A lot of things have to come together, at just the right time, to win the Indy 500. Certainly, a very fast, well-handling car is required. So is a great driver, a top-flight pit crew, and most of all, a healthy dose of luck. Any driver will tell you that without Lady Luck smiling on them, they have little chance of winning the race.
The cars travel at such incredible speeds, and so many things can go so wrong in the blink of an eye at the Indy 500, and have in the past. Drivers have lost their lives, and many more have been severely injured during the runnings at the Brickyard. Despite attempts in the past to slow the cars down somewhat in the interest of safety, engineering break-throughs seem to keep making them faster. This year's average speed was a whopping 187.4 MPH. Now maybe that number all by itself doesn't sound so impressive, but when one considers all the pit stops and laps run under the yellow caution flag for various reasons, to AVERAGE 187 MPH is mind-boggling. Having been there several times, I can attest from personal experience that if one watches the race on TV, they can't even begin to appreciate just how flat-out eye-popping fast those boys and girls in their racing machines whistle around that track. If ever there was a sporting event where TV doesn't do it justice -- it's the Indy 500. I would strongly recommend one make the pilgrammage at least once during their lifetimes to see it live and in person. When they say it's "the greatest spectacle in racing" -- they're not kidding. It's an experience you'll never forget.
Which brings me back to Lady Luck. The famed Andretti family had a lot of it at the Indy 500, mostly bad. Despite oftentimes having the best car, Grandfather Mario won the race just once, way back in 1969. In subsequent years, it seemed like he was cruising towards the checkered flag, and something would go wrong. His son Michael tried for a generation, and was often the favorite, but Lady Luck looked the other way year after year. He never won it.
This year's winner, Tony Kanaan, looked like he was destined to be jinxed as well. He had raced the 500 for over a decade, and most years led it at one point or another, only to have something unforeseen come about to deny him victory. That included everything from a mechanical malfunction, to the weather, to even pit mishaps, once with his own teammate. But again, a lot of it has to do with Lady Luck. If rain is possible, some cars may choose to come into the pits for fuel, and others will stay out on the track racking up a few more laps. Whether the rain comes or not, and how soon, and for how long, can easily make the difference as to who wins the race. One crew's decision to pit at a certain time could turn out to be brilliant, while another crew's decision to "stay out" could be a disaster. Or vice-versa. It's like trying to read Mother Nature's mind. Good luck.
At that, because of his bad luck over the years, Tony Kanaan had become somewhat of a sentimental favorite. Not only amongst the fans, but begrudgingly, even amongst his fellow competitors. They knew the story.
And this year he finally won. On the last restart coming off a caution, lap 198, also the last run under the green flag, Kanaan pulled a daring, if somewhat risky move, to weave his way through traffic and once again take the lead. Thing was, being in front in this race was a very precarious position. The lead was changing hands on seemingly every lap. Someone from behind would draft, then swing out to pass the leader, only to see it happen to them on the next lap.
It was highly likely in the last two laps the lead would change yet again, if not several times. Then a car back in the field wrecked, bringing out the caution flag. Unlike NASCAR, the Indy 500 doesn't add a few laps at the end of the race just to make sure it finishes under the green flag. 200 laps is 200 laps, and the race is over, regardless of how it finishes.
In the end, Kanaan got to cruise the final 2 laps under the yellow flag into victory lane.
Lady Luck decided to smile his way.
So here's to Tony Kanaan. A good guy, a helluva racer, and a worthy Indy 500 champion. He earned it.
Let the celebration begin in his native Brazil.
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