Indy 500 2017, or the Race that Alonso Ran

I have finally found the time to return to writing, hooray! If my mind was a keyboard, I'd have written every week because IndyCar is always in my thoughts. Maybe someone should invent such a thing... Well no better time to get back into it than to recap the exciting 101st running of the Indy 500.

Three Stars of the Race

#1 Star: Takuma Sato

Sato captured sweet redemption for 2012, when he crashed trying to pass eventual winner Dario Franchitti for the lead. (I still contend Dario squeezed him, but we move on.) The Andretti cars were strong all month, so it seemed inevitable that one of them would be in Victory Circle. I have to admit, I was half expecting Sato to crash again as he and Helio battled in the closing laps. But he showed patience and maturity as he held on to win his first Indy 500 and his second IndyCar race. Sato is a likable driver, full of energy and positivity, making this a popular win--especially in his native Japan. If you haven't seen the video of Japanese commentators calling the race as he crossed the bricks, check it out. It will make you smile.

#2 Star: Ed Jones

Despite not winning the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year (!?), Jones was a shining star on Sunday. He started 11th, fell back to 30th or so with some technical difficulties, then charged to the front again late in the race. He had a real shot to win. I have been impressed with Jones all year. It appears some media members still hold a grudge about Jones's "team orders" Indy Lights championship last year--either that or they were so enamored with Fernando Alonso they couldn't see any other drivers on the grid. Jones should have at least been a co-rookie of the year. He was a bright spot for Dale Coyne Racing in an otherwise depressing month.

#3 Star: Harding Racing & Gabby Chaves

It was a tough decision for third star, which is to be expected when you have 33 drivers in the race. I actually considered giving it to Dallara for building a safe car that saved Scott Dixon (more on this below). But this was Harding Racing's first-ever IndyCar race, and to bring home a top ten finish deserves recognition. Former rookie of the year Chaves started 22nd and finished 9th, so they have to be encouraged as they hope to join IndyCar full-time in 2018. It will be great to have new drivers & owners in the series.

Three Stories of the Race

#1 Story: Honda, Honda, Honda

Yes, Honda won the race. They clearly had more giddy-up than the Chevys, because Helio was unable to pass Sato in the last three laps. But three blown engines for drivers who were leading the race at one point does not make them look like a reliable company. Let's face it, this was not a great marketing campaign for them and some non-race fans watching may actually be reluctant to buy a vehicle with a Honda engine. We all knew it was only a matter of time before one blew because Honda admitted the engine was faulty, and unfortunately Ryan Hunter-Reay was the first to go. RHR had looked like a strong contender before that, and was considered a favorite to win the race. The fact that he was not interviewed on camera after exiting the race tells me he was (understandably) incredibly frustrated. Next to go was Charlie Kimball, then Alonso. Alonso led 27 laps; Kimball 5. It's just a shame that they were out of the race through no fault of their own or their team's.

#2 Story: Alonso Mania

Some would consider Alonso's IndyCar debut to be the top story, but I think I got sick of hearing about it so I bumped it down a spot. And after seeing the dismal, record-low ratings, clearly having an international F1 star in the greatest spectacle in racing did not move the needle as many expected it to. However, when I first learned Alonso would join the lineup, I was excited. Good for him, and good for IndyCar, I thought. He impressed both on and off the track, by quickly getting up to speed (albeit with a strong Andretti team), leading the race, and by being courteous and gracious with both fans and the media. Would an Alonso victory have made the series look inferior to other motorsports? Possibly. We can't deny Alonso's skill and talent, but it does give one pause that a "rookie" can jump into an IndyCar for his first oval race and nearly win it. I think Alonso caught the Indy 500 bug, and I would love to see him return for another shot at the Borg Warner trophy. If and when he does, he will be a strong challenger to win. I'm not so sure he'll want to be in a Honda, though.

#3 Story: Dixon's Crash

Unfortunately, no matter who won the race, the story that was going to capture the most national attention was the terrifying crash of polesitter Scott Dixon. I had a difficult time watching the replay, and I don't want to see it again. Jay Howard, who was 7 laps down at the time of the crash (and who inexplicably blamed the wreck on Hunter-Reay), hit the wall, lost control and smacked into Dixon. Dixon's car went airborne into the catch fence and the SAFER barrier but miraculously he was able to walk away without serious injury. The impact hit in all the right spots to save Dixon's life, thank God. And thank you to Dallara for building a car to withstand that impact. I was amazed at how calm and lighthearted Dixon was after the crash, saying simply "It was a wild ride." Race car drivers, huh? What a week for Dixon. Robbed at gunpoint the week before the race, then taken out by a backmarker after winning the pole. I think he's ready to move on to Detroit.

Other stories of note: I observed that many of the wrecks started with drivers who were non-series regulars and were only competing in the Indy 500. I understand that 33 drivers is a tradition not to be messed with, but perhaps we should be more selective in choosing the drivers who race. It's an unfortunate reality of modern racing that if you have money, you can drive a race car (talent be damned) and I wish it wasn't that way. In spite of all the yellow flags, the race was once again an exciting spectacle. Tons of passing and no clear winner until the very end. There were a record number of different leaders (15), including some surprises (Chilton?).

We have now had our sixth different winner in six races in the IndyCar season. Because of the double points awarded at Indy, Helio Castroneves now leads the championship, followed by a three-way tie of Dixon, Sato, and Simon Pagenaud for second. Anyone can win, which is one of the many exciting reasons to watch IndyCar. Stay tuned for more!