29 May, 2017
As a auto owner, though, Michael Andretti certainly knows the way to victory lane.
Despite the violent crash that brought out the red flag and halted the race for almost 30 minutes, both drivers climbed out of their wrecked cars unhurt. Two-time victor Juan Pablo Montoya was sixth.
The 35-year-old Alonso led 27 laps in his much-hyped Indy 500 debut - the third most behind Max Chilton and Ryan Hunter-Reay - before a blown Honda engine ended his day 20 laps shy of the finish line. "I didn't win, but I will drink a little bit of milk. Really fair. I can trust him", Sato told ABC. Thanks for the welcoming.
Alonso, who had a spectacular race, simply feel victim to his engine in the waning laps. That allowed Dario Franchitti to win that race. Finally, through prodding by friends of his parents, he was taken to several Thursday night modified stock vehicle races on the old quarter-mile dirt track that was in the infield of the one-mile oval -and he was hooked.The first Milwaukee Mile event that he attended was the 1959 Rex Mays Classic won by Johnny Thomson in the pink Racing Associates lay-down Offy built by the legendary Lujie Lesovsky. Neither of his McLaren teammates finished the famed road race.
Sato was mobbed by his euphoric Andretti Autosport crew and team mates as he pulled into Victory Lane, kissed by the Indy 500 Queen and then chugged from the traditional bottle of milk before dumping it over his head. I won two world championships.
He even drove for Andretti Autosport. "To be here is not possible to compare with F1".
"I think we deserved at least to finish the race. who knows what position we could be".
He also anticipates a return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "It was definitely a rough ride", Dixon said. It will be easier, let's say, adaptations. "I keep it a personal challenge and that's not complete".
McLaren boss Zak Brown raved about Alonso's first IndyCar race. "Not many race drivers are courageous enough to do what Fernando did today", Brown said.
"I'm just bummed for the team, man. He put himself out there and exposed himself, delivered the goods, which isn't a surprise to anyone that has watched Fernando race".
In a Chevrolet for Team Penske, Castroneves briefly took the lead but couldn't make it stick as Sato grabbed it back. Married to Paula, they have three adult children and two cats.Paul loves the diversity of all types of racing, "a factor that got me hooked in the first place".
"Obviously disappointed not to finish the race because obviously every race you compete, you want to be at the checkered flag", Alonso said. "It was a great experience being here the past two weeks, with the team, the track and the fans. I came here to challenge myself". Now I know how it is to be here with testing, pit stops and like that. I didn't know if I can be as quick as anyone in an Indy auto. "It was nice to have this competitive feeling". I was passing, watching the tower, saw the 29 on top of it.
Sato, who entered Sunday's (Monday NZ time) race with one IndyCar victory on his resume, claimed the sport's biggest prize and in the process denied Castroneves a record-equalling fourth Indy 500 win and a place in the Brickyard's most exclusive club.
