The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Indy 500 winners pick their favorite race of all time
Ryan Hunter-Reay admitted he was biased when asked four years ago about the greatest race in Indianapolis 500 history. He made it clear his own 2014 victory was based more on merit than ego.
There was a red flag with seven laps to go. The lead changed just about every lap. Marco Andretti came oh-so-close to ending his family’s Indy 500 curse. And ultimately, HunterReay held off three-time winner Helio Castroneves in the second-closest finish in history.
“There’s no way 2014 isn’t in the top three,” HunterReay said.
Back in 2016, it wasn’t even in the top five according to a survey of the 27 living winners conducted by The Associated Press in advance of the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. That survey declared Al Unser Jr.’s victory over Scott Goodyear in 1992 as the greatest race.
“That,” said 1963 winner Parnelli Jones, “was kind of outstanding.”
The AP this week contacted the four new members of the Indy 500 winners club for their views on the best race. HunterReay’s victory was selected by both Will Power and Takuma Sato.
“In my era of racing, the year that Hunter-Reay and Helio went at it,” said
Power, the 2018 winner. “That was probably one of the most epic finishes. It was exciting for the fans.”
Sato also gave the nod to Hunter-Reay’s victory but didn’t dismiss his 2017 victory, either.
“I mean, someone should pick (2017), I’m just not sure it should be me,” Sato said. “I remember how excited I was, I wanted to just thank the guys over the radio but
I was screaming so hard, and it was a mix of Japanese and English. It was quite exciting.”
Defending race winner Simon Pagenaud, who made it back-to-back victories for Team Penske last year, could actually recall nearly 20 years of past 500s because he studies them.
“I try to learn from past maneuvers and manage new maneuvers and last year I came out with a new maneuver right at the end of the race that was based on bits of other moves throughout the years,” he explained.
As for his favorite, the Frenchman selected 1991 when Rick Mears beat Michael Andretti to join the club of four-time winners.
“They were really going at it. It was a different track, they had the apron, they could use the apron, which created really exciting racing,” Pagenaud said. “Rick Mears that day was definitely in his element and he had that move on the outside of Turn 1 that will always be one of my best memories.”
Alexander Rossi actually won the 100th running of the 500 as an IndyCar rookie after pulling the plug on his Formula One pursuits. Because he had grown up chasing a European racing career, Rossi didn’t quite grasp the overwhelming experience of the race or its place in history. Then he won.
“I went into that race with no expectation of winning it. Never, at any point during that race, did I allow myself to think I was going to win,” Rossi said. “So it was all such a shock. My early impression of the 500 was that there was a lot of ‘extra’ and the biggest relief was when we got to get into the car and just drive. Then I win the race. I had no real idea of what to expect and it took a little bit to really sink in, and then suddenly, I saw it. I saw what is so special about Indy. Now I have a new respect for it, and a pent-up desire to win again.”
He naturally ranks that win as the best 500, but the American also enjoyed last year’s race when he finished second to Pagenaud.
“I’d say the 2019 Indy 500 is the one I’m the most proud of, even though we finished second,” Rossi said. “We came back from a bad pit stop and had some frustrating hold-ups on track. But we were able to overcome all that and be there at the end, with a genuine shot at winning.”
With the newest winners weighing in, Hunter-Reay’s victory in 2014 becomes the sixth to receive multiple votes from the Indy 500 winners as the greatest race.