Spoiler Alert: 2009 Indianapolis 500 race results
by John Neff on May 25th 2009 at 2:33PM 
2009 Indy 500 – Click above for high-res image gallery
On Saturday we asked you in a poll if you care about the Indianapolis 500. The number one response with 40% of the vote was, "I never cared in the first place." Well, at least one of us here at Autoblog cared enough to watch the race on TV yesterday, but that couldn't stop long stretches of napping from eating up up dozens of laps at a time. A few interesting things happened while I was awake, including perennial Indy bridesmaid Tony Kannan crashing at the Brickyard for the third time in eight appearances. I was also awoken late in the race by another crash, this time between Vitor Meira and rookie Raphael Matos. The two collided on Turn 1 and Meira's car ended up sliding along the wall on its side. We later learned the veteran driver had broken two vertebrae in his back, while Matos escaped with just a bruised knee. This isn't NASCAR, though, and we're not supposed to watch for the crashes, so I downed some caffeine after that to stay alert until the race's conclusion. Read on after the jump to find out who won this year's running of the 2009 Indianapolis 500.
Gallery: 2009 Indianapolis 500
Not surprisingly but particularly gratifying, your 2009 Indy 500 winner is Helio Castroneves. It's not a surprise because Castroneves is generally considered to be one of today's top racers in the world, which he proved at Indy by not only securing pole position in qualifying, but also through his crew winning the pit stop competition. Clearly this Penske team had the skills to win.
But the victory is also gratifying for a man who nearly lost everything after being in court the last six months to stand trial on charges of federal tax evasion, of which he was acquitted on April 17th. All that's behind him now, and Castroneves' future is brighter than he could've imagined a few months ago after winning the "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" for the third time in his career. He joins eight other drivers in the three-peat club, but he's the only foreign-born driver of the bunch.
Perhaps the only more amazing outcome for the race would have been a win by Indy starlet Danica Patrick. Alas, it was not to be, though Patrick did finish third behind Dan Wheldon, which beat her previous best finish of fourth back in her rookie season of 2005.
The Indy Racing League moves on next week to the ABC Supply/AJ Foyt 225 at The Milwaukee Mile with Dario Franchitti leading Helio Castroneves by 122 to 117 points in the leader standings.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
f1tifoso 3:09PM (5/25/2009)
Formula 1 is so far ahead in everything especially interest - noone in the rest of the world watched Indy, but they all watched the GP of Monaco - proof in fact.
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mcampasini 3:53PM (5/25/2009)
now how you know that? i watched both and the indy race was a better race than the F1 follow the leader race.
davido 3:57PM (5/25/2009)
I watched both and have for years. And I suspect, given how many IRL drivers are from other countries, that their home motor sport audiences watch as well. I know that when Weldon won it it was a big story in the British press and I suspect that Castroneves winning it three times is a big story in Brazil.
And by the way, when you use a phrase like "proof in fact," could you supply some proof? Otherwise people may get the impression that you think something is a fact just because you say it is.
And you wouldn't want that would you?
Sam 4:08PM (5/25/2009)
"I know that when Weldon won it it was a big story in the British press"
Hardly, half a page at most.
mudder 3:28PM (5/25/2009)
So 40% of Autoblog readers don't care about the Indy 500, even with Danica Patrick placing 3rd? I would hate to see the results if this poll was at Autoblog Green.
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phoenix 5:42PM (5/25/2009)
Most of those guys don't have a clue that Indy cars run on 100% ethanol.
ExqueezeMe! 6:57PM (5/25/2009)
I LOVE THE 500! Wished I lived closer so I could go ever year :(
Yaroukh 3:50PM (5/25/2009)
comment definetely worth reporting it
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JF 4:01PM (5/25/2009)
All the oval racing haters bashing NASCAR had better give this equal treatment. This racing was all right but nothing special in terms of entertainment, especially according to Robin Miller.
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phoenix 4:02PM (5/25/2009)
How is this a spoiler alert when the checkered flag dropped 24 hours ago?
In any case, both of yesterday's epic races (Monaco and Indy) were fan-freaking-tastic. Brawn GP smoked the field in F1 (and showed that yes, in fact, they DO bring the goods), while Helio Castroneves has completed one of the most brilliant comebacks in recent memory.
Well done to both winners!
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ack154 7:56PM (5/25/2009)
It has a Spoiler Warning because if it wasn't there, guaranteed 5-10 people would be commenting here how they haven't watched the race yet and Autoblog just ruined it and blah blah blah. It happens. Every time. I don't blame them.
Kitko 8:57PM (5/25/2009)
Isn't Spoiler Alert a pun? :-)
I mean, cars do have spoilers - A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion.
Farmboy 4:08PM (5/25/2009)
I love IndyCar. As a matter of fact, I live in Indiana. haha. But in all seriousness, the biggest reason why I would even hate it is because of one person, Danica Patrick. Honesty, can we ever have an IndyCar report without her in it? She is nothing special. Whoopdedo, a woman is driving in IndyCar. She is a royal b**** and a total slut. I am tired of hearing about her every time IRL news comes around.
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UltimoDragon 4:19PM (5/25/2009)
Like it or not, Danica Patrick moves the needle when it comes to IRL/IndyCar, and she is the most marketable star on that circuit. Helio Castroneves is way more successful, but he had to improve his Q score by going on Dancing With the Stars.
phoenix 4:49PM (5/25/2009)
Dude, if your mom ever heard you talk like that, she'd kick you out of her basement.
Kitko 4:35PM (5/25/2009)
I watched both.
Monaco race was for most part, boring, although there were few interesting attempts at passing which is always fun in Monaco. Albeit futile, usually. Few crashes.
Indy race was boring. The only racing occured after yellows for about two laps. Otherwise, procession. And few crashes. The most interesting thing was Danica Patrick's third place.
I find it amazing that we heard "the greatest race in the world" phrase so often. It's not. It is the greatest race in the US, and it's one of the iconic races of the world motosport. But greatest in the world? No. Despite it's international line up. With all respect, these drivers are great, but they're racing in Indy because they couldn't make it in F1.
In 2005, more people watched Canadian F1 GP than Indy. Canadian GP in the mid season!!!
In fact, it was the most watched Formula One GP in the world in 2005, the third most watched sporting event on the planet, behind Super Bowl XXXIX and the UEFA Champions League Final. Indy didn't make the list.
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Mike 5:23PM (5/25/2009)
I watched both and thought they were entertaining but for different reasons. I like all the F1 buzz and the racing. I also think the coverage on the F1 feed is great. Those guys really seem to get behind the scenes, sometimes it's a little tabloid in nature but funny and enjoyable.
I followed the indy this year because two Canadians were in it. Both finished, Tracy 9th. and Tagliani 11th.
I was listening to Dave Despain on Speed last night and there was talk about Danica leaving IRL for NASCAR. I wonder if she lands at a top team and really gets a chance to run with the big dogs. I'll bet she won't go. I don't think she would survive in NASCAR. Not a lot of guys their that are great dancers and are in touch with their feminine side. But I would love to see her march down pit lane and pick a fight with Tony Stuart.
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Dave 10:54AM (5/26/2009)
"I was listening to Dave Despain on Speed last night and there was talk about Danica leaving IRL for NASCAR. I wonder if she lands at a top team and really gets a chance to run with the big dogs. I'll bet she won't go. I don't think she would survive in NASCAR. Not a lot of guys their that are great dancers and are in touch with their feminine side. But I would love to see her march down pit lane and pick a fight with Tony Stuart."
Every year there is talk of Danic aleaving IRL to go to NASCAR. And every year it doesnt happen because she would get eaten alive in NASCAR.Just like Harry Hogge says: "In Indy cars your tires are twice as wide and your car weighs half as much. Now the tires are half as wide adn the car weighs twice as much! You burnin up tires!"
Not even that, she is far too princess-ey to drive in NASCAR. Besides, NASCAR already has a princess. His name is Tony Stewart or Carl Edwards. BURN! LOL. Seriously, I dont think she can cut it. She is a fine driver, but it looks like she needs to be coddled all the time and they just dont do that in NASCAR. The little tempertantrums she throws when she is wrecked or crashes herself out. Could you see her involved in a "big one" at Talladega? What is she going to do? Beat everyone up?
PuBeLeSs 6:05PM (5/25/2009)
where is the spoiler on Monaco? like really? i have been waiting for those amazing pictures you guys always have i have been refreshing all day and night. Indy 500 was boring as it. its just not really made to be a great race to watch you cant really have 2 grooves, if anyone watched the race they would like that you cant go 2 wide in turn 4. but really get on the spoiler Monaco :)
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jrickert 1:19AM (5/26/2009)
Why is it more exciting to have only one type of turn on a course?
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