In a thrilling and dramatic Indianapolis 500 finish, Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward duked it out on the final laps, trading the lead with each other. But Sunday’s 108th race ended, again, in absolute heartbreak for O’Ward, who finished second behind now-back-to-back winner Newgarden.
O’Ward has come close to winning The Greatest Spectacle in Racing in past years too, finishing second in 2022, fourth in 2021 and sixth in 2020.
And in the Arrow McLaren driver’s post-race interview, his devastation was painfully obvious, and he appeared to be holding back his emotions while speaking with NBC. Still, O’Ward gave a classy, yet heartbreaking interview as the 2024 Indy 500 runner-up.
Pato O’Ward reacts to a runner-up finish at the #Indy500.
“It’s hard to put it into words,” O’Ward said. “I’m proud of the work that we did today. We recovered, we went back, we went forward, we went back. Some people are just driving like maniacs. We had so many near-race-enders and just so close again. So [expletive] close.”
When asked about battling with Newgarden at the thrilling end of 200 laps, O’Ward continued:
“I put that car through things I never thought he was going to be able to do. sometimes I said, That’s it. And somehow I came out the other side of the corner. I just — oh, man. This is so painful when you put so much into it, and then two laps short, I guess. Two corners short. …
“[Indianapolis Motor Speedway] owes me nothing, but just, yeah. I’d much rather obviously finish the race rather than compared to last year [when he didn’t finish]. But it’s always a heartbreak whenever it just is so close, especially when it’s not the first time and you just don’t know how many opportunities like that you have.”
A crushing runner-up finish in the biggest race of the year is always tough, and you’ve gotta feel for O’Ward.
Jumping into the stands at the Indy 500 is becoming a habit for Josef Newgarden!
On Sunday, Newgarden finished first in a thrilling Indy 500 race after overtaking Pato O’Ward on the final lap to take home the grand prize. The Team Penske driver is the first in 22 years to win back-to-back Indy 500 championships thanks to his spectacular move on the track.
And after his win, Newgarden replicated his move from last year by jumping into the stands with the fans to celebrate his hard-earned win! Here’s how the moment played out on the broadcast, with Newgarden excitedly jumping out of his car and sprinting to the stands.
For the first time in 22 years, an Indianapolis 500 champion successfully defended his title for back-to-back championships after Josef Newgarden put on a racing masterclass on the last laps of Sunday’s weather-delayed race.
The Team Penske driver won his second consecutive Indy 500 after a hard-fought battle against Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward. With about a dozen laps left in the 500-mile race, Newgarden was fighting 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi for the lead, but by the final five laps, it was basically a two-man race between Newgarden and O’Ward.
With five laps left, O’Ward was in front. With four to go, it was Newgarden. O’Ward stole the lead with just one lap around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and all he had to do was hang on.
Unfortunately for O’Ward, who’s had his heart broken multiple times at Indy, Newgarden pulled off a stunning last-lap move to take the lead and win the 2024 Indy 500.
Former Indy 500 champ Marcus Ericsson’s race was over after it barely started.
Crashing out of the Indianapolis 500 is unfortunate for any driver and their team regardless of when it happens. But crashing out of it before even completing the first of 200 laps — and after waiting out a four-hour weather delay — has to be extra painful.
Not halfway around Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile track on Lap 1, Indy 500 rookie Tom Blomqvist went too low on the track, lost control of his No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda and spun. He collected Ericsson and Pietro Fittipaldi in the accident.
That’s so disappointing all around, especially after drivers and their teams had to wait so long Sunday for the weather to clear. And especially for Ericsson’s team, which had to do significant work on the car after the 33-year-old Swedish driver crashed during Indy 500 practice.
All three drivers are OK after being evaluated by the infield care center, per IndyCar.
After being released from the infield care center, Ericsson spoke to NBC Sports’ Dave Burns and appeared to be in total disbelief that his 2024 Indy 500 was already over. Ericsson said:
“I can’t believe it. It’s unbelievable. It’s just so frustrating. I don’t know what to say. We had to work so hard. The team did such a good job rebuilding that car. We fight it all last weekend, we fight it all week to be good and then this happens. It’s just — I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.”
Marcus Ericsson is OUT of the #Indy500 on lap one!
The latest weather updates ahead of the 2024 Indy 500.
Severe weather will sweep across Indiana on Sunday, which delayed the start of the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Storms hit the Indianapolis area around 12 p.m. ET, 45 minutes before the scheduled start of the Indy 500. According to the IndyStar, rain accumulation could reach three quarters of an inch, which means it could be hours until the track is dry enough.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway has at least a 34% chance of rain every hour through midnight, so it’s possible that there won’t be any dry window to begin the race on Sunday. Monday’s forecast calls for a cloudy day with less potential for rain.
Lightning could also be an issue for track officials. The track announced that fans will be asked to leave the grandstands if lightning is approaching, even if the immediate area around the track is clear.
What would a weather delay mean for Kyle Larson’s attempt at The Double? The IndyStar reports that Larson will remain in Indianapolis through the weather delays, and that Rick Hendrick is “committed” to Larson’s run in the 500.
Storms chasing a boundary towards Indianapolis. Good news is development ahead of that line appears to be limiting severe potential. I think track drying could get underway as early as 2:30 EST pic.twitter.com/fUqmf6PIZy
UPDATE 11:25 a.m. ET: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is clearing the grandstands and other spectator areas because of the weather, and the start of the 2024 Indy 500 will be delayed.
Given the proximity of lightning moving toward the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a decision has been made to pause the pre-race ceremonies and move fans out of the grandstands and Snake Pit.
Spectators are encouraged to follow the instructions of IMS team members. They should… pic.twitter.com/Yk9W2AVOpr
Ken Griffey Jr. will drive the pace car at Sunday’s Indy 500.
MLB legend Ken Griffey Jr. will drive the pace car for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, per an official release.
Per tradition, a notable figure will drive the pace car, this year a 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, during the pre-race festivities. The pace car leads all 33 of the contending professional drivers and their vehicles.
“Driving the Pace Car and leading the field to start the Indy 500 is one of the coolest experiences,” Griffey said in the release. “I came to the track a few years ago as a photographer and look forward to seeing the race from a different perspective.”
Recent pace car drivers include Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, former professional driver Danica Patrick, former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and former Indy 500 driver Sarah Fisher.
The 108th running of the Indy 500 on Sunday will feature two honorary starters.
The Indianapolis 500 is usually a star-studded event with celebrities and athletes, aside from the drivers and their teams, in attendance. And sometimes, they’re included in the pre-race festivities.
For Sunday’s 108th running of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Austin Butler (Elvis, Dune) and Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) will pair up to serve as the honorary starters and will wave the green flag to kick it off. They’ll also be promoting their upcoming film, The Bikeriders.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway has so much history and tradition. But what’s the history behind its Brickyard nickname?
This story was originally published in 2019. It has been updated for the 2024 Indy 500.
There are more than 100 years of racing history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the iconic 2.5-mile track that will host the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday (pre-race coverage begins on NBC and Peacock at 11 a.m. ET but the green flag is set for 12:45 p.m. ET). So obviously, there’s a lot to learn about the track, the race and the drivers.
The historic track is commonly referred to as the Brickyard — a term that even made its way into the name of the NASCAR Cup Series’ previous race there each season. But why? Let us break it down…
[lawrence-related id=1901923]
Why is Indianapolis Motor Speedway called the Brickyard?
The simple answer is because it is literally a yard of bricks. At one time, more than a century ago, the whole track used to be paved with bricks, but to know how that happened, we actually have to go farther back in IMS track history.
The original surface of the track when the speedway first opened in August of 1909 was created from “a sticky amalgam of gravel, limestone, tar, and 220,000 gallons of asphaltum oil”, according to History.com. But this actually turned out to be a dangerously fatal disaster at the very first car race. Five people died as a result of the chaos produced from the rough yet slippery surface, and “‘flying gravel shattered goggles and bloodied cheeks'”.
In a span of 63 days in fall 1909, 3.2 million paving bricks, each weighing 9.5 pounds, were laid on top of the original surface of crushed rock and tar to upgrade the Speedway.
May 19, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Verizon Indy Car driver James Hinchcliffe drives across the yard of bricks during practice for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
When were the Indianapolis Motor Speedway bricks repaved?
Gradually in the first few decades of the track’s existence, asphalt was added to different pieces of the surface, and rougher sections of the turns were covered in 1936. Eventually, all four turns were fully paved with asphalt in 1937. More from Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
In 1938, the entire track was paved with asphalt except for the middle portion of the front straightaway.
In October 1961, the remaining bricks on the front straightaway were covered with asphalt. A 36-inch strip of the original bricks was kept intact at the start/finish line, where it remains today as the fabled Yard of Bricks.
The bricks are still there today and actually continue past the literal track and into the infield. They’re part of every celebratory moment.
Why do drivers kiss the Yard of Bricks when they win the Indy 500?
There are so many elements of the track’s and Indy 500 history that come down to tradition. And you won’t see an Indy 500 winner (or NASCAR race winner) walk away without kissing the bricks.
May 28, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; IndyCar Series driver Takuma Sato (center) kisses the bricks as he celebrates after winning the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Drivers and their teams will line up along the Yard of Bricks to take their own always spectacular photos. But it wasn’t always that way, and this is a newer tradition compared with the whole history of the track. From IMS’ website:
The tradition of “kissing the bricks” was started by NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett. After his Brickyard 400 victory in 1996, Jarrett and crew chief Todd Parrott decided to walk out to the start-finish line, kneel and kiss the Yard of Bricks to pay tribute to the fabled history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The team joined them for a group kiss on the bricks, and an Indianapolis tradition was born that Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400 winners have followed since.
And one of 33 drivers Sunday will continue the Brickyard tradition of kissing the bricks.
Cars weren’t on track today, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be.
This story was originally published in 2021 and has been updated.
Welcome to FTW Explains: a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. You may have heard that the Indy 500 winner celebrates with a bottle of milk and want to know why. We’re here to help.
It’s a quirky but perfectly understandable question some people have about the Indianapolis 500: Why does the winner drink milk?
Simply, it’s tradition. And the Indy 500 is all about tradition.
After taking the checkered flag at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in one of the biggest motor sports races in the world, the winning driver is draped with a giant flowered wreath and handed a bottle of ice-cold milk. The winner typically takes a couple sips, poses for a few quick photos and then proceeds to dump the rest of the bottle on their head — sometimes pouring milk on others nearby.
The whole process makes for some truly spectacular photos, but how and when did this odd tradition start? It’s largely thanks to Louis Meyer back in the 1930s.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Louis Meyer regularly drank buttermilk to refresh himself on a hot day and happened to drink some in Victory Lane as a matter of habit after winning the 1936 race. An executive with what was then the Milk Foundation was so elated when he saw the moment captured in a photograph in the sports section of his newspaper the following morning that he vowed to make sure it would be repeated in coming years. There was a period between 1947-55 when milk was apparently no longer offered, but the practice was revived in 1956 and has been a tradition ever since.
So if a big bottle of milk on a typically warm or hot Indiana day after several hours of intense racing sounds unappealing, blame Meyer.
But although he drank buttermilk, that’s not one of the options for drivers anymore.
The American Dairy Association Indiana is in charge of delivering the bottle of milk to the winner, and before every Indy 500, it polls the drivers to see what their preferred celebratory milk choice would be. But the options are simple: Whole, 2 percent or fat free.
26 drivers select WHOLE, 5 drivers select 2% and 2 drivers select SKIM in this year's #Indy500 Milk Preference Poll.
However, there’s usually a write-in or two on the survey with drivers sometimes hoping for chocolate, strawberry or even buttermilk.
When the race is over, the “milk people” — yes, that’s really what they’re called — consult the poll of drivers to see what bottle the winner wants. They then grab one of three bottles from a nearby cooler, and the milk tradition continues.
“It’s a tradition. Not everybody enjoys milk but just because it’s happening at that point and because it’s got that meaning, all of a sudden milk tastes very good, even if you’re lactose [intolerant].”
However, the American Dairy Association Indiana does have a secret lactose-free option, should a driver request that.
A reminder that Indianapolis Motor Speedway is enormous.
This story was originally published in 2020 and has been updated.
As the host to the Indianapolis 500, one of the biggest motor sports events in the world, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is absolutely massive with a capacity that can hold at least 350,000 people between the grandstands and the infield.
In fact, the infield of the iconic 2.5-mile track is so ridiculously gigantic that, at 253 acres, it’s large enough to simultaneously hold several other sports venues and international landmarks — if that were an actual thing that could happen, of course.
So, with the 108th Indy 500 on Sunday, we thought this would be a good time to remind everyone just how enormous Indianapolis Motor Speedway is. The IMS infield could hold eight major landmarks inside of it simultaneously: Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, Rose Bowl Stadium, Vatican City, the Taj Mahal, the White House, Liberty Island and the Roman Colosseum.
In the image below, Yankee Stadium, Liberty Island, the White House and the Colosseum are on top of the golf course inside the track.
As Snopes previously noted about this astounding fact, we’re only talking about the Indy track’s infield and not the total property acreage, so that is the standard applied here to exclude the landmarks’ surrounding areas. More via Snopes:
Adding up the footprints of Churchill Downs (80 acres), Yankee Stadium (15 acres), the Rose Bowl (10 acres), the Roman Colosseum (6 acres), Vatican City (110 acres), the White House (18 acres), Taj Mahal (less than 1 acre), and Liberty Island (12 acres), produces an overall area (252 acres) that is smaller than the size of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (253 acres). (We’re ignoring the issue of whether the shapes of these landmarks would allow them to be placed within the IMS without any overlap or stacking.)
So yeah, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a monster sports venue that could hold several major attractions if that were actually possible.
The 108th running of the Indy 500 is Sunday, May 26 with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET on NBC. The green flag is set for 12:45 p.m. ET.
