RACERS, FANS FEEL HEAT AT INDY
Attitude adjustment translates into success at the famed Brickyard oval
Unusually warm temperatures took a toll on everyone at the Indianapolis 500. More than 150 fans sought treatment at the infield medical centre at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for heat-related problems Sunday. Drivers and teams had to rethink race strategy based on tire wear. The temperature hit 32 C, matching the 2012 race for the second hottest ever. The top spot still belongs to 1937, when it was 33 C. Fans scrambled for shade wherever they could find it — under balconies, trees and buildings at the sprawling complex that saw some 300,000 people turn out. Many took to social media to note how brutal it was. On the track, there was little refuge as asphalt surface temperatures topped 48 C. Drivers compensated by hydrating heavily before the race so they could complete a race that lasted more than three hours.
Will Power can win anything now, even the Indianapolis 500, an intimidating race on an oval he hated because it marginalized his talent.
He drives for Roger Penske and nothing matters more to the boss than winning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
So Power worked to change his attitude, improve his performance on ovals and respect the track.
It got Power into the most storied winner’s circle in history Sunday when he won the Indy 500 to give Penske a 17th victory in The Great American Race.
Power actually swept the month of May at Indy after winning on the road course two weeks ago and the 37-year-old Australian now has 34 wins in IndyCar, tying him with Al Unser Jr. for most on the career list.
“I can’t believe it,” he screamed in the winner’s circle.
“I can’t believe it.” Penske arrived at Indy with four fast Chevrolets and an engine builder determined to snap Honda’s two-race Indy 500 winning streak.
The Chevys were the fastest cars in the field and Team Penske had four strong chances to win.
As Power held off pole winner Ed Carpenter to win his first Indy 500, the 81-year-old Penske pumped his fist in the air and clapped for his driver.
“He won this race today because he was the best,” Penske said.
In the winner’s circle, Power could not contain his glee.
He screamed to wife Liz, took a sip of the traditional milk, then dumped the rest over his head and around his crew. Liz reached for the empty milk bottle, then pointed out to her husband that he’d sprayed milk all over one of the Indy 500 princesses.
He apologized, then screamed some more.
Splashing the princess was the only wrong move Power made all day during an event that saw many of IndyCar’s top drivers make costly mistakes. James Hinchcliffe, a championship contender from Oakville, Ont., failed to make the race at all.
Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Sebastien Bourdais and Danica Patrick were among those who crashed in single-car spins.
Defending race-winner Takuma Sato was also knocked out when he ran into the back of a slower car.
Toronto’s Robert Wickens was ninth and Montreal’s Zachary Claman DeMelo was 19th.
Power led 59 laps, but his final pit stop dropped him to fourth, behind three cars that were trying to win on fuel mileage. Kanaan’s crash with 12 laps remaining set up a final restart with Oriol Servia out front.
He didn’t get a great restart and was passed by Stefan Wilson and Jack Harvey. But all three needed enough gas to get to the finish line and it was Power who was frantically chasing them down.
Wilson and Harvey both ducked into pit lane for gas, giving Power the lead with four laps remaining.
He knew he had it won when he took the white flag all alone and spent the final lap yelling to himself in joy as he drove away from the field.
The conditions created a slick 21/2-mile track and new cars with less downforce proved to be a handful for even the most experienced of drivers.
Castroneves’ bid to win a recordtying fourth Indy 500 ended when he spun exiting Turn 4.
Penske said if Castroneves won a fourth, he’d get a chance at a fifth, but Castroneves’ future in the race is in limbo. He savoured his final moments Sunday and instead of taking an ambulance ride to the care centre, he made the long walk down pit lane, waving to fans on the way.
Patrick was completing the “Danica Double” after wrecking out at the Daytona 500.
She decided long ago that the race that made her famous would be her last and while she called the outcome disappointing, she also expressed appreciation for all that Indianapolis had given her.
“Yeah, it’s an entire career,” she said, “but what really launched it was this.
“It’s both of them. I had a lot of good fortune here and did still have some this month. It just didn’t come today.”
Honda didn’t win the race, but did manage to put six of its cars in the top 10.
I had a lot of good fortune here and did still have some this month. It just didn’t come today.
DANICA PATRICK, who crashed in her final race Sunday at the Indianapolis 500