The 2021 Indy 500 was one for the ages, one I will not soon forget. Not only was it the largest sporting event since the pandemic began, with allegedly 135,000 fans in attendance (it looked like much more than that on TV), but we witnessed history as Helio Castroneves joined the four-time winners club. It is an exclusive club, with only three other members--AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Sr., and Rick Mears. Helio has tried for a long time to achieve this milestone, and go figure it happened in his first Indy 500 without Team Penske. Simon Pagenaud, along with others, have noted that the Speedway seems to pick its winner each year. I found myself reflecting on his comment this year and finding some truth in it. Helio was the perfect winner for 2021. He is a popular driver, this is a feel-good win and after the past year we could all use something to feel good about. It also seems appropriate to capture that elusive fourth win in front of fans. It felt like every driver in the paddock enthusiastically congratulated Helio during the longest trip to the Indy 500 Victory Lane we've probably ever seen. And what an amazing spectacle to see fans climbing the fence to salute Helio as he completed his victory lap. It was a special, special moment, and I think the ghosts of Indianapolis Motor Speedway chose the right winner this year.
Three Stars of the Race
#1 Star: Helio Castroneves
I had remarked about halfway through the race that we should keep an eye on Helio, who was running in P3 at the time. He started in the fast nine, has the experience needed in a long race of this caliber, and stayed near the front for the entire race. Somehow he was able to avoid the empty fuel tank issues that struck Scott Dixon and Alexander Rossi on the first pit stop. After Stefan Wilson crashed in the pits on lap 34 (more on that later), the first caution waved and the pits closed. Dixon and Rossi both ran out of fuel and had to pit for emergency service. However, the engine wouldn't refire immediately, resulting in lengthy stops for both. Dixon eventually gained his lap back, but Rossi never did. Regardless, Helio never had to worry about this issue. He also displayed patience and mastery, timing his last-lap pass of Alex Palou perfectly. As Helio remarked in his post-race interview, 2021 has been a good year for the "old guys," with 40-year-old Tom Brady winning another "big game," 50-year-old Phil Mickelson capturing the PGA Championship, and 40-year-old Scott Dixon starting on the Indy 500 pole. Palou will likely be reliving the last few laps in his head for a long time, but he has nothing to be ashamed of, finishing second to a four-time champ in only his second Indy 500. The teacher schooled the student.
#2 Star: Mike Shank
It has been a long arduous journey to full-time IndyCar racing for Michael Shank. In 2012 he had a chassis but was unable to secure an engine for it. From there he had to slowly enter the series, starting with Indy 500-only entries, much like Paretta Autosport this year. Though he has had quite a bit of success in sports car racing, the team had primarily run a partial schedule prior to last year, consistently with Jack Harvey as its driver. A technical partnership with Andretti Autosport and a committed sponsorship from AutoNation and Sirius XM (with former CEO Jim Meyer co-owning the race team) allowed Meyer Shank Racing to field a full-time IndyCar for the first time in 2020 and add a second driver (Helio) for six races in 2021. They are no longer a small team on the sidelines, as Racer noted in an article after Harvey and Graham Rahal tussled at Texas, but are legitimate contenders. This was Meyer Shank Racing's first IndyCar win, and it certainly won't be their last. IndyCar needs these stories, they serve as inspiration for other teams aspiring to enter the series or find success on a smaller team.
#3 Star: Conor Daly
Daly received a HUGE ovation from the crowd when he took the lead on lap 50, and he ended up leading a race-high 40 laps. There was something very 'Murica with hometown favorite Daly leading in a U.S. Air Force car on Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately Daly's good day was derailed when Rahal's loose tire clipped the front of his car, knocking the front wing out of balance and affecting the car's speed and aerodynamics for the rest of the race. Daly wound up finishing 13th, a result not really depicting the good car and drive he showed for much of the day. Hopefully he will get a podium and his first IndyCar win before the year is over.
Honorable Mentions: Sage Karam, who started on the last row and charged to a seventh-place finish, Simon Pagenaud, the highest-placing Penske driver who might have won had this been the Indy 502 instead of the Indy 500, and Santino Ferrucci, who now has three top ten finishes in three Indy 500s.
Three Stories of the Race
#1 Story: Brake Issues
What in the world happened with the brakes in these cars? Four separate instances from four different teams caused problems for drivers having decent days, and they all reported the same issue: the brake pedal went straight to the floor. First, it was Stefan Wilson. Then it was Will Power, who spun around in the pits and could not recover, ultimately finishing 30th. Ryan Hunter-Reay, who had been running in the top five for much of the day and was a legitimate threat to challenge for the lead, had problems on lap 175 and also receive a pit speed penalty, effectively ending his day. He finished an unremarkable 22nd, the last car on the lead lap. Simona De Silvestro also spun in pit lane, clipping the pit wall and resulting in a DNF. Listening to Power's radio during the race, he claimed that the brakes were so bad that he would not be able to stop if there was an incident in front of him, which is terrifying. Thankfully we didn't have to worry about that, but these brake problems definitely need to be investigated further before the next oval (St. Louis in August).
#2 Story: Fastest Indy 500 in History
With only two cautions during the race, the 2021 Indy 500 set the record for the fastest ever, at an average speed of 190.690. The cooler temperatures may have helped, but I must also commend the drivers, mechanics, and teams. Other than the brake problems, there were no mechanical issues leading to DNFs. No engines going kablammo or electrical concerns as has been the case in some previous races. Now, Rahal's tire blunder was big, and frightening. It appeared that the left rear tire changer could not get the tire on, for whatever reason, but the jack dropped and Rahal took off before the tire was fully attached. It's not clear what or who was most to blame for Rahal leaving early, but his tire fell off as he exited the pits and he slammed into the wall on lap 119. What a scary moment, and a gutting feeling for Rahal, who was in an excellent position to win this race. He had been running near the front and making perfect fuel mileage. But the Speedway didn't pick you this year, Graham. Hopefully it will someday.
#3 Story: Engine Battle
The Honda competitive edge was apparent throughout the entire month, yet somehow Ed Carpenter Racing with Chevy engines managed to put two cars into the Fast Nine. Pato O'Ward noted that his car did not seem to have the power or speed to catch up to Palou and Castroneves in the closing laps, though he was eventually passed by Pagenaud, also in a Chevy. Honda has now won four of the first six races, including the biggest one of the year, and Team Penske is still unbelievably without a win, so they hold the advantage for now. But you have to figure that Chevy is coming, especially with their hometown race in Detroit next up on the schedule.
It should also be noted that IndyCar now has six different winners from six different countries in the first six racing. The unpredictability and parity within the series is one of its most exciting assets. I predict we will have another different winner in Detroit. It would be fantastic if it was another first-time IndyCar winner too.
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