92nd Indy 500 ends with pole-sitter Dixon taking checkered flag

John Neff — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:58:00 EST

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Indy 500

New Zealand's Scott Dixon led the field at this year's 92nd Indianapolis 500 going into turn 1 of Lap 1 and, after surviving 200 laps of open wheel mayhem at the Brickyard, crossed the finish line first, 1.75 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Vitor Meira. Unfortunately, no one on the Autoblog team witnessed the win, the allure of barbecues and time spent with family this past Memorial Day weekend being too strong to resist. Perhaps that says something about the popularity of open-wheel racing in the U.S., though we suspect the 250,000 in attendance and larger television audience of the Indy 500 this year would disagree.

While Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing took the win, all eyes were still on Danica Patrick to see if she could pull out the first win for a woman at the Brickyard coming off her victory in Japan last month. Unfortunately, a win for Danica was not meant to be, as her left-rear tire was tagged by Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe coming out of the pits. The contact spun out Patrick and did mortal damage to her rear axle. She was more than a bit miffed (wouldn't you?) and began a determined walk down pit row towards Briscoe's pit box, but a track security officer stopped her and prevented what could've been the race's biggest spectacle.

So the IndyCar Series' most famous race is in the bag, and it was the first since the IRL and Champ Car series reunited. Things are looking up for open-wheel racing in the U.S. despite our own disinterest, and the 92nd running of this year's Indianapolis 500 sounds like it was enjoyable to watch. Maybe we'll sit down for it next year.

If like us you didn't catch the race on TV, check out SpeedTV's recap video after the jump.

Gallery: 2008 Indianapolis 500

[Source: IndyStar.com]

Continue reading 92nd Indy 500 ends with pole-sitter Dixon taking checkered flag

92nd Indy 500 ends with pole-sitter Dixon taking checkered flag originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 May 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Strong entry list released for 92nd Indianapolis 500

Noah Joseph — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Things are looking solid for this year's Indianapolis 500 after race officials released the entry list for the first running of this iconic open-wheel race since this country's two warring open-wheel racing series merged back together in February. 39 entries have been placed, putting the complete roster within spitting distance of the record 42-car grid set in 1933. Of those 39, a solid 32 have confirmed the drivers who will race the cars, putting the list just one short of a full grid over a month ahead of the race, which will take place on May 25.

Along with such stoic racing names as Foyt, Scheckter, Andretti and Rahal, former Indy 500 winners Helio Castroneves (2001 & 2002), Buddy Rice (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005) will return in pursuit of a repeat performance. Jason Priestly's Rubicon team is not on the list, however all three female drivers who competed last year will be back again. Twelve rookies will race for the checkered flag at the reunited event this year - including former Indy Lights champions Jay Howard and Alex Lloyd - marking an eleven-year record since 1997, the year after open-wheel racing split.

[Source: Autosport, Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty]

Strong entry list released for 92nd Indianapolis 500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments