward or a small mistake can put you way back Dave something that can help out is the fact that Tony Kanan doesn’t want any changes to his American Legion car the one car comes to Pit Road they’ll just change the tires they’ll put fuel in Marcus Ericson as well no complaints right now but he does want to put no complaints from him right now Marty P Ward very happy with a handling of his car and he has been patient Uber patient all day long kind of sitting there stalking the leaders and this might be the break that Scott Dixon needed to finally get back to Victory Lane at Indianapolis who knows they asked him can you stand to peel more downforce off of it he said we’ve got to try it it’s getting hotter and windier that’s going to mean a handful for Scott Dixon death right rice off Pit Road for Felix rosenquist and Ed Carpenter and Santino fuchi remember Tony canan’s words there’s two races the first is to lap 180 the second one is the final 20 groan out NBC’s coverage of the Indie 500 brought to you by Honda an official vehicle of the NTT Indie Car Series and by people ready partner of rayall L atlantan racing an official Staffing Solutions provider of the NT Indie Car Series what a beautiful day but what a dramatic race three big crash outs Reena F Cam milot and Mike the latest Roman groan yeah and all incidents happening in turn two and where our peacock pick box is we’re turn one right here and going into two and before that incident happened with groan you were pointing I couldn’t figure out what you were pointing at but then I saw after we saw the incident with Romain gr I’m not sure if there are any issues with tires here or not but out of the corner of my eye I just saw something something flying and then you know maybe 15 seconds later the caution came out for groan and there was chunks of rubber sitting inside of turn one and then I saw some on the exit too and you know that might be normal but man they looked a little bit bigger than normal so these accidents seem to be happening late in the stin right at the end so I don’t know I don’t maybe maybe somebody from pit roads got some got some eyes on some tires down there but uh but the but it’s definitely turn two is catching people out and it always does every single year turn two is such a tough Corner the entry you have to turn it in a little bit early and there’s a little bump in the middle and it’s it’s the trickiest one yeah and I think the wind may be playing a bit of a role as well as it is shifted from head on down the front straightaway to now almost head on into turn two so that wind is 16 to 20 M 20 mph gusts now right on the nose pinning the nose as they enter turn two lap 111 run under yellow R wood what are you up to here in this beautiful facility Mike I’m up here on top of the pagota and got an incredible view of these 300,000 fans that are here today they were on their feet when that local boy Connor Dy took over you know it remind me of another local boy that showed up with this track when he was a young man that’d be him right over there Roger Pinsky he showed up here when he was a boy and decided man I’ve got to be a part of racing I love this here he is watching every single lap diff he loves it still today amazing all the work he’s done to put us here today his son Greg to his left and what the captain has done as far as the commitment to this venue and to this Sport and in a beautiful family moment Roger said earlier this week I just hope my dad is looking down on me saying you did well son you did well and as I said right at the beginning of this broadcast the sport owes a dead of gratitude to Roger for keeping this facility alive and healthy and the sport alive and healthy during two very trying years of the global pandemic and here we are able to celebrate in the style that we’ve been accustomed to over many many years except for 2020 and 2021 it’s back it feels normal on a beautiful Indiana day a beautiful clear day but that allows that Sun continued to bake this surface track temp now up to 117 fresh tires full Fuel and a HomeTown hero going to take the green when Conor Daly viewed last year’s race and the first time in the reaction of the fans seeing him take the lead he kind of half teered up well no time for tearing up now it’s time to go to work and you have got Scott Dixon all over your tail let’s go back racing Connor Dy in the lead for now here comes Dixon outs jump from scottt Dixon po stino fi my goodness around the outside of Scott Dixon is it going to work wow Brave move from fuchi are you kidding me pushing the six time champ to the high side in turn one thought about keeping it there in turn two discretion got the better part of valor Alexander Rossy in the middle of a three wide down the back straight sage carum and Scott mlin involved there and one Pablo Montoya with following carum through they were just touching the edge of the grass peruchi got up to fourth in that limo tint number 23 and it wasn’t enough he wanted more now he has to check up and here comes Felix rosenquist in that fuse car but Dixon to the front again this back and forth this tag this is Rosen Rosen qu thought about it on fuchi no chance fuchi shutting the door hard there showing that he has showed up to win this race he is not going to be pushed around by the series regulars and he is doing a phenomenal job aggressive when he needs to be patient when it counts this is a great great drive from Santino so far that 23-year-old driver with a sensational record he’s made three previous starts he’s finished seven fourth and six doing it all part-time I mean he just doesn’t have he did one season full-time in Indie Car the rest of them part-time showings here we go look at this Rosen qu is lining him up tried the inside last time now the outside into one the Swedish driver makes that stick beautifully that was a great move from Felix rosenquest and that’s the kind of move you might might have to pull off late in this race if you’re battling for the lead driver defending to the inside making that outside work Marty Snider what do you know well F Felix rosenquist has a lot to fight for hinch he is not under contract with Errol McLaren for next year and he told me at the beginning of the month I know I need a good month I need a good finish in the 500 so maybe a little more aggressive the normal you’re seeing out of that seven car today Rosen quis fighting for his job he feels like this afternoon and he’s doing a great job right now after a pit stop you’ve got fresh firestones on the car the car’s got a little more grip you can be a bit racer for these first 10 or so laps Townson until the tires start to wear and you have to back off and protect your car a little more and still with just over 80 laps to go it’s I don’t think ever too early to start trying to jockey for position for the end of this thing especially as strung out as it gets mid stint look at tum masado in that purple and white car going to the outside of Ed Carpenter still in line watch this replay Conor Dy still in line high side of fi they touch still pretty good shoulder-to-shoulder contact little hip check you just see here Santino tries to fade up a little bit almost the same way he faded down in practice against David MCAS luckily it was Tire to side pod and not Tire to tire so both guys got away with one there carrying the sponsorship of the screaming Sicilian I think he might have been screaming in there after that some spice in that thing the way Dixon is racing at the front though guys suggests that he and his team know we think we can make it on two more stops and good with fuel so I think Dixon like we talked about just wants to stay at the front at this point Kev it’s good to see Callum milot come out of the IU Health infield Care Center you got your right wrist wrapped up how are you that was a nasty looking crash yeah it was a bit of a hard hit and then I hit again on the inside but all okay they take me over and obviously a little bit of an issue with the right hand but we’ll see how it is in a couple of days uh but yeah big thanks to the safety team obviously the safety barrier as well but sorry for the team as well because you know it wasn’t running too bad up until then right thank you good to see you’re okay good news there it is Scott Dixon in his PNC Bank Honda being chased down by three Chevrolet will this stay for Dixon who has now LED 60 Laps on the day it’s the one that competitors dream of the 77th US Women’s Open presented by pred that’s next Thursday through Sunday watch the best golfers compete on NBC USA and on peacock uninterrupted coverage presented by Rolex welcome back as we want to say thanks to Honda for this beautiful aerial coverage here at the Brickyard the Indianapolis Motor Speedway we have just 78 laps to go on a race that has offered so much and there’s still so much more to come which of these story lines is going to unfold will it finally be Scott Dixon’s day p a ward Connor Daly Felix rosenquist Santino fi it’s time for an axe through the field hey Dave Burns where are you going to start well let’s start with Tony Kanan one of the most popular drivers in the sport what an interesting group working on his car this weekend the strategist well he’s a chief operating officer of Chip gasse the engineer director after her performance the other engineer a chip gasty racing impsa DPI winner this year in Danielle and she will be working on that car trying to help them get to Victory later today it’s been a lot of fun to watch who’s trying to help TK win here again at the Brickyard as for the eight of Marcus Ericson his Forte has been road courses he was a Formula 1 driver and of course did so well before he came over here why indie car there were opportunities over in Europe but he said this racing looks fun I want to do it and he’s adapted to SES especially in his career hoping to win the Indie 500 today and tum Masada already a two-time winner here at the Brickyard remember this place has been very friendly to him back when Sato was in Formula 1 he stood on the podium here on the road course one day Marty it’s always been friendly to takuma hey Dave a little while ago you heard Dale Jr mentioned the wind has kind of shifted here and that is playing Havoc with Ed Carpenter and the 33 car back there his biggest problem earlier in the race was turn four to much under steer now it’s in turn two but you have to think Kevin as it gets hotter and Slicker here at Indy today that’s going to play into Carpenter’s hands don’t count out that pink AutoNation car of Simon Pino and SiriusXM started 16th has moved up to 10th he told me this morning the hotter the better we just want to hang in there and our chassis is good we think we can be a player late in this race Dave and Kevin it’s funny that Pino likes it hotter because his teammate Castro Eves does as well said that the hotter attempts are going to be better his strategist said that too Adam rozini likes it hotter because he thinks that helps the experienced guys like Elio know how to manipulate the balance and keep the tires underneath them Elio wants a front Wing change on the next stop that’ll be his first adjustment all day in this 06 car as he’s charged from 27th to 11th and behind him a nice run for sage carum talked about his teammate Santino fuchi in the top five Sage another one of the dryer and rybolt cars feels like this is his best shot ever in eight starts at winning this race they worked all month to get good good in traffic have a nice balance there but the biggest help has been the addition of Santino who helped develop their race car and in balance in race traffic and so far it’s paid off because both those cars Santino and Sage are running strong and Dylan both peruchi and carum like the same characteristics they like the same car but everybody should be put on alert by this guy he’s 11th right now but it’s not without challenges if you look closely here you’re going to see something flapping around just over Castro ne’s right shoulder that is the air inlet hose that is providing important and critical cooling air for Castro Neves here you see it winging around in the onboard and on a day when the track temp is almost 120° Dylan it’s a long way to go for Castor Evas it has to be hot in that cockpit and it is but Elio to his credit has not said much about it but what’s interesting about that is he acknowledged it really early in this race and he and the team opted to not do anything about it he acknowledged it was loose and they’ve just left it alone so he’s had the opportunity throughout this race to get it reattached but they wanted to save time on Pit Road didn’t readjust it and we’ll see if Elio is able to hang on to that race car here over the final 73 laps but it is hot down here and in that cockpit and even though it’s an open top to the AOS screen you’re not getting that wind against the helmet like you used to you’re not getting that airf flow and compared to pre- Aros screen these cars are so much hotter on an 81° day here at Indianapolis sat in the car for 3 hours wearing a four layer no mech suit it gets warm luckily though James he is getting water so you got water hose down below air hose should be connected up top so no air flow but he’s got water flow 72 laps to go Scott Dixon leads ELO Castro Nez in touch and in between a whole bunch of stories NBC’s coverage of the indy500 is brought to you by Liberty Mutual insurance only pay for what you need HIV proud sponsor of RoR let at Lanigan racing H ve making lives easier healthier and happier and by Firestone tires for driving Indie Car Legends one of the big crashes we’ve seen today was that of former F1 driver Roman groan rookie here at the Indie 500 Kevin Lee how is he he is fine we cleared that up first so that’s good to see uh first experience unfortunately comes to an early end what happened the cast fun I don’t know why no warning on that corner no no issue I was actually pretty good in one and two three and four was a bit more tricky but one and two I was pretty good so I I’m actually looking forward to go and see the data try to understand because I wasn’t expecting anything bad on that corner and obviously I spawn without any warning thank you Ramon so Scott Dixon who has led the majority of this race 75 laps to be precise has just notched up another record in his illustrious career he is now the alltime lap leader here at the Indianapolis 500 surpasses a four-time winner the late Al Ana who sadly we lost last year Scott now owns that title so all the Omens are heading his way but will it be Dixon’s day there’s only one stat Dixon cares about and that’s race wins especially IND the 500 wins he’s been so dominant here as you see in the stats but just one win of the credit we’ve talked about it d having a perfect day in the second half of this race in the Gap James to award in second place is starting to open up you can tell the drivers are starting to struggle with the higher temperature to hang on to the car in front of them I think it’s exactly right Townson as the track temperature creeps up at 118° now hot as we’ve seen it’s really going to affect the handling of these race cars Marty and I think everyone hinch in the top five is talking about the handling of their car right now and remember on the last stop Scott Dixon and his team peeled off some down Force they said is it okay can we go more he said it’s sketchy enough right now and at the end of The Run that’s where you’re really hanging on I think the biggest thing for Dixon right now is that the fuel game Townson has really kind of equaled out so now he can run hard they know they can do it on the stops they need to do that are equal with the rest of the field Dixon very happy with the handling but hanging on at the moment yeah I mean if you don’t have to save fuel you absolutely want to be in that clean air as a driver it makes the car more balanced it helps take care of the tires better so without fuel concerns this is absolutely the place to be as we see the 26 gamebridge Honda of colen Hera being pushed back we’re hearing it’s a throttle sensor on that car that’s creating the issues as bad day got worse for Colton here prior to prior to Carb Day and regardless of where he qualified you’re looking at somebody we could have called a favorite until that big crash just 2 days ago and how things have gone so South for the youngster who turned on a driving Clinic here just a few weeks ago in the gmr Grand Prix of Indianapolis IN treacherous conditions it has not worked out for Colton hder the leader Scott Dixon comes to Pit Road at Indianapolis with 59 to go he is at 82 laps today kept it out front this entire run he did say this set of tires just not as good everyone struggling with how hot this racetrack is getting they in fact asked Dixon can you peel off more downforce he said it’s sketchy enough the way it is right now those firestones going on drivers also asking for a tear off you saw that for the Clear Vision one more stop to go for Scott Dixon but looking good so far that’s what you want pict your perfect stop all four tires went on cleanly fuel got plugged in one time Dixon down and away and no changes there were no Wing adjustments that time so he’s happy with the balance even though the grip level’s getting down again as we talk about the track temperature coming up you know what that looked like that looked like the four laps he didn’t qualifying to get his fifth pole that was so smooth here’s Cony not to make Dy nervous but before he came in they told him this is a big one he hits his marks perfectly the crew is doing their job they talked about a big adjustment but they waved it off at the last minute yeah it looked like the mechanic got his hand on the adjustment at the front of the nose there but didn’t actually turn it it’s like he was don’t touch that go don’t go let’s go this is the hustle right here off the pit speed button be very careful but be aggressive iive here Conor Dy laying down the power Here Comes Scott Dixon Dixon’s already pitted one lap ago though blend on the back straight Dixon’s going to have this fairly comfortably Conor’s just got to tuck in grab the draft and keep it flat and turn [Music] three Felix rosenquist having a solid top five day here in the second half of the race of the 106 running of the Indianapolis 500 he said man it was really really loose on that run so they undid all the adjustments they made on the stop before Felix rosenquist trying to hang there in the top five his teammate P Ward will pit here on this line and as Rosen quis comes out you’re going to see Dixon and Dy like clockwork there they’re going to come through two turn two at full song it looks like Rosen Quist had a pretty good stop here James it did and look at the advantage of running longer clears both the nine and the 20 which means pwa Ward who’s still on track or he’s in the pits now it be interesting to see where he comes out how does Dixon play it Dixon backs off there Marty award now in the pits on Pit Road saying my turn three is really really bad a bit of a longer stop here for the five we’ll see where award shakes out after this green flag stop this could be the drive that defines feel it grows and qu future Here Comes Dixon to the lead rounds the hour McLaren SP Chevy up the PNC Bank Honda back to the lead H here comes here comes a ward here we go and fuchi is released as well but look up at the top of your screen there goes P ward two that’s more of a gap than what Rosen had Rosen quis was good but award was great on the in and out laap how does Dixon play this now is he going to try to stay where he’s been all day long and forc his way back to the front Dave what’s going on with Kanan no changes to his car again TOS very happy with that what can he do to make his way forward and blend back in a little closer to that lead group this time here is that lead group and awards been able to stay there for now Canan dropping way back there was an issue it looked like maybe on the right front the top four cars pulling away as Tony Canan Blends out and guys remember P Ward even had a bit of a slow exit from that pit stop so sounded like it was close to stalling even it just shows you the power of the overcut that running an extra lap two laps longer you’re doing that lap on track at speed compared to the cars that are going down pit lane and then coming up to speed on their f laap it was a huge advantage and now Scott Dixon’s probably thinking maybe I need to sit here save this fuel for the next round of pit stops the last round of pit stops I can do the overcut to get back out in front traffic up ahead for p Ward I think it was Dalton kellet in the Kine insulators Chevy yes it is there he is at the bottom of our screen so let’s take a close look here at what the pit stop competition looked like during the green flag stops thanks to NT we get this pit time differential as you see Di good on the in-lap good on the time on pit Lane but a ward had the advantage in the box and on the out laap and the overall Advantage there in green for poto award thanks to NT for that comparison 1.1 seconds to the good for the young Mexican driver and remember 1.1 seconds at 218 mph that’s a lot of track distance how about this D this might negate it don’t tell it that’s the traffic we were talking about Stephen Wilson also up a head well I have to say that those two stops on that particular cycle from Arrow McLaren SP were fantastic and the man you hear on the radio to P award all the time is Taylor Kyle Taylor was a high school and Collegiate footballer but at high school he was coached by coach Tom Allen who is now the head coach at Indiana University the man who’s got IU football kind of back on into playoff football last season wasn’t so good he’s looking to get it back and that guy there says I get all of my discipline cues my organizational cues my competitive cues from coach Tom Allen he digs all the way back to high school and Coach Allen was here on the grounds of the speedway during the month of May maybe he’s drawing on that discipline to drive this team forward and standing next to Kyle there CEO of McLaren racing Zack Brown has two teams racing this weekend one in Monaco in Formula 1 and one here in Indie as rosenquist just narrowed gets by there’s Zack Brown had a chance to catch up with Zach last night at dinner and he asked me towns and who do you like he said you don’t have to pick my drivers I said I think o Ward looks very strong he smiled nodded like he knew the answer before he asked the question a new contract to the end of 2025 has given this young man great confidence and calm and maybe just now we’re seeing it as you will have already seen at home there is a fourth yellow for a fourth crash unfortunately for team Pensky it is Scott mlin who was the highest running of the team Pensky Chevrolet drivers this is what happened to the driver of the Yellow Submarine wow that is big wicked wicked wiggle at the Apex of turn four that could have been sorry three he stopped in turn four because of the speed you’re carry and I’ll tell you what guys once you hit the first time and get rid of that that crash structure when you go in a second time the same way Cal milet did and the way Scott McLaughlin’s doing it right here that second impact hurt so much Watch Out close carpentries just stuck to the inside I’ll tell you what had he not caught that first one and gotten the nose back it could have looked a lot like your crash in turn three back in the day James that was a brutal angle at a huge entry speed great to see him mclocklin up standing under his own power and a THS up to the fans his mom and dad and sister have made the trip over from New Zealand and Australia respectively they hadn’t seen Scott in some three years bunch of his buddies from Australia have made the trip over as well and unfortunately it has come to an end inside the last quarter of the race very abruptly so the AMR safety team go to work yet again we’ve still got lots to come of the Indie 500 presented by Firestone that’s how much energy we have here in Indianapolis the snake pit is back Indie is here the crowd is back and it is a beautiful [Music] sight unfortunately the flip side to that is there are some casualties of this race Colton herder is one Kevin Lee has more well unfortunately a brand brand new race car so no one was certain what it was going to be for Colton her and unfortunately it was a handful ultimately what ended your day um we just weren’t fast enough they parked us cuz we we were slow um and yeah it was it was a handful we were we were so loose um loose Loos as I’ve ever been on a on an oval like that so it wasn’t a lot of fun um but yeah disappointing happy that uh that gamebridge and and Honda were part of this but uh it sucks that we weren’t able to finish and um yeah now all you can really think about is what if Friday didn’t happen what what would have so it’s disappointing thank you co that’s tough to take for Colton herder get ready this restart is going to be off the wall you won’t want to miss it this is the big one but the NT Indie Car Series rolls on USA and peacock next week one last time at Bell ale for the Detroit Grand Prix next Sunday 3 Eastern on USA and deacock that race will go to the great streets of downtown Detroit in 2023 here at Indie with all the fans back all 325,000 plus snake pit going fans going we’ve got 43 to go here in this Indianapolis 500 couple of big story lines Jimmy Johnson talking about the third man who might be able to win the Daytona in the IND 500 he is 24th Elio castris Drive for Five is still alive he is ninth Scott Dixon in second poto award leads what are you looking at here in the next 40 laps or so looking at what kind of changes are made and how does that affect the car are they making the right changes at this point in time or are they going backwards I think this caution absolutely opens up a lot of different strategies for guys that are in the back half of the field and also Dixon he’s been pulling down Force off that car and he’s lost the lead he needs that clean air diff Junior this is going to be crazy P Ward leading Scott Dixon and then you’ve got Steph Wilson who is a lap car then he’s got Felix rosenquist right behind Conor Dy Santino fuchi look fuchi is already getting ready to make a move on Conor Daly and Daly is gapping him like holding him back let’s go back here 43 to go in the Indie 500 it’s the Hunger Games in indias everybody wants to take advantage of this restart four to five wide mid pack Eric s fuchi they’re go to turn one side by side guys we saw right there as they’re mixing up in the back exactly why Scott Dixon was on the pole the speed out of that blue and orange PNC bankard drove right by the McLaren of Pota Ward to easily take the point into turn one as they’re three wide car on the grass that’s Alexander Rossy going three wide into turn three already there turned down hey guys let’s talk about Alex poo he’s up to p12 right now after his early woes he was down in the high 20s slowly method ically the way we’ve seen him do it time and time again he’s working his way back up as Erikson goes to the inside of Steph Wilson and you heard the radio from Sage carum saying poo just put me on the grass we knew it was going to be crazy maybe not that crazy watching Elio Castro NES there is that is a sketchy move from Juan Pablo Montoya in the short shoot on Sage Kum caught Kum a little bit of sleep there you would never expect that as Kum tells you what he thinks and meanwhile Kum getting together with Kyle Kirkwood there on the back straight away yeah that move caught carob so off guard had to get out of the throttle big time set up the run for Kyle Kirkwood and then little Argie bargy down the back straight into three I have had Montoya do that to me in one and two and it is unnerving this is what happened in the three look at the Bold move from the 27 Napa of Alex Rosy inside of Tony Canan and Santino fuchi meanwhile bottom of the screen there was carum on the grass so from Scott Dixon p a ward going at it award ducks to the inside you’re clear there has never been a Mexican driver win the Indianapolis 500 could it be Patricio award’s day [Music] today 39 to go and how about the run from Alexander Rossi guys up to P6 a 20th Place starting position for that pink and blue Nappa AO Parts Auto Nation Honda for and ready Auto Sport he was not happy with his car on C day but he is definitely happy with this 27 machine today making moves the way we’ve seen him do in the past here Townson this guy wins the rookie the 8500 his Rook of Year back in 2016 he’s a front runner the next couple of Seasons then he goes on a 2 to three dry spell really struggling for results he’s back where he’s used to being at Indie but at the front it is starting to get Fierce between a wward and Dixon fuel not an issue there’s going to be a one more stop for all these Front Runners it’s all about track position for the end so if I’m Scott Dixon I’m looking at what happened in the last set of pit stops PTO a ward saved fuel running behind Scott was able to run longer and then eight was able to jump him in that pit sequence Marty Snider I think that’s what Scott is looking at doing right now and hinch with 38 to go this could shape up to be a family Battle For the Win here in Indianapolis well how’s that the case with P award and Scott Dixon well the strategist for p award is Taylor Kyle and his stepdad is Mike hle the strategist for Scott Dixon so the family meeting after this is going to be very interesting diff there is Mike bottom box on the right hand side an industry veteran the managing director of Chip gassie racing the man who’s been the voice in in Scott Dixon’s ear for so long Dixon has been at this team for more than half of his life but today he does not want to finish second for a fourth time at Indie he wants to add to that 2008 Victory and be a multi-time Indian appolis 500 winner no drivers LED more laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway than Scott Dixon as of today and I know that P Ward knows that as he’s looking now Scott Dix back to the front in turn one 35 laps to go he’s going to head home to New Zealand at the end of the season reason being because of the global pandemic and traic travel restrictions the majority of his family down there haven’t even met his son of course his girls are a lot older they haven’t met little kit yet and that is really hitting home to him so Emory’s wife and all three kids are going to head to New Zealand at the end of the season be nice if he could go down there as a two time 500 winner probably going to see last stops in about another five or six laps would be my guess Dixon continues to lead as you see the career win summary for the current running order no contest until you get down to Castro NZ there just on the tail end of the top 10 Canan with 17 but it’s Scotty D with 51 nobody has more experience leading at Indie nobody has more experience leading at the finish in indie car and look within the top five we got two Swedish drivers until Marcus Erikson came to this sport there’s never been two Swedish drivers Kenny Brack was the most notable Swedish driver in indie car and Kenny is here today imagine if he could witness another Swedish victory at the Brickyard all right so the fourth crash out was team Pensky Scott mlin let’s see if SC Max okay and it was a hard hit are you okay and what happened yeah uh certainly just Bru ego really really gutted for everyone on the Peno Chevy we we had a fast race car today and come up through the pack and we were running really strong there and um yeah I just got caught by Gusta wind and uh and uh yeah just hadn’t been in clean in for a while and it just caught me and and um snapped around hit the fence and then the worst hit was probably the second hit so um yeah got it’s first crash here but um you know unfortunately it’s how it happens and already got a everyone Scot going to have big points implications as well unfortunately for the onetime series leader mclin because double points on the line here at the Indianapolis 500 33 laps to go Conor Dy still doing a great job hanging on there in the top five for Ed carpenter racing his blue and gold bit Nile car just ahead of Marcus ericon the McLaren team running second and third though very strong running from this group how are we going on the manufacturer um distribution it’s a Honda leading a Chevy Chevy Chevy then a Honda of Eric and another Honda of Rossy and Canan and then a Chevy of fuchi followed by a couple of Hondas of the Maya shank gang I’d say pretty balance between Honda and Chevy as Ed Carpenter peels off for the group first car to make the last stop with 31 laps to go Marty head’s coming to you yeah he can make it to the end from here town but it’s been a handful for the Indianapolis native just hanging onto the car I’ve heard that from Scott Dixon I’ve heard it from pad Ward the Heat and also the wind which is really whipping now going to be a factor on this last run for sure you’re going to see uh some changes here on the 33 car as had Carpenter the first to pit last today and it’s a strategy that could play out we’ve seen it work where a yellow comes out at the end of these stints during the pit cycle that would cycle Ed back to the front if none of the leaders have pit so not a terrible strategy but he does go a lap down here which hurts that he does go a lap down Ed hustling as much as he can to try to not go too many cars a lap down Dixon continues to lead when will the leaders pit will they pit on the same lap will they stagger the laps I think both these guys have done a decent amount of time up front so far this S I wonder how this fuel strategy is going to play out who’s going to Blink first and who’s going to have time to go this is building for a fabulous final stanza remember 20 to go it becomes a whole different world you’re watching the final 26 laps of the Indianapolis 500 and this telekast presented by Firestone Scott Dixon of Chip kassy racing leads Arrow McLaren sp’s p a ward during the break Felix Rosen Quist and Alexander Rossi right there just pitted I think Dixon’s probably going to come in this lap as he cheats it down low indicating to the trailing cars that he might be coming to pit Lane may have just been trying to get the draft off of Alexander Ross he’s getting up the speed we’ll see here as the leader comes off of turn four and there he goes Johnson you nailed it into pit Lane a ward stays out Conor Dy looks to be following oh Dixon locks up is that going to be a pit speed violation that’s the first hiccup we have seen from Scott Dixon today on the final stop of the day Dave Burns told Conor Dy let’s finish this thing off dude so Connor Dy brings a 20 car to Pit Road he’ll go for four tires no big adjustments planned the 20 Marty Davey think about all the heartache in this race for Scott Dixon in his 20th Indie 500 the last stop of the day they said do you want any changes to the car he said no leave it like it is fresh firestones a quick stop from the nine Bunch he’s out back out on the racetrack see how these guys blend with Felix rosenquist who just past start finish and is going to come into view in in turn one here Scott Dixon got caught for speeding guys there you go he’s going to have to serve a drive through unbelievable death unbelievable first of all it was Alex poo entering the pit and Scott Dixon says come on are you serious and there goes Felix rosenquist to the front of the field at the Indie 500 Dixon bad luck strikes again unbelievable absolutely devastating the man that’s LED more laps around the Indie 500 than any other dve in history sees his chance for a win absolutely disappear pulls off into pit Lane to serve what’s going to be the longest penalty most painful penalty of his career this is gut-wrenching for the guy who has been perfect this month of May until the final Pit Stop look at his shaking head he cannot believe it here comes P Ward the race is now against his teammate Marty ironic that Dixon serves his penalty as pada Ward comes down Pit Road shoots into his pit stall he said man I am struggling with turn three that’s my biggest issue the firestones you see the wing adjustment there on the front trying to help turn three but what a change of events they did make p aware the nine has served a penalty now it’s going to be down to him and his teammate Felix rosenquist is shaping up nicely for the McLaren organization you see Felix Rosen Quest there entering turn two he’s going to have the lead by a mile behind the red and white husky chocolates car of Marcus Erikson p on the same Lop as P will be effectively third on track and this is the race right here now you’re still going to have a bunch of cars in front of Rosen Quist and award these are the guys that are going to try to hang on and make impossible well seemingly impossible fuel strategy work and hope for some yellow but that blend right there with roseen Quist off of four in his teammate award those are the guys that have made their last stop they’ll run full Rich to the let’s not discount Alexander Rossy or Conor Daly so it’s Rosen o Ward Erikson Rossy and daily we go on board the bit Nile Chevrolet let’s go for a little [Music] ride y run down up front buddy just keep being calm for me you’re going my there you go what’s your assessment on that lap hinch it looks pretty solidy smooth it these new firestones are definitely giving Conor Daly a lot of grip in that dirty air from Alexander Rossy not quite enough to close all the way but he is taking advantage of that fresh rubber while he’s got it this is the time to try to strike guys you have to wonder how did rosenquist Gap his teammate po a ward so well on the last set of stops once again thanks to NT here’s the pit time difference rosenquist winning on the in-lap time on pit Lane time in the Box except the outl award got him by a 10th as Erikson just got past P award gassie racing still has a chance penalties to poo and Dixon took them out of the mix this is Erikson and now it’s Swedish driver on Swedish driver for the win at the Indie 500 the sneaky swed has done it again he’s hung in and around the top five top 10 all day when it counted capitalized on mistakes and issues for his teammates and others and Marcus Erikson is now one car away from leading the indy500 and look at that stat you don’t want to lead with 20 laps to go based on the last three years that’s the Winner’s position and Erikson closing closing on Rosen quiz now on the on the timing ladder on the left hand side of your screen you see all of these drivers ahead of these guys who we are talking about being in the effective lead they’re on a different strategy they stopped at a different time they would need an awful lot of yellow lead to make this race without pitting as we see two of them Tony Canan and Simon Pino dive into pit Lane but it’s Marcus Ericson Now tracking Felix rosenquest right right in his Wheel tracks this could be a huge move coming up great run off of four Townson and Canan just pitted in that lead group that you see on the pylon this is the lead group on strategy Ericson to the inside this husky chocolate Honda is flying chip gassie racing has demonstrated all day long that on used tires they are the cars to beat Erikson with brilliant balance technique right to the front you’re good on fuel good on fuel to the end that’s what a driver wants to hear you’re good on fuel with 17 laps to go Tony Canan said it there’s two races that happen on Sunday lap 1 to 180 and lap 181 to the finish and in the second part of this race Marcus Ericson has shown up in a big way Dave burs not going to be easy with lap traffic Dave Erikson to the front stretch she’s got Harvey and Sato so as you as you guys know there’s about 20 weeks between the end of last season and the start of this season engineer Brad Goldberg told me that he and Marcus Ericson use One race per week to watch the entire race and then FaceTime from yes Indianapolis to Sweden where Marcus was and go over everything that they could have done better than they did last year they have a lot of strategies that they can use as we see cars continuing to pit but Goldberg felt that all that work that they did over the winter would help them and it’s paying off today with good adjustments on the 8 car it’s Marcus’s third year with chip kassie right racing and that same engineer that Dave was talking about Brad Goldberg said I’ve never seen Marcus more complete than this year 16 laps to go here at Indie and look at how good Erikson’s car was in traffic poto award is struggling over a full lap to get around Harvey and Sato and now Erikson is stretching the Gap both the McLaren drivers really really struggling in dirty air Erikson’s checked out to about 3 seconds now po W finally making the move on Jack Harvey Tony Canan next in line canan’s gotten around Felix rosenquest so another ganassi car entering the mix so Marco and Drey leads Jimmy Johnson second they’re both going to have to stop very soon but look at the Gap Marcus Eric at the bottom of your screen there’s P to award in second Tony Canan now in third Canan is charging Canan is making up good ground right now if he can clear poto award diff Canan might have something to say about this at the Finish crowd might have something to say about it too and guys he did not think that he had the car to win earlier in fact he radioed the crew guys I think we just don’t have the speed today but that last stop must have meant something a slight change can change your day at Indie James you make a great Point you’re were just pointing to the screen here with me absolutely no gurny flap on the back of that McLaren car the ganassi cars both running the medium span gurnie as Kanan looks to get by Sato and has to check up and I got to think that might be part of the reason why late in the stint especially these track temps go up we’re up to 119° track temp the grip level just bleeds out of the track at those temps but that wicker that gurnie flap on the back will give you more downforce help push the car into the racetrack poto doesn’t have that Advantage right now and it’s showing as Erikson continues to stretch that Gap that Canan car that white number one desperately trying to get past Sato as Marco and Drey leads but Kevin he’s going to have to come in soon he does and so does Jimmy Johnson so that’s going to make it simple to figure out Marco is coming in this lap by the way first time he’s LED since [Music] 2014 13 laps to go on board with Johnson as he wos it up in turn three for a pit probably off of four but maybe not maybe Jimmy Johnson will lead a lap at the n500 he stays out why not why not he’s got his teammate Scott Dixon behind him on track and Johnson Clark’s a lap [Music] LED can you imagine what’s going on in Scott Dixon’s mind right now the guy who dominated the day LED almost half the race fin to fall victim to a pit Lane speeding violation he’ll he’ll be kicking himself because the car is so good he didn’t have to get that extra 100th of a second on the breaking for the pit Speed Line yeah that’s going to be something that he’ll go to bed at night every night for the next several nights Here Comes Jimmy devastated Jimmy Johnson in the pits from the lead of the race which gives Marcus Erikson another shot at the point lap traffic in front that’s the number four of D Kell for AJ fo racing Hey look look at this hinch look at this Canan has cleared Sato Canan has a ward in his sights 11 laps to go is it [Music] enough so Johnson pits that clears that top and it’s as it is Erikson award Canan it is a clear race to the end right now oh he’s got a big gap to make up I’m looking at the timing screen nothing but clean air in front of Erikson the next car up the track is his teammate Scott [Music] Dixon don’t think he’s going to catch him though guys and that Advantage right now is not insignificant with 10 laps to go in the Indianapolis 500 Marcus is a two-time indie car race winner but two kind of bizarre races that unfolded the first was the very first on the streets of Nashville Tennessee last year where he started off with his car doing a wheelie kind of Lucky the car didn’t snap in half when it came back down and he just played the great race but was patient Colton heard a crash Marcus was there won won the race Detroit last year was running second to will power late race stoppage poers car wouldn’t refire Erikson went out won the race this would be the cleanest and biggest victory of his career Erikson comes across the line at a 29.6 then o Ward at a 22.5 then Tony Canan at a 2117 because of lap traffic Canan did A 222 the lap before so I think in terms of speed right now Canan might have the quickest car but look at that 5c Gap Erikson looking good right now family over from Sweden girlfriend Iris right there front and center this is big he’s wearing a helmet dedicated to racing Swedish racing Legend Ronnie Peterson boy oh boy the guy who did almost 100 Formula 1 grand prix on the day of the Monaco Grand Prix just might find himself an500 title and James these will be the longest eight laps of Marcus Erikson’s life this is where as a driver you feel every little nuance and you’re thinking is the balance right if I adjusted the car just right how’s the tire wear how’s the gearbox the engine noise is it all still going to hold together with the biggest prize in racing just seven laps away as he comes to the line it’s a huge test of just mental strength and focus Townson after 1092 laps you have to still maintain that absolutely millimeter perfect Precision it’s so easy to start thinking ahead about what happens on lap 200 he’s got to stay in the moment just realize he’s got clean air in front of him a nice Gap behind him it is a sweet sweet position to be in for this the sneaky Suite as we call him let’s talk about the guy running second Marty what’s the deal with P Ward and if I cannot imagine how helpless he feels back there right now last year he felt like they didn’t adjust on the car enough at the end of the race he was sitting third was not able to make a move on Elio Castor Nas or Alex below today same situation said we’ve absolutely lost the handling of the race car and Hench I think you brought it up that morning decision not to run that extra wicker he is struggling with a rear end that car right now and we’re just going to watch the uh the Firestone on board Telemetry here as he oh crash Jimmy Johnson oh and this could change everything Marcus Erikson’s teammate Jimmy Johnson this will bring out the yellow with six to go and we might see we might see a red flag it is possible it’s been done before a red flag could completely change the outcome of this race Jimmy Johnson we see him moving that looks like a big hit on the front end though Townson that’s a very Square Collision it looks like again off of turn two it’s just been the the corner that’s caught out the most drivers today difficult conditions the AMR safety team on the scene see Jimmy moving in the cockpit working to get out huge frontend impact if this is something that was heavily discussed with his wife Shanny and their daughters about you know does he want to do Indie Car ovals and he said absolutely and he ran just so well at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year was gaining a lot of experience in his first Indie 500 let a lap what happened to Jimmy [Music] Johnson wa the car went all all the way around so early it was a completely forward impact that is one of the worst angles to hit but you know what that nose cone structure did such a great job as did the safer barrier and absorbing the contact as you see Jimmy stays on the throttle NASCAR style and I’m afraid that just drives him a little heavier into the fence right there turn two has swallowed up so many cars on board with Dixon Johnson ahead that’s the second time right in front of Scott Dixon that’s happened VK was the first and look at these guys there is the number eight team the Husky chocolate guys from Chip kassie racing they can’t believe it this is 210 so in the hands of race control red flag who red flag this changes the game totally there is nothing Marcus Erikson wanted to see less with a 3se second lead and five laps to go than a red flag and his teammate Tony canar right behind in third place who is for spectacular passing moves guys so is Alexander Rossi on restarts who’s sitting right there in fifth place there are quite a few drivers Alex poo is up to eighth after everything he’s been through and it’s not over yet in the last two laps I was watching Tony Kanan was 2 m an hour faster on both laps than his teammate Marcus Erikson so Canan seems to have a really fast race car and there will be so much aggression when this thing goes back to green as the cars come to pit Lane to wo it up and a shootout at the finish I remember this happening back in 2014 handful of laps to go that famous duel between Elio castr NZ and Ryan Hunter Ray Ryan taking the win that day the red came out while leading his engineer got on the radio Ray golin and said hey look man you’re the fastest driver in the fastest car don’t worry about it and that’s the kind of thing that Marcus Ericson needs to be hearing from his team right now here’s a flashback to 2014 the famous pass deakes right goes down to the left drops below the white line into three battling it out across the line and that’s Ryan Hunter Ray just beating out Castro Neves to drink the milk in the 98th running and Captain Amer America is here today to watch this spectacular finish now let’s take you inside the team of Marcus ericon have a listen yeah copy that buddy this is your day nothing’s going to take it from us here seriously like seriously yeah in for buddy this is our day don’t worry we’re fine here and that’s exactly it that’s what I’m saying you got to talk about uh that sort of coaching from the team and look at this guys this is how much rubber this is all marks from the mark the little bits of rubber that come off the tires after almost 500 M of driving that red car looks half black there’s it’s just every front-facing surface is covered in this debris and one of the things that can happen is this right here the duct entry that cools the drivers that can get jammed up with so much debris and rubber you can see a big chunk there and look at Canan it’s even more pronounced on a white car look like fighter jets that have gone through a I mean that’s Star Wars stuff right there I got to tell you Michael gar the strategist for Marcus Harrison is livid down here because right in front of him has stopped the car of Juan Pablo Montoya right in front of his pit box meanwhile Crews cannot go to these cars to service a driver or do the cooling fans and things that they like to do until everyone gets moved up I believe so he’s living he’s like come on let’s move these guys [Music] up yeah this is just not a situation that we see a lot in the Indie Car Series if I remember correctly the last time I don’t know if it’s the last time it might be the last time I’m sure our stats Guru Russ Thompson will correct me but the last time I remember was Nashville last year and guys do you remember who won the Nashville race last year Erics there’s Micha garab longtime gassy man you got two gassie cars two McLaren cars running in the top four it’s a battle of the teams gassie always known as one of the big three with andred alut Sport and pensy McLaren desperately wanting to add a fourth to that sort of Titan of the sport label and this could be a huge result to help move him there just watching some of the crew what they’re trying to do cool down the cars maybe blow out some of the rubber in the inlets of the side pods they’re very limited as to what they can do make sure that nothing gets overheated so maybe some of you are are new to watching indie car and the Indie 5 100 we said well why why did you have to stop they could have just kept going around and the race could have finished under caution that’s exactly why we are stopped for the Jimmy Johnson crash to be cleaned up because it is indicar race control’s ultimate goal every time to finish under green to have a race finish as a race indanapolis [Music] 29 so while we sit and wait let’s hear the thoughts on the man who was so close to winning the Indian plus 500 and he still can but what were his thoughts pre rce the whole month you know and the the history and the the sort of buildup and and everything that goes on and just the speedway just the feeling of being on the speedway and then race day with all the fans it’s just something else each year for me it just becomes more and more important and I understand how big it is and that’s why my desire to win it is just becoming stronger and stronger all the time for that how about all right so you saw the the passion from mik Oar from the eight team at chip gassie racing let’s hear from him he’s with Dave yeah and we’ll check on a couple of issues here first of all uh you were pretty hot about getting these cars moved down was it your thought that they wouldn’t be able to get to your car to work on it yet yeah no we were the first car to stop so our Electronics were boiling down there some Montoya to shut his car off or something down here and they wouldn’t let us our guys approach the car similar thing that happened to will last year but but I wouldn’t wish that on anyone so I just want it to be fair and we can uh you know have a fair fight here for the last few laps and we would like to see a great fair fight I know you might have been better for you if we’ just run under caution there doesn’t always happen like this i’ rather it stay trust me I’d rather it stay green and and and Win It by walking away but um you know we have the uh we have the speed and um we’ll do what we can here on the restart I think we’re going to be strong and I keep telling Marcus it’s his day and we’re going to prove it here in a few minutes we heard you say that how cool a customer do you believe he is on restarts like this he’s the man uh he’s going to focus 100% forward and uh he’s been training for this sa for his whole life all right let’s head up pit Lane to Marty Snider let’s chat with uh Taylor Kyle here the strategist for p award who sits there in second place so he hasn’t been very happy with the race car of late how do you get him refocused here on what needs to happen to win this race yeah I think we’re good I think he was shocked a little bit by the pace of Erikson there on the on that last s so you know it is what it is I think we’ve got a good car um look we’re we’re in with a shot you’re talking to me at the end of the race that was goal right so I think we’re I think we’re in a good place so considering how everything has been how do you feel like your driver will perform on a restart like this that could decide immortality in racing well he he knows what’s at stake he knows what’s at stake he keeps uh keeps talking about this being the big cookie and it is this is a race everybody wants to win so I’ve got no doubts with po award behind the wheel that he’s going to give it 110% and uh not to mention his teammates only a couple behind so we’re in a good spot how are your nerves right now I’m fine my my job’s done my job is done it’s all up to the driver now Kev already Tony canan’s got a lot of help on his P pit stand Chris Simmons the engineers won a couple of Indie 500s five championships and Doug dukart your driver has nothing to lose what do you expect here at the end well that’s what he just said he said we’re in third place I have two cards to pass and we’ve got nothing to lose so he’s done a great job today the team’s done a great job um we put ourselves in position at the end hate that that caution came out I think Marcus is in a good spot but we’re going to go see what we can do here it’s a brand new challenge and uh Tony’s ready so it’s been a good first and second can go back and forth does he have to at least get a spot on the restart I think the restart is going to be the key and he’s just got to be ready and U and ready to pounds when he can thank you Doug so when race control says fire him up and let’s get going they will leave pit Lane circle around and do the next time buy so they’ll go one time over the yard of bricks next time by they’ll see green for a twap shootout so check this out guys this is an Indie 500 first I think we’re going to try Tony Canan here hey TK it’s Townsen up in the NBC Booth you got me yeah brother what’s up crazy day red flag four laps to go you were the fastest car of the lead pack how do you play this restart it’s going to be all or nothing again I’ve done it before so I have nothing to lose now going for the championship a second place today wouldn’t do me any good so they better be ready going after that second win how tough is it out there on the restart in traffic it’s tough but I think I didn’t want to be the leader on the restart I’m I’m exactly where I want to be all right bud we’re going to be watching along with 325,000 your closest friends thanks buddy TK is driving the number one car maybe that’s symbolic for the 47y old Brazilian who’s been in this sport for 24 years and for the American Legion on Memorial Day weekend what a story that would be the number one’s got a it’s got a good history here if you remember we earlier in the week discussed the the winningest numbers and number one was in the top three he’s third on the list so uh TK may be inching up uh that number towards number two on the list and if I’m poto award I’m thinking is there any chance you guys could just throw that gurny flap on my rear wing can you add a little down Force I might need it here as the track temp still holds at 119° this is going to be wild he mty Snider mty what a terrific day for Erol McLaren SP they sit second and fourth right now Billy Vincent the strategist for Felix rosenquist how much of Felix’s job on this restart is protecting his teammate or how much of it is about winning the 500 for your race team man we got to win this race right but we got to be smart about it right so they’re free to race um but they got to be smart about they know their teammates but uh we want to come out of here onew on this deal and it’s also a hell of a lot of points on the table today as well have you reminded Felix of that just considering what all is on the line with a double Point stay here in the IND 500 yeah especially for Felix’s uh Championship run this how it’s been going right now there’s a lot in our pocket right now if we can hang on to this but uh winning this place is is everything so we’re going to go for it hey def I can tell you a lot of nerves down here on Pit Road you know Taylor Kyle was cool about it said I’m I’m fine but I’m telling you these strategists are a little nervous about this final restart mty guess what you’re about to hear the cop fire up the command will be given here shortly and the crews will have to clear the cars and we’re getting ready for what will be a spectacular shootout it is going to be amazing so who’s going to do it anybody can win this anybody can win it in those top five don’t even discount Simon Pino this is going to be incredible one of the big challenges is going to be getting those Firestone Tires Clean and Clear when they pull out there’s a lot of marbles on the RAC trck we saw that Townson and they’re only going to get one lap here to scrub them in try to clean them up before they’re going for broke it’s an excellent point you’ll be on pins and needles literally as you get into turn one on the opening lap as Erikson must be so focused right now on perfectly timing this restart trying to protect against a Ward and Canan to get any kind of jump or a draft down the front straightway the LA last two red flag situations we’ve had in indie Car Nashville and Detroit Race 2 race one in 2019 Marcus Erikson’s two Indie Car wins have come after red flags by the way that red flag just shy of 7 minutes we had an exhilarating car day with the pit stop competition now this is going to be a passing competition Ed Carpenters aland Chevrolet appears to not have five and this is a brutal blow at the end of a very tough day they fought hard to try to stay in the mix and Ed carpentered we’ll get you fired up and then we can rejoin in our position okay there’s the starter so he’ll be at the tail end of the pack one of the concerns we heard Michael Garrett talking about was the electronics overheating sometimes that can happen luckily that doesn’t seem to be the case that cost will power a win in Detroit two years ago hey guys one thing we haven’t seen much of at all today is any sort of aggressive Defensive Driving sit up buckle up because this is going to be so Fierce to defend or attack you’re going to see all kinds of action here in the top six there are three previous Indie 500 Champions three drivers going for their first and there is the signal from the starter one lap to go to settle this race one to go at the line one to go at the line one to go from right here get as much heat into those tires as you can you have got Marcus Erikson the 31 oneye old swed the former F1 driver who leads the Mexican youngster P award there’s never been a Mexican winner of the Indie 500 and then you’ve got the unofficial mayor of Indianapolis Tony Canan in the American Legion Honda here is Award with the arrow on board and then behind Canan you’ve got Felix rosenquist another Swedish driver the 30-year-old and they’ve got Kenny bra here the only swed to ever win could witness something special and then the winner of the 100th run of the Indie 500 Alexander Rossy right there in the pink and blue Nappa Auto Parts Auto Nation Honda for Andre Autos sport behind him Connor Daly and then Alex poo at home make your pick the radio is it’s on you Marcus you’ve got the field in your hands you get to go for it this is going to be a two lap challenge like you have never seen it’s time to bring the action at the Indianapolis 500 here we go who’s going to do it great restart Erikson phenomenal jump from the number eight look at him swerving trying to break the drop award Rosen and I want on the inside Tony Canan is not going to let that happen Canan to the high side on the dirty track Canan hangs on and side by side action is what Marcus ericon wants to see but p a ward is now in lock step he’s going to have a great draft down the back straight but Mark is trying to break it they know that there is only one lap to go when they come to the yard of bricks they’ll see the White Flag it’s a Swedish snake on the backstretch trying to break the draft what does Ericson do on the front stretch Here Comes Award with a run neither of these two in the front have won the IND 500 there is 2 and2 miles to go and a ward is on the attack Here Comes ER won’t let it happen phal driving from both men I don’t know if award’s going to be able to gather it back up that might have been his big chance they exit two and go to the backstretch Erikson leads by five car legs Erikson has shaken off the challenge of the Aon McLaren SP in really B driving it’ll finish under caution it’s Sage carum Marcus Erikson with the spirit of Ronnie Peterson on board with his helmet joins Kenny bra as the only other swed did it buddy you just won the n500 Marcus Ericson wins the Indianapolis 500 in the most dramatic [Music] way you want to talk about mental fortitude think about what this driver just went through in the last 10 minutes leading easily red flag comes out has to restart you take a second parade lap and think about your family and everybody that got you to this point you are an Indie 500 champion and for chip kassie the team owner there diff probably a huge sigh of relief I mean he had so many shots to win there’s chip right now strongest Team all month oh Erikson is one of the quiet guys of the padic he is a lovely human being and we just saw a tiger that we have never seen that was some aggressive weaving you could tell that he’s definitely been watching videos I saw shades of Simon Pino in 2019 an incredible run Alexander Rossi pulling up alongside fellow Indie 500 Champion offering some congratulations such a cool moment for a driver the coolest one you can have Lane chip likes winners guys he likes winners and he’s got another one he’s got another one and he brought a race winning team here with five different options and it was this guy in the end all the talk really was about poo and Dixon an honorable mention to Alex poo getting back up into the top 10 after those early woes but this win actually puts Marcus Erikson in this number eight crew to the top of the points table from eight a gain of seven places that double points for Indianapolis makes a huge difference going to be husky chocolates all around for these boys as they run down to meet their driver think about this a guy who helped Scott Dixon get to where he was fellow sweet former F1 and N car driver Stephan Johansson who manages Scott national pride would be here now for Marcus Erikson Rob Kaufman and Chip kassi there there’s Alex’s trainer [Music] marus Erikson is going to get to drink the milk all through practice week we saw the pace this car had it looked so strong I thought he was even going to be stronger than he was in qualifying but doesn’t matter when it when it counted he was [Music] there so he’ll get ready to roll onto the ramp for the best elevator ride in the world Victory Lane here at Indianapolis it’s been a long time coming it’s been 10 years since chip gassie racing won the Indie 500 it was Dario franki and Dario is here to see that chip wants to take a [Laughter] [Applause] [Music] ride I promise you Marcus Erikson has never pushed a throttle pedal harder in his life than those last two laps from the minute he accelerated off of four not an inch in not a millimeter of lift would have come through that throttle pedal as he kept it pinned and Al Bet po aard was in second there thinking how am I making 16 turns on one lap of Indianapolis as he had to go left and right to just try to draft Erikson that move that I Ward Put on him in turn one I thought oard had it and this man this man hung tough but by oard maybe having a little bit of patience he’s second in the championship rather than in the wall on the last lap of the nd500 chip kassi likes winners Marty Snider he’s got another one just an unbelievable finish here to the 106 running of the Indianapolis 500 Marcus Erikson going to take the elevator lift all the way up here very under the radar a lot of folks said chip gassie racing but they weren’t saying Marcus Erikson is a potential winner but he showed the speed he had at the end of that race once he gets up here he’ll get the symbols of Victory here at Indianapolis the Winner’s wreath from Borg Warner made of 33 Ivy orchids and 33 miniature flags as well of course the milk Marcus chose whole kind of joke that he want the Hest milk possible in the Winner’s ring from Justin’s as well the princesses are here too and it’s amazing how your career can change in One race Marcus Ericson when he climbs out of this car will be an Indianapolis 500 winner [Applause] by the way the race in Sweden being broadcast in prime time right now I’m sure this is going to be quite a hit there becoming the second swed to win this race Michael gar up here kind of breathing a sigh of relief after the crazy end to this one you can also see Marcus in the car kind of taking a moment to soak all this in as he takes off his helmet and Marcus Erikson will climb out of the car as the winner of the 106 running of the Indianapolis 500 Marcus go ahead and climb out you’re good go ahead and get out and enjoy this moment with your race team here he is everyone Marcus [Applause] Erikson and here comes the milk [Applause] okay no you’re okay no okay conat want out a little cheers with the milk as well and the Winner’s ring he’ll get also from J’s they’ll bring that in and we’ll get a word with him chip ganassi just said I cannot believe that just happened after the day he went through Alex poo with the issue on Pit Road Scott Dixon with a penalty as well and there’s the Winner’s ring what a moment for the swed let’s get in here and get a word with him well take one more picture why not with Firestone [Music] [Applause] hat how about that how did you refocus after the red flag in that moment cuz you were not happy that they came out I couldn’t believe it I felt you know you can never take anything for granted and obviously there was still laughs to go and I was praying so hard it was not going to be another yellow but I knew it was probably going to be one and um it was hard to sort of refocus but I knew the car was amazing the E crew and ship Gess are racing hondai is done such an amazing job so I knew the husk chocolate car was fast enough but it was still hard you know I had to do everything there and then to keep them behind but I can’t believe it I’m so happy Mich o’a told you on the radio take a moment soak it in think about your family and everyone that got you here who did you think about when he said that yeah that’s the thing I I got my family is here my mom and dad and my brother and my girlfriend and Finn who’s been backing me all my career and my manager a and Alex they’re all H here today you know and and I won so I I can’t believe it you came here from F1 you didn’t like ovals when you first got here you like them now yeah I love it Marcus Erikson winner of the Indianapolis 500 and all the emotion that comes along with it def as we were saying before he is one of the nice guys in The Paddock and there’ll be a lot of people very happy for him we have got plenty more to come from the 106th Indianapolis 500 that finished in the most dramatic way with a new winner Marcus Erikson is his name of Sweden and he displayed all the grit and determination necessary to drink the milk Erikson has won [Music] [Applause] [Music] Indie let’s take a quick look at the Children’s Miracle Network moment of the race because had finished in the most dramatic way and it caused Marcus Erikson to be ultra defensive under the extreme attack of p o [Music] Ward late race crash by Sage carum but at the front of the pack Marcus Erikson sustained and deflected all of that pressure to be only the second Swedish driver to win the greatest spectacle in racing what a finish Mike certainly was if you think about sports in Sweden think of some greats like gamar stemar the skier zatan Ibrahimovic the great soccer player Anica sain Stam the phenomenal women’s golf player but if there’s one Swedish athlete you think of it’s bjn Borg now swed has the Borg Warner trophy his face will be on at Marcus Erikson with that great as the cars stopped for the red flag they were right here in front of us on Pit Road and I love the fact that you two Racing’s been your whole life you were like little kids with your phones out here it was just such a buildup of the Finish what’ you think of that last couple of laps oh this is why you have to watch the whole thing cuz you just don’t know how it’s going to go with accidents and you know Dixon at the end how heartbreaking is that to to to have a Pit Road penalty and be so fast all month and and that’s just like it today was everything that you always hope the Indie 500 can be and Marcus eron Ericson did such an incredible job he he was a tiger out there man he was swerving all over the place incredible driving under incredible pressure that was was a fantastic finish yeah I think the peak moment of intensity for me and I’m still kind of coming down off of that high was Erikson and oard side by side into turn one on the last lap who was going to give uh that was just such an incredible moment and Erikson pulls it out he earned the win today when the fuel mileage went out the window with the early yellows the pace picked up the track was hot and slick and windy very treacherous and uh caught some guys out in turn two it was a it was a tough tough race and a very hot race as well yeah it was you got it those two moments take your breath away right behind us the Dixon pit when he had to come back after the speeding depth pit Lane that was heartbreaking LED 95 of the 200 laps and then that hold your breath moment over there in turn one as a Ward and Erikson slammed it in there Erikson holds him off and comes away with the victory in the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 we have more to come golf is still ahead on NBC but we’ll be back at the Brickyard in a moment and our coverage of Indie will continue on peacock as well to the rest of the afternoon quite a day Marcus Erikson winner of the 2022 indd 500 reminding you that our coverage coming up on peacock lots of interviews kissing the yard of bricks all you need to do is go to the race stream so our post race coverage coming up on peacock everything you want to hear about this 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 for now here’s Kevin Lee Kevin well what a show poto award put on with Marcus Erikson at the end you’ve now finished six four and second and you almost had the lead on lap 199 do you think that maybe you should have gone for it or did you make the smart move n he was going to put me in the wall if I would have gone for it uh we were alongside each other um man the I’m so proud of the team and in in proud of myself we did everything to get it done and even getting a massive run on him we had no wicker less down force and still not enough speed to get by him even with a massive run is frustrating it’s bittersweet um a yeah I I’m so proud but it’s it definitely stings because you know I feel like the team and I did everything perfectly to get it done and something that’s out of our control was why we’ve struggled in the end we just saw that moment with one of the team owners Sam Schmidt I know you’d love to give him a chance in Victory Lane again here man all these guys deserve it and and and I feel like I drove a a race to uh to position us there it’s just bummer bummer we didn’t have more uh but uh we have work to do and we’ll come back next year we’ll come back with a faster and uh better race car and go at it again all right thank you po Sam Schmidt by the way was a part of the ownership group for Dan weldon’s win over a decade ago and it stings now for Pau it stings now but when we get to Detroit B Isle next week he’s going to look at the standings and say hm I was sixth I’m now second and I’m only 13 points out of the lead yes that’s right we’ll be in Detroit’s B ale Park in Michigan next weekend for the continuation of the NTT Indie Car series coming up next on NBC as we told you before it’s the Senior PGA Championship and remember all of about post race coverage lots more interviews like that and Marcus Ericson of the chipkin assy gang kissing the bricks is coming up and on behalf of everybody thanks for watching our coverage here on NBC this is Lee DIY saying well done Marcus Erikson thanks for joining us live here on peacock as we continue the debrief of the Indianapolis 500 on a pretty wild day that saw some terrific racing some big crashes and a first time winner who’s about to take his lap around the track chip ganassi racings Marcus ericon he’s in the middle there somewhere there he [Applause] is there’s the Indianapolis Motor Speedway public address announcer Dave Calabro also one of the local NBC uh reporters so Dave is in the uh in the car with Marcus and Chip and his girlfriend and this is going to be pretty magical stuff something that he could have only dreamed of and never would have imagined to be Frank James when he was in Formula 1 no absolutely absolutely on a on one of the biggest days in Motorsports globally such a cool thing to be able to accomplish a lot of his former colleagues racing in Monaco this morning Nascar has a Hallmark event coming up this evening but this one right here the biggest race in the world and this is one of the coolest traditions for the winner I think Townson getting in the pace car that is now his he gets to take that home eventually and doing a lap around seeing the stadium all the fans that stuck around to salute the winner such a moment for this driver and I think it’s it’s fun to see the interaction between the winner and the fans because the last 3 hours those 200 laps you’re so in the zone you just can’t allow yourself to process the biggest audience in all of sports here until this moment and boy do they have something to cheer for the way he defended with such vigilance and and passion for this win he really deserves it and just think I mean chip kassie racing had to show up with that many bullets in the gun because Scott Dixon almost had it had a problem Alex poo was up there had a problem Tony Kanan was up there with Marcus but this team showed up in a huge way this month yeah one of the guys who was up there all day long was Scott Dixon let’s hear from the driver of the PNC Bank Honda here he is Scott Dixon for the second year in a row maybe with the fastest car but not going to win the race LED 95 laps how do you sum up the disappointment of today uh it’s just heartbreaking to be honest um I don’t know must have been very close I kind of came into the pit and had to lock the rears and then um kind of locked all four and I knew it was going to be close I think it was like a mile an hour over or something so just frustrating the car was you know really good all day we had really good speed I think uh the team did an amazing job on strategy um I just messed up thanks Scott he’ll finish 21st officially today oh and that’s going to take a long while to get over for Scott Dixon he had uh he had put together such a great race ah you can hear the pain in his voice uh especially knowing what a dominant car on board with Dixon listen [Music] here on that last downshift Town Cate just locks the rear tires and that’s what sort of set the whole thing off as he processes what just happened with his team and wife Emma and that makes for really a Sleepless Sunday night after such a strong day can’t believe it I just can’t believe it because from qualifying to that moment he was pretty much perfect and the big difference from the last few is that he’s you know he’s had slipped through his fingers here at Indie this wasn’t anyone else’s it wasn’t bad luck you know this was just I don’t I don’t even want to call it driver error that sounds like an unkind way of putting it but ultimately he’s the one behind the wheel he didn’t get the car slowed down there was nothing else to it Mike that’s a tough one to [Music] swallow if it was I mentioned before he left there at NBC that Dixon pit box the last one here the first one back to the track is right behind us and I was just watching that play out all day 95 laps LED and all that and some of those shots and a great job by our team to capture that emotion that was going on right at that moment know I’m Not The Insider here you guys are I’m I’m the guest of the racing crew but you’re average 234 mil an hour you know to qualify all that and as Scott say it’s like a mile mile or so uh over the limit uh coming down Pit Road and that could very well be the difference of winning a second as we talked about in the pre-race something that may have put Scott Dixon in that Stratosphere of indie car drivers again third most wins in the series history 51 only andred and F with more Mario obviously the bad luck at Indie W Indie 500 AJ with four but you you mentioned your pre-race like that’s one of those things like Payton Manning winning his second Super Bowl yeah you’re great but now you’ve won the biggest event multiple times there’s no fluke about it it it all adds to that pain of what we saw in those shots of that emotion I mean like we can tell you about the pain of having a Pit Road penalty and how I’ve I’ve always felt so bad obviously because that’s your responsibility and he totally owned that um and you know especially with n500 you know how much goes into it with the team and Chip and the effort that goes in and just it’s just so much goes into this one race um so of course you take that on um but of course like right there with it is the weight of not getting that win and knowing how close it was and you don’t know when you’re going to get it back it’s not you’re not always guaranteed CU you’re a good driver that you’ll have a chance to win here every time so uh super heavy I feel super bad for him but um but uh obviously he’s still a true champion six-time champion that is and um and he’ll think about it for a while Junior before you weigh in on that we saw ELO cast NIS his Drive for Five he finished seventh in the race today but back to Dixon yeah Dixon was I think Dixon know you know was thinking in his head about how the green flag stops were cycling and he lost some track position on the Cycles before and was pushing as hard as possible on that pit entrance to try to make up as much time as possible have a perect perfect pit in and pit out and you could tell you could see he was much too hot as he went for that last downshift these cars don’t have amazing breaks like the road course cars do so you’re using a lot of the engine diesel on downshift to slow the car down and it was too much and will hop the car and what I think makes Dixon great is how heartbreaking this is for him after everything he’s ever done he could walk away from here and say all right I’ll try again next year but he wants this so bad and I think that’s why he’s so good so late in his career you wonder about guys longevity some people fall off some guys can just keep going long long late into their careers and it’s because he wants it so badner yeah well looking at Castor nevas there I mean he’s another one of those guys you mentioned it I mean he had an incredible day he finished seven you know he came from a long way so these guys still know how to do it uh Kevin is down there Kevin Lee down there with Elio taking a walk this is this is pretty cool I’m walking right in front of him and and when he came out over to do the interview and start to walk over the fans noticed him and they’ve been giving him a nice Applause as he walked through you saw him chatting with his teammate Simon pno they finished seventh and eighth in this race Elio my friend I think you gave it all you could going from the back and getting up to seven yeah we did uh we definitely pushed everything we could at the limit uh MSR Racing uh so Mya sh racing Auto Nation series like Sam Mar wolf they did a phenomenal job car was on Rails but didn’t not have enough speed uh we’re lacking compared to gasses and the guys up front however you know this is a place that uh 3 hours anything can happen so we’re able to uh stick our guns in uh some of the restarts it was only one that we Bobble a little bit but uh in the end of the day that’s what we got um I wish I would have a little more obviously every time always wish a little more the car was really really good balance-wise it just didn’t have enough speed but great job Erikson ganassi well done uh you guys came here this month with a five cars bullet you know and uh and one end up getting so congratulations hey the great thing is the marketing materials are done we’ll see you next year for another Drive for Five for Elio castr NZ and that million dooll Smile as well uh two decades separating his four victories from his first and 01 to his fourth and 21 and hopefully see him back here in 2023 as mentioned other finishers in that top five award second Canan third Felix rosenquist fourth with Dylan Welsh it’s a career best fourth place finish today for Felix rosenquist at the Indianapolis 500 I want to start with not only today but just this month for you two top 10 and two really strong races how big is that how important is that to just kind of get this ship righted after a tough start to the year yeah it feels good man I’m so proud for my Aron McLaren SP views team I mean we’ve I feel like we just had confidence through these last couple weeks and uh even even before that to be honest we’ve been strong all year had good good speed U I think today we had probably the pit stop out of anyone man we had one pitch sequence we came in in eighth and came out in fourth and I was like man that’s that’s the confidence we need that’s that’s what we need for the rest of the season super proud of them uh obviously when you lead a race you want to win it um and then you want to get a top three if you can’t win it and uh had a good battle with ton in the last lap we were side by side through the first two corners and it was super tight man but uh yeah good good good for him also for Marcus for winning his first 500 that’s uh I know how much that means to him and uh that’s a huge achievement for his careers so really really cool to see the Swedish flag up there the nerves on that last restart with two to go you’re within Striking Distance I mean what goes through a driver’s head what went through your head when you were lined up there and and had a chance at your first one man I don’t know like this whole month I’ve been really calm and I haven’t really got nervous and I think that’s been good uh but yeah my going into turn one that left it was like man was I was like I can come out of this corner in first or in maybe last I was like and I think everyone just went for it cuz it was like a two laap shootout and uh yeah I’m honestly I’m just happy that everyone kind of made it through but it it was tight and um just shows how good the drivers are as well I mean we can go through a corner like that that’s that’s really impressing I think everyone up there were deserving to win today and I think pretty much everyone in the top five could have won that race great day for Aro McLaren SP and Felix Rosen quis laid it all out there he comes home and fourth take a look at this restart here rosenquist fourth in line canan’s L looking to make a move but all of a sudden rosenquist just stuffs it in on Canan and then maybe looks at his teammate a ward backs out but Tony Canan Mr muscles flexing big time in the short shoot on the outside on board here with rosenquist look at the rate of speed with which he caught up to PO award the draft so big but just nowhere to go poto kept the door closed and then TK with the Clean Air on that second lane was able to just hanging out enough to keep the position and I I can’t help but think watching Canan go to the high side and making it work on rosenquist could have a ward have pulled off the win on Marcus Erikson let’s head back down to the pit box with Junior yeah we were looking on uh some comments from a ward I was wondering like when he goes to the outside and he’s almost got a nose out in in front I’m thinking who has who has the RightWay here cuz you know both these guys probably can’t go through this corner together side by side but who’s going to lift and award lifts Erikson goes forward and reading Awards comments later he’s like I think I would have probably ended up in the wall if I’d have stayed out there and it’s more than likely the case yeah too wide here doesn’t work really well I mean Dario and Sato did that a few years ago it didn’t go so well for Sato that time um two wide’s definitely dangerous at Indie um but yeah wow that was so exciting to watch watch see all the chaos out there that’s true it’s a good question this is fun as always it’s a blast to watch with you guys the joy for me is to sit up here with two people who have made this as I said a career and you are just as big of fans and just an appreciation for being in the seat and for being in this place as well and you know you said 325,000 fans as Marcus Erikson just made that lap around the 2 and a half mile oval a bunch of the fans are off to to enjoy their rest of their afternoon get back home enjoy their holiday weekend but a lot stayed one cuz you’re going to run into traffic but two to salute the winner and we salute diff and the guys up in the booth terrific call of the 500 pleasure being with you guys we continue to watch here the post race coverage on peacock it’s been such a um such an eventful month of May so much to talk about on reflection and here we go we had our very own Dale Jarrett here with us the man who created this you got to turn your hat around bud [Applause] when he was reviewing video he clearly didn’t get all the way to the victory celebrations or else he would have known to turn his hat around someone will probably give him a second attempt here as chip gassie joins him chip doesn’t even know he’s been doing this long enough come on Chip he knows better he’s won this thing five [Applause] times now the team get to get out there as we salute team and all these guys now he’s turning it around no oh come on Marcus you’re almost there there we go Arrow [Music] mode he was talking about how his family is here his girlfriend his brother ready one two three kiss the [Applause] bricks that was a special kiss I’ve been commentating on this guy since he was in gp2 and then throughout his Formula 1 days but to see him here and to see the happy space that he is in in his life right now and to this to be this a career high this amazing accomplishment really good stuff yeah he’s been a a happier guy a different driver since joining this team back in 2020 got his first career wins last year two of them now three three red flags in a row Marcus Ericson and the number eight cars come out on top all right here we go 1 2 kiss the at this point if you’re some of the executives there you’re wondering how many more hats are there in the cycle I’m trying when you’ve worked as hard as all of the crews and you are the fortunate one to be able to out there this kind of washes away all the memories of those extra long hours those extra hard days it is all very much worth it here comes Jimmy Johnson to congratulate his teammate or or to apologize about that yellow well it’s good to see that Jimmy’s okay by the way uh before we we hear from anybody else I can tell you uh in regards to Sage car a calling according to uh Dr Jeffrey Billows uh Sage was evaluated and passed all the concussion protocols uh he’s experiencing some muscular scal soreness uh he will be transported to Methodist uh hospital for further evaluation that was a pretty heavy hit late in the race all right let’s hear from the boss here’s chip yeah let’s chat with chip ganassi and man what the emotions of this day but before we get to the entire day for you how sweet is that kiss any better kiss in Motorsports sweeter every time sweeter every time I’ll tell you how about the young man who won this race for you you maybe a little below the radar all weekend long or all month long really but he showed what he had at the end of it no question no question I mean uh it’s we got one team everybody roots for everybody else and everybody works together everybody’s open book and I I said this morning I said look guys everybody’s cheering for everybody else here to win this thing and long as one of us won it everybody’s happy so talk about that as a team owner how important is it to emphasize that after the trouble that happened with the nine and the 10 today yeah I mean you know you’re going to have things happen I mean in these 500m mile races and they’re not always going to fall your way so uh you know you got to have some bullets in your gun and we were lucky this may to have good cars and good drivers good partners and uh it all works out when that happens what was the emotion of the day like for you I mean the 10 has their problems and the nine has their problems and you’re sitting on the nine timing stand what was the day like I mean it’s obviously a great day it’s a great day for the team and that’s all that matters you know it’s my emotions are one of uh you know 200 people or something so I don’t uh it’s not important you know what’s important is we came here in May to win the Indianapolis 500 and that’s what we did and does it mean a lot when you see Jimmy coming out from the Care Center to immediately congratulate Marcus I mean you know I mean every every when everybody qualifies everybody congratulates each other when they you know when they win the Races they all congratulate each other that’s what a team’s all about team win for chip gasty racing the the boss going to go take a few more pictures now you got to go find his driver and there he is with Jimmy Johnson a big hug for them what a emotional day for chip gassie racing but they wind up in Victory Lane a lot to talk about and from a team perspective a lot to celebrate with this guy who calls Indie home and has done now for a number of years and always returns back to uh Sweden in the offseason all right we got a a bunch of other drivers to hear from let’s get things ring so ton kanan’s 21st Indie 500 ends well a Podium finish for you but it looked like it could have been just a little bit more there yeah I mean could have should have would have but uh if it wasn’t for that red flag I think we had a chance for second let’s be realistic I was not going to pass two cars in the last four laps although I was the fastest car out there at the end but uh you know with that red flag I’m like hey can pull a TK restart here I even talk to the guys in the booth but um yeah it wasn’t enough but you know we came here to win a race as a team and we accomplished that today and selfishly I wanted it to win but chip asked us to win this race as a one team and we did it we’re we’re sitting up there in the in the podium with Marcus I wondered about you halfway through the race when you sort of opined that you didn’t think you had the Speed where did the speed come from later in the race Tony I was just bling I knew you guys were listening I should have been not been listening I know you guys were listening listening so I I was playing to I knew a lot of people were listening we when we was trying to go we had it and so you have spoken this week about I don’t know if I want to talk about when I’ll do my last 500 what do days like this make you feel about that I want to do one more I mean next year will be my 25th year in indie car and right now I have no deal but if if I can make it happen we will call it the last one so hopefully uh we have a year to figure that out if not this place doesn’t owe me anything I mean look at the fans during the red flag uh I had still the biggest cheer that that they wanted it to win so uh I’ll be extremely grateful but we’ll try he almost made it happen today we’ll look forward to seeing him next year fifth place today for Alexander Rossy and a uh a nice finish back up near the front after a tough couple finishes the last couple years so uh how would you evaluate your day today yeah I think we we did the most that we could from 20th and you know I think the team executed on on an amazing level today the stops were great um the strategy was fantastic the car was was good when we needed to and and it was just a generally a very good day for the whole team so I’m very proud of of all the 27 nap Auto Nation and JY Honda guys very proud of Honda for getting another win and uh congrats to Marcus it’s it’s very special the first one yeah you ran down here and and congratulate I mean what is this moment like for him me how does it feel to to check this off and and win one of these yeah it’s pretty cool for him man like it’s uh it’s painful to watch someone else do it but no honestly um you know I’ve known him for a long time over in Europe and we we were teammates for a while and it’s an amazing accomplishment so you should uh certainly cherish it and uh enjoy everything that’s come plus 15 today for Alexander Rossy he’ll wind up Fifth Conor Dy finishes sixth with seven laps LED looked like it could have been a lot more today though man it was just so fun I love racing here uh against guys like Scott and P and I mean those guys are are are just good guys and um the team did a great job bit Nile Chevrolet I mean to have them up front again leading laps here uh their first n500 with bit Nile um I think we did all we could today I mean we stayed up front the whole day we did what we needed to do we were in position I think to take advantage of that top three maybe and at least have a shot at it but uh you know the last Pit Stop cost us a little bit but I mean you know what I this is racing I mean that happens all the time so uh the guys gave me great stops all day and I I appreciate it and it was uh just fun talked about the knowledge you gained from running up front last year how much of that was applied today did you feel like okay that’s confirmation of a lot of things let’s do it again next year completely different it was much harder today yeah I mean the track surface I think this track surface is a is an animal uh with the wind the way it was today the entirely different balance in one and two compared to three and four and uh I mean I could tell cars are moving all over the place you know even like when we got in line it was actually hard to pass Dixon and you’re only one car back it shouldn’t be that hard but uh and it was the same for p and the same same kind of for guys behind me not really people couldn’t really go many places so it was wild and you were working on the tools uh and that’s why I think we saw so many crashes today two people are just on the edge and that’s what’s wild about this series for sure and that’s what I was going to ask you with so many that didn’t get it right how many close calls did you have oh massively close calls even at exiting the pits turn two I was fully sideways after that last stop trying to make up time um and it just you know it is what it is went for it on the outside at the restart there to get Simon um and you know what it just felt good I thought we were racy today and um I’m just I’m just thankful to be here I love this place and I think we’re getting closer and closer to having a shot at winning it on the razor’s Edge all day but brought it home clean in the 20 car 10th Place finish today for Santino fuchi and uh man there was some spots where it looked like you were going to maybe be up there to contend but you always seem to find a way at this place how how are you always up front and contending and and battling these races for wins I mean four top 10s and four races here is pretty not bad yeah I’m pretty stout with it I mean these guys deserve way better than that today we ran in the top five most of today um we were fast hats off to all of dry rybolt on pit Lane I mean oh my god did this car go up and down faster than I’ve ever seen any other car go up and down these guys worked so hard I mean just our La at the end of second to last run in the last run we just lost the balance of the car and I was just chasing it chasing in the tools and by the time I finally got it back it was too late and I was already running 10th um and just hung on on the last restart van and you know we brought home the screaming Sicilian in the top 10 so I can’t complain you know I’m pretty happy with the result I talked with sage your teammate about this this week and just the challenge that this whole organization and team faces as a one-off but he made the comment that it allows everybody to focus all their efforts onto this one race do you feel like that is the case and that’s what allows you guys or allowed you both to run well today yeah of course you know we’re going to look back and see what happened and why we fell off because definitely right at the start of this race in the first three stins we had the car to be right there to win and there was no doubt about it in my mind I was really confident in this thing like I said we just fell off whether it’s be a bad set of tires or the track just didn’t go our way for setup and gearing you know we’ll go back and look at it come back stronger next year but uh damn I’m I’m hella proud of these boys I mean they did such a great job and I thought we drove such a great race and uh I’m just happy to be here I’m I have no other words for that man I can’t thank all of our sponsors enough you know screaming Cilan Barrett Jackson bom marito autog Group Phoenix investors so you know Chevy without all those guys this wouldn’t have been possible today another great Indianapolis 500 for Santino it’s his fourth top 10 and four starts Simon Pino’s day ends with a top 10 need to know about your day I didn’t watch your car all day was it as crazy out there as even some who lost their cars into the wall uh I mean we were solid we had a great day very steady we climbed our way up to six at the end and unfortunately I didn’t have a good restart on the last one um so it’s on me but but we finished seven and eight for the team and I’m super proud of these guys I mean seven and eight two cars first time two cars here second time sorry but first time for me here with M shank racing I thought it was a tremendous showing I’m so proud of everybody and Mike Shank did a great strategy we climbed all the way back from 16th at the start so um you know when you’re in India and you get to race this place it’s especially with the fans it’s just you feel so grateful and especially when you have one of those you can only be grateful at the end and congrats to Honda of course and um marus Erikson and ganassi for a great job they did I know the team appreciated you and what you brought to them this year especially this place where you’ve been so good tell us about that sharing back and forth because obviously Myer shank learned some things last year as well yeah no it’s a fantastic team they have such a desire to win such um no ego zero ego so you could be very responsive in uh in what we need and what we need to address and Mike is just on it every day so um you know it’s really enjoyable to be part of that and and I have the team grow it’s obviously growing really fast because when you have two cars running seven and eight in Indianapolis it’s very special see you next week thank you guys the whole weekend the whole month was special wasn’t it mainly because the fans were allowed to be back in force uh it was special for chip gassie racing he had the power of five unfortunately three of his guys suffered some pretty severe adversity but none worse than Jimmy Johnson with this huge [Music] crash here’s the onboard view have a look listen you heard that desperate stab of throttle as Jimmy got sideways to backwards trying to do anything in his bag of tricks to keep it off the wall and massive front end impact there so we saw Jimmy out on the front straight congratulating Marcus Eric and Chip gassie this is what he had to say when he came out of the infield Care Center Jimmy Johnson and unfortunate ending to what I think was a really impressive month on a lot of fronts what happened out there uh with just a few laps to go it just spun around I was really surprised that it turned around in that early um I I don’t know the situation bad situation I put myself in but it came around so quick um so I hate to do that ha to do that that late in the race uh very treacherous environment out there U learned a lot uh track was was name of the game we just never had it all day long and it’s sad the crusher at the end thanks Jimmy well for Alex poo the day started so strong front row LED 47 laps take us through the remainder of it um I had lots of fun during this race obviously there was one point where uh my heart broke uh in pieces but uh we we continued going and we had a good result at the end of the day so I’m super proud about the chief ganassi racing team uh super proud for and happy before Marcus and we just hadn’t had the lag we needed today so um we were we had a really strong car we were extracting everything from it uh playing a little bit with uh Dixon at the beginning and then at the end I couldn’t have done anything different with that yellow so wrong place wrong time but um yeah we’ll come back uh again next year can you please describe for me how you went from 32nd to 9th on the final couple of laps it was not no not easy it was super hard um had to work a lot but uh I mean we had the car to to win the race um so when you go uh at the back it’s easier so um anyway yeah it was hard work uh super proud it was the the most moves I made in in a Noel race so um I’m happy I’m getting there and I know the trophy is not yours today but from the start from qualifying five in the top 12 to ending up in Victory Lane as an organization what does that say to you about chipi racing oh impressive really impressive not only the mechanics and the engineers that they work every day on the car but everybody back at the sh everybody pulling for us so I think it’s a tremendous what they did we’re talking about the reigning Champion Alex poo maybe just maybe at the end of the season if he defends his title Alex poo will look back to today 27th to 9th those points keep him in the top three in the championship just 14 behind his teammate Marcus Erikson who Rockets to the top to lead the way over poo Ward and look at that in one of Sweden’s largest news outlets Marcus Erikson has made the front page awesome Hench final thoughts what a day what a day for a guy that everybody likes couldn’t be happier for this guy I was teammates with him his rookie season in indie car and just watching how he’s grown as a driver and as a person incredible to see how well he’s adapted to this series and just so excited after such a thrilling race and a thrilling end to the Indie 500 T Bell when there’s chaos there’s Erikson that’s what I’ve learned whether it’s red flags drama on the racetrack I mean this guy had it all in the bag until a red flag he had to stay so mentally tough but in the end it was fierce determination on defense that led to the biggest prize and we take a a brief uh break and a a catch our breath so to speak because we’re racing again next weekend on the streets of bile Detroit it’s going to be a massive doubleheader weekend of the IMA Weather Tech Sports Car Championship in the NTT Indie Car Series but for now we say farewell and congratulations Marcus Ericson [Music]
16 Comments
Pato was close to win
Sweet. Wish you’d post 2023 as well. I have watched 17 past Indy races the last two weeks . Hope it doesn’t rain this weekend
This was the first of Ericsson’s back to back wins at the 500. We all know who won last year. You don’t restart a race with one lap unless you want the second place driver to win. It’s almost as if Newgarden drives for the series and track owner or something.
Spoiler alert, Marcus Ericsson wins this race in 2022.
Opening ceremonies for the 500 are so legit.
I love Helio!
Y canapino?
Race start is 1:21:58
If only the IndyCar Race Officials did not hate Scott Dixon so much, he could have won the 2022 Indianapolis 500. The race officials basically hated Scott Dixon for no darn reason. Sadistic race officials are truly sadistic.
This was such a fun race tbh, first indy 500 i watched all the way through
The best one. #NoBias lol.
This was the first time I watched the full 500 live. Been hooked ever since.
Hope Marcus does well again this year, but will be difficult starting from Row 11
🔥🔥🔥
Will never forget this race. I was euphoric for like a week afterwards.
1:00:36 21 gun salute/taps
Guys,now indicar use automatic or manual transmission?
Tomorrow I'm going to watch the 108th Indy 500 (2024), but today I really need to warm up with the 106th and 107th Indy 500 first!