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.
Featured Gallery
A custom Tata Motors’ ‘Nano’ car, is seen adorned in gold, silver and gemstone trimmings during its unveiling in Mumbai on September 19, 2011. The World’s first Gold jewellery car, claimed by Tata, is made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)
The Tata Motors ‘Nano’ car crafted in gold, silver and gem stones during its unveiling in Mumbai, India, Monday ,Sept. 19, 2011. This version of the compact car, which was launched two years ago as the world’s cheapest car in its original form, is claimed to be first gold jewelry car and made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
A custom Tata Motors’ ‘Nano’ car, is seen adorned in gold, silver and gemstone trimmings during its unveiling in Mumbai on September 19, 2011. The World’s first Gold jewellery car, claimed by Tata, is made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)
A custom Tata Motors’ ‘Nano’ car, is seen adorned in gold, silver and gemstone trimmings during its unveiling in Mumbai on September 19, 2011. The World’s first Gold jewellery car, claimed by Tata, is made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)
A custom Tata Motors’ ‘Nano’ car, is seen adorned in gold, silver and gemstone trimmings during its unveiling in Mumbai on September 19, 2011. The World’s first Gold jewellery car, claimed by Tata, is made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)
Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata stands next to a custom Tata Motors’ ‘Nano’ car, seen adorned in gold, silver and gemstone trimmings, during its unveiling in Mumbai on September 19, 2011. The World’s first Gold jewellery car, claimed by Tata, is made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)
A custom Tata Motors’ ‘Nano’ car, is seen adorned in gold, silver and gemstone trimmings during its unveiling in Mumbai on September 19, 2011. The World’s first Gold jewellery car, claimed by Tata, is made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)
Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Group, stands next to a custom Tata Motors’ ‘Nano’ car, seen adorned in gold, silver and gemstone trimmings, during its unveiling in Mumbai on September 19, 2011. The World’s first Gold jewellery car, claimed by Tata, is made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. AFP PHOTO/ Punit PARANJPE (Photo credit should read PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images)
A worker removes a curtain on the Tata Motors ‘Nano’ car crafted in gold, silver and gem stones during its unveiling in Mumbai, India, Monday ,Sept. 19, 2011. This version of the compact car, which was launched two years ago as the world’s cheapest car in its original form, is claimed to be first gold jewelry car and made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Journalists gather around the Tata Motors ‘Nano’ car which is crafted in gold, silver and gem stones during its unveiling in Mumbai, India, Monday ,Sept. 19, 2011. This version of the compact car, which was launched two years ago as the world’s cheapest car in its original form, is claimed to be first gold jewelry car and made from 80 kilograms of 22 karat gold, 15 kilograms of silver, and numerous gemstones. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
[Source: IndyStar.com]