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6th Consecutive Indy Race Without A Honda Engine Failure
For the sixth consecutive year, Honda powered the entire 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field, and for a record-extending sixth consecutive time – and the only six times in Indy 500 history – there was not a single Honda engine failure in today’s race. Over the two weeks of practice, qualifying and racing, drivers logged a total of 40, 655 miles without the loss of a single Honda Indy V-8 engine.
In the closing laps, it was Panther Racing and promising rookie JR Hildebrand who looked poised to pull off an upset victory, as pre-race favorites Target Chip Ganassi Racing split fuel strategy with drivers Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon; while Team Penske’s three drivers surprisingly never featured in today’s 200-lap contest.
But, on the final lap and with victory in sight, Hildebrand came upon the slower car of fellow rookie Charlie Kimball, who was just getting up to speed after making a late-race pit stop for fuel. Hildebrand attempted to pass Kimball on the outside in Turn 4 but edged out of the racing “groove” just slightly, enough to send him into the outside wall.
Wheldon, who had been closing in second, swept past Hildebrand’s crippled racer in the final dash from Turn 4 to the checkers to claim the victory. Hildebrand brought his damaged Honda Dallara across the line in second, followed by Graham Rahal, who had his own memorable race, coming from 29th on the starting grid.
For the sixth consecutive year, Honda powered the entire 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field, and for a record-extending sixth consecutive time – and the only six times in Indy 500 history – there was not a single Honda engine failure in today’s race. Over the two weeks of practice, qualifying and racing, drivers logged a total of 40, 655 miles without the loss of a single Honda Indy V-8 engine.
In the closing laps, it was Panther Racing and promising rookie JR Hildebrand who looked poised to pull off an upset victory, as pre-race favorites Target Chip Ganassi Racing split fuel strategy with drivers Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon; while Team Penske’s three drivers surprisingly never featured in today’s 200-lap contest.
But, on the final lap and with victory in sight, Hildebrand came upon the slower car of fellow rookie Charlie Kimball, who was just getting up to speed after making a late-race pit stop for fuel. Hildebrand attempted to pass Kimball on the outside in Turn 4 but edged out of the racing “groove” just slightly, enough to send him into the outside wall.
Wheldon, who had been closing in second, swept past Hildebrand’s crippled racer in the final dash from Turn 4 to the checkers to claim the victory. Hildebrand brought his damaged Honda Dallara across the line in second, followed by Graham Rahal, who had his own memorable race, coming from 29th on the starting grid.
Can we get those 18 second 200RPM adding a bit of spurt buttons?
