Simon Pagenaud had just enough fuel left to make history, winning the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
Pagenaud, who started fourth in the No. 77 Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports car, held off Ryan Hunter-Reay by .8906 of a second for his third career Verizon IndyCar Series victory and a charging Helio Castroneves, who was celebrating his 39th birthday, by 1.8244 seconds.
Like Pagenaud, Hunter-Reay's No. 28 DHL car was starved for fuel after completing 28 laps. Castroneves, who started 10th in the No. 3 Verizon Team Penske car, had plenty of fuel and was closing in the final laps, but couldn't get around Hunter-Reay.
Hunter-Reay finished second, followed by Castroneves, Sebastien Bourdais and Charlie Kimball.
Oriol Servia was leading with five laps to go but had to pit before he ran out of fuel. That handed the lead to Pagenaud, who also was at risk of running short.
The start was marred by a massive crash when polesitter Sebastian Saavedra stalled and was hit hard in the rear by the cars of Carlos Munoz and Mikhail Aleshin.
There were 12 lead changes, and Pagenaud inherited the point for the duration on Lap 78 when Oriol Servia had to make a fuel stop. He led Hunter-Reay across the line by 2.8 seconds on Lap 80 and coaxed the Honda-powered car to navigate the final laps without incident or stalling.
Both Hunter-Reay and Pagenaud gained on championship points leader Will Power, who started fifth in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car and placed a season-low eighth. Power (149) leads Hunter-Reay by one point and Pagenaud by six heading into the points-laden Indianapolis 500 on May 25.
DAY 3 NOTEBOOK:
Andy O'Gara, the team manager of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing detailed the process the team will go through to transition from the road course setup used by Verizon IndyCar Series teams today for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the superspeedway setup that will be used for the Indianapolis 500.
ANDY O'GARA: "No. 1, we will take the motor out of the road course cars and into the 500 cars, and then on the aero side, getting all the Speedway rear wheel pods on and the front wing into Speedway trim. We're prepared; the cars are close to being ready. I look at it as not too big of a deal to change over. We should be ready to run mid-afternoon Sunday. This is a challenge because INDYCAR has done an incredible job of leveling the playing field, and the field is very deep. There are no sluffs out there. We come in with two top 10's (on road courses)." (About team's early season success): "We've had OK numbers. We still made mistakes that we need to work on. We had misfortune at Long Beach; otherwise we'd be in the top three in points. We were destined for a podium but things happened that were outside of our control. Our group here is high caliber, we keep things tidy. We're not pigeon-holed to one thing and we keep working outside the box."
***
Kevin Olson, a member of the National Midget Hall of Fame, is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway today for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
KEVIN OLSON: "Any time I come through the gates and drive through the tunnel I get goose bumps and I don't care what time of the year it is, even if there is nothing going on because this place is such hallowed ground for all of us racers. We grew up dreaming of the 500, listening to it on the radio, and coming to the race so if you come here you are just in total awe every time." (How close did you ever come to getting a ride): "There were a few years where I had a lot of success then I kind of had a couple of deals set up, of course it was all contingent on money, but I had a test set up and I broke my neck. The next year on the same day I broke my back, and the year after that I got ran over by a car, but I finally did get to do a test at Phoenix but it all came down to dollars and cents. I was never good and finding money I was much at spending it losing it. But I just loved midgets and sprint cars so I thought maybe when I get to 60 I could get in the show. I had a chance to work on the IMS radio network and really had a ball but the bottom line is anytime there is a race I want to be here."
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Eddie Sachs Jr., the son of former Indianapolis 500 pole winner Eddie Sachs, was visiting the track today for Celebration of Automobiles.
EDDIE SACHS JR: "You know this is really neat. Someone just asked me if I had any collector cars and I said no but everybody has a passion and this is just as bad as racing I think. Right now I own a USAC Silver Crown team and I have a really good driver with me this year Davey Ray who comes out of the midgets. I think we are going to have a really good season. We will race on both the dirt and the pavement so we will be racing a couple of times this month." (About his own career): "It's funny you mention that but the fact is racing is in your blood. I can actually say it had to be in my blood because my mother really didn't want me involved at all and as I got into my teens and got very interested in driving I really knew nothing about it. I have a lot of people ask me if I miss being in the cockpit and the answer is yes and no. You get to the point where you do a reality check on yourself and the kids today and are much more competitive and they're fearless and trained at a younger age. So between the teens and up to the early 30's is a prime time to be a driver."
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Bruno Couprie will be strategist for Oriol Servia for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and Indianapolis 500. The native of Dijon, France engineered Servia's front row qualifying effort and fifth-place finish at Indy for Newman/Haas Racing in 2011.
Couprie is engineering Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's class leading GTLM BMW in
the United SportsCar Series for Bill Auberlen and Andy Priaulx.
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The following cars: #3 Castroneves, #14 Sato, #18 Huertas, #19 Wilson, #83 Kimball and #7 Aleshin will start on the primary black tires. All cars must use a new set of alternate red tires for two green flag laps in today's race, unless rain tires are used due to weather.
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Eddie Cheever Jr., the 1998 Indianapolis 500 winner, will call today's race for ESPN on ABC alongside Allen Bestwick and Scott Goodyear.
EDDIE CHEEVER: "It's a historical day - one this race is at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and two, this is a road course race event. It's going to be very cool and a lot of fun to see. It will be a clean race and a very safe race. It will be very technical and exciting to see who wins. You'll see something special, that's for sure."
ALLEN BESTWICK: (On his first year broadcasting the Verizon IndyCar Series on ABC after years of broadcasting the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series): "Good people; good racing and so far a lot of fun. It's just a different way of going about the same thing. The object is still to be the first one to get to get to the checkered flag, and it's not easy to do. I'm having a lot of fun. The people have been great to me - very open, very well-received. A lot of people have spent a lot of time helping me get up to speed on the sport and I'm very appreciative." (What has been your favorite thing about the series so far?): "I'm a big fan of the cars. I love the technology of the cars. I love the closeness of the competition. I like the depth of the field. You can look around and it's hard to figure who's going to win. There are some favorites like any sport, but it's hard to figure out who's going to win. And my first two races are St. Petersburg (FL) and a sun-splashed day here in Indianapolis for the first road course race here. What's not to like? (On being at the Speedway for the Month of May): "Obviously, I've come here for a long time for the NASCAR races and to be here and see the difference in the atmosphere for the INDYCAR weekend and just get a feel for what it's going to be like in the next couple of weeks has been a lot of fun. Being here for the '500,' I've always had to be in Charlotte for about my entire adult life on Memorial Day weekend. This has been a bucket list item for me that I've wanted to do for years. And not just to come here and see it but to be here to work it is going to be a real big hoot for me."
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1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal will field cars for his son Graham Rahal and Oriol Servia in today's race.
BOBBY RAHAL: "I think it's great, a great way to kick off the Month of May. It's a fabulous track. they really did a great job with it. The previous (road course) probably wasn't the best, but they've really worked their magic on this one. It's very exciting for us to be here. We have beautiful weather and it looks like a big crowd. It's all good. If it had been a few years earlier I would have been right out there with them."
***
Late Show host David Letterman, the co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is at the Speedway to support his team today.
DAVID LETTERMAN: "What's it like to be back? It is always great to be here, particularly today, this is how I remember spring in Indiana, and how can you beat that?" (You come back as a former winner of the 500): "That's right. I wish I had more to do with that victory but I will never forget it, and it is something I always tell people and you were nice enough to bring it up. So it stays with you, that's the best part." (After television will you devote more time to racing?) "I will do what I can, and I would like to go to more races, but of course I will always come here."
***
Brad Marvel, a former USAC sprint car driver who was not allowed to race at first because he suffers from diabetes is at the Speedway today. He supports Charlie Kimball, the first licensed INDYCAR driver with diabetes.
BRAD MARVEL: "I think it is awesome, and he seems like a real good driver. Of course I would have liked to have done it in a point and time and obviously I think I could have. He (Charlie) is doing a good job and I'm happy for him. I didn't have any trouble running with USAC what I had trouble with is them letting me. I road raced motorcycles for 8 years without any problems so obviously there wasn't a problem. The only issue I would have had is the money issues. I was going that speed on motorcycle at Daytona and Charlotte and places like that - so it wouldn't have been a problem for me here. I think God must not have wanted me in that situation or I would have ended up there. But I am thankful that I have had the life I have had and the pancreas transplant has been an awesome blessing. It's all good."
***
Adrian Starrantino of Jay Motorsports captured today's second race of the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda doubleheader at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. It was the first win for the 19-year-old native of Santa Paula, Calif..
ADRIAN STARRANTINO: "I really wanted to work with the tires early and make sure I didn't burn them out too quickly. Once I saw P1 (Victor Franzoni) was having a bit of a hard time up front, I decided to make my move and let him get in the clutches of P3 (Florian latoree) and run away. As soon as I got by him, I put my head down and focused on getting to the finish. Then he gave me a 9.8 on the pressure scale to keep the lead. He was quick but I knew I had to get the job done for the team. I can't even explain the feeling (first win). This course is unlike any other. I'm happy we can race here. It's an honor and a blessing. It made for a lot of fun. I'm glad we could come away with a win here. I'm a piece of history now."
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KV Racing Technology, the defending Indianapolis 500 champion team, announced today it will field a car for rookie driver James Davison in the 2014 Indianapolis 500. Davison will drive the No. 33 Always Evolving Racing/KV Racing Technology Chevrolet, bringing the total to four cars competing under the KVRT umbrella at the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Davison, joins Sebastien Bourdais, who'll drive the No. 11 Hydoxycut/Mistic E-Cigs / KVSH Racing Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone, Sebastian Saavedra, in the No. 17 KV AFS Racing Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone, and Townsend Bell, driving the No. 6 Robert Graham KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Dallara/Firestone, on the team.
Davison, 27 and a native of Melbourne, Australia, hails from a true racing legacy. His grandfather, Lex Davison, won the Australian Grand Prix four times and his father, Jon Davison, was a driver and long-time racing promoter. James came up through the Australian open-wheel ranks before moving to the United States and competing in Formula BMW USA, Star Mazda and Champ Car Atlantic. He raced two seasons in Indy Lights, winning two races and finishing second in the 2009 championship.
JAMES DAVISON: "I have been working on this since late last year, but really started to push hard in the last two months. I had potential deals lined up with three potential teams and I will be honest with you I had not chatted with KV just because well, I didn't turn the stone over with them because they were committed to three cars, and in hindsight I could have started negotiations earlier with them. That said, it wouldn't have made a difference to my program because it is budget restricted. More so, or jointly, with time. We are a half program so we will start on Thursday so all the work with the Bourdais, the Saavedra and Townsend Bell cars we will be able to capitalize on that engineering, bolt it on and go from there so we don't tear up a bunch of the budget on engine time, and tires getting the car set up. Let's face it. For a 33rd entry and a 4th car, and a half program, we are with the reigning champions and our equipment is Panther's. We have certainly very good chances to do well although it is a very limited program." (Have you been able to celebrate that the deal has been accomplished?): "To be honest, no. It is just one project after another. I have had to put every bit of sponsorship together, ensure that the sponsors are happy with their logo placement on the car, uniform and helmet and make sure they all have their credentials. I have had to do it all myself. The days of a team having a sponsor and just hiring a driver, that is far more limited than it used to be. Racing will in some ways will be stress relief although it is stressful enough driving an Indy car here at some point. It's happening and we are out to do well, to build up to doing well. The only time that matters is the end of the race.
***
Scott Hargrove of Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing completed a sweep of the Pro Mazda Championship Allied Building Products Grand Prix of Indianapolis doubleheader today. The Canadian won Friday's first race for his first victory in the series.
SCOTT HARGROVE, Vancouver, BC, double winner of the Pro Mazda races: Yesterday wasn't quite enough. We really worked on the championship gap this weekend and closed it up significantly. That's what we had to do, there was no other option coming into this weekend and the team did a phenomenal job. The car was on rails today. I just had to manage every restart and had a huge gap before the second caution came out. I just stayed calm and was able to pull the gap again.
Our problem had been putting a whole weekend together. We didn't get it done in qualifying this weekend, but the racing around this circuit was so great, it didn't seem to matter. This place is so much fun. I'd like to come back and run it every weekend. I don't think I've ever had this much fun racing.
***
Lyn St. James, a former Rookie of the Year of the Indianapolis 500, is at the Speedway today. St. James was the second female driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and helps promote female involvement in the sport through the "Women in the Winner's Circle" program.
LYN ST. JAMES: "I'm a road racer first; that's how I came up through racing. The Indianapolis 500 was my first oval race. It's fabulous to see it (road race) here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It shows the diversity of these teams. Also the 500 may be the only race fans go to and they maybe don't understand what they see when they watch a road race on TV. To see it here is phenomenal. As a driver I will be running on this road course during the Vintage car races here in June. I haven't been around the track yet but listening to drivers' comments, all the drivers are loving it. For drivers who have the diversity to do the road races and the ovals, this is sweet because it's the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track is making a huge investment into this facility to show how capable and versatile the drivers can be. Having all the activity (community), really makes the month of May packed. It's great and the fans I've seen here seem to like it. I will be in two Vintage car races; I'm running in the ProAm but I don't know what car because we are going to draw for the cars. I'm also racing in Group 9 in a 1977 Chevron B39 Car No. 11, so I'll be in one of the actual races. I'm very pumped about that. (women into racing) during the 17 years that I had the foundation I worked with Danica (Patrick) when she was 14 and Sarah (Fisher0 when she was 15. I knew they (women) were out there, but if no one extends a hand to help them, they will never make it. I am also happy and proud about our history of women exhibit as part of the Henry Ford Museum, a traveling exhibit. It is on tour at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. It tells the story of women in racing; it honors those women and helps to grow the young talent of women in racing. And that can only help the sport grow. I'm pleased and proud that I'm able to do that with a lot of help from a lot of people. It's a mission that carries on. We have a scholarship fund through the Women's Sports Foundation that I helped set up with funds from our foundation. Drivers can apply to get a grant just like they could do if they wanted to become an Olympic athlete. It isn't a lot of money but without more support it could become a lot of money. If we want to change the picture we have to make it happen. It won't happen by itself."
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Brazil's Luiz Razia won today's Indy Lights Grand Prix of Indianapolis Race #2. It was the first win in the series for the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver.
LUIZ RAZIA: "It was really difficult. Today was one of those wins that you really dig, dig, dig deep to get. I'm just really pleased that I got it. It was a difficult condition. It was not perfect - but I did it, so that is what matters. We changed the setup (from yesterday). It was not bad. We had some problems with the gear box, for sure. We were not right. But it was good. We won. That's it. I just focused on myself. I try to win every race. At the end of the day, if I am the champion, I am happy."
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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard are attending today's inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis.
MIKE PENCE (Governor, State of Indiana): "It is extraordinary (the diversity of the field). Look, Hoosier have been reaching the world throughout our state's history, but the reputation of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is truly global and as you see this new Grand Prix of Indianapolis, and this inaugural event, were just seeing an all new energy here at the track and it is going to expand our ability to attract more people from around the country and around the world to the Hoosier state and see all the great things that are happening here. You have a beautiful day for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis, and crowd here, I have to tell you, this feels like Carb day to me. This is a big and exciting day out here. I think the renewed commitment of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to improving the fan experience, offering a diverse number of events at the track is going to mean great fun for race fans like me, but it is going to be great news for the business of racing in Indiana."
MAYOR GREG BALLARD: (waved green flag to begin opening day): It's amazing that I get to do this - ride in the Pace Car and wave the green flag to open practice. It's so much fun. I came out here as a little kid and I never dreamed of doing this. Mario Andretti drove me around the track in a Pace Car a few years ago. This is a tremendous day that opens up a lot of activity for everybody at this race track that means so much to Indiana and the motorsports industry. Activities are going on as we speak. It started last night (Friday) on the newly refurbished Main Street in Speedway. I was there last night and there were a lot of people there even in bad (rainy) weather. That is going to be a real big hit in future years. We did the Mini-Marathon last weekend and have more 500 Festival events coming up and that is big for the City of Indianapolis. Every year it is so much fun. This is the event that told everybody that the City of Indianapolis could come together and run a big event, year after year. People have a lot of confidence that we can do that around the country and around the world. They know if they come to Indianapolis to put on an event or attend an event that it will get done. We have a history of cooperation and collaboration. This event is the one that started it all - still the largest attended sporting event in the world.
GRAND PRIX OF INDIANAPOLIS RACE SPECIFICS:
•The race is 82 laps, 200 miles on the 14-turn, 2.38 -mile road course course.
•The race will become a timed race of two hours if there are wet conditions.
•The pit road speed limit is 50 mph.
•Pole sitter Sebastian Saavedra will grid drivers' right.
•The standing start will after one parade and a formation lap.
•A stalled car will result in an aborted start. Two aborted start will result in a rolling start.
Cars causing an aborted start will be moved to the back.
•Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will drive the Chevrolet Corvette Safety Car.
•The race leader will accelerate for single-file restarts exiting Turn 14.
GRAND PRIX OF INDIANAPOLIS PRE-RACE:
At 3:30 p.m., the ambient temperature was 77 degrees with a relative humidity of 33 percent and winds from west at 1 mph. Skies with mostly cloudy. The track temperature was 115 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.
3:46 p.m. - Mari Hulman George, Chairman of the Board of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, gave the command, "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines." All 25 cars have started and are rolling on the grid for the formation laps.
GRAND PRIX OF INDIANAPOLIS RACE RUNNING:
Lap 1: GREEN. Lights go out and the Grand Prix of Indianapolis is underway. Polesitter #17 Saavedra and #2 Montoya stall on the grid. Car is struck by #34 Munoz on the left rear and then is struck by #7 Aleshin from behind. #34 Munoz continues across the track and hits the outside wall on the frontstretch. There is heavy damage to all cars. The three drivers all climb from their cars without assistance. FULL COURSE YELLOW. Leader under caution are: #28 Hunter-Reay, #98 Hawksworth, #77 Pagenaud, #12 Power and #9 Dixon. #20 Conway is on course with damage after hitting the inside pit wall. #2 Montoya rejoins the race after being restarted.
Lap 9: GREEN. #28 Hunter-Reay leads the field down the frontstretch into Turn 1.
Lap 10: #98 Hawksworth passes #28 Hunter-Reay for the lead in Turn 1. #77 Pagenaud also get past Hunter-Reay for second. #14 Sato and #67 Newgarden on pit lane for four tires and fuel. #67 Newgarden also changing the nosecone due to damage. Crew for #14 Sato reports car was hit on left-rear.
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Verizon IndyCar Series officials have penalized #26 Montagny with a drive-through penalty for jumping the Lap 9 restart.
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Lap 13: #98 Hawksworth leads #77 Pagenaud by 2.1654 seconds.
Lap 16: #98 Hawksworth leads #77 Pagenaud by 2.4349 seconds.
Lap 19: #98 Hawksworth leads #77 Pagenaud by 2.6788 seconds. #3 Castroneves on pit lane for four red tires and fuel. #20 Conway has rejoined the race, 18 laps behind the leader.
Lap 20: #83 Kimball on pit road for four red tires and fuel.
Lap 21: #2 Montoya on pit road for four red tires and fuel.
Lap 22: #98 Hawksworth leads #77 Pagenaud by 2.6816 seconds.
Lap 23: #10 Kanaan on pit lane for four red tires and fuel.
Lap 24: #8 Briscoe on pit lane for four tires and fuel.
***
Medical update from Dr. Michael Olinger, INDYCAR Medical Director: Sebastian Saavedra, Carlos Munoz and Mikhail Aleshin have been checked and released from the Medical Car. All are cleared to drive.
SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA (No. 17 AFS KV AFS Racing Chevrolet): "I don't know. We just followed protocol of the start. I don't know if it was ...or what. As soon as I released the clutch you went from 11,000 RPMs to 0, you know. Very sad because we did an amazing job. Everybody did, the team had very high expectations um really very disappointed. We have to see what happened. This should not have happened."
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Verizon IndyCar Series officials have penalized #8 Briscoe with a drive-through penalty for pit lane safety violation - Hitting Equipment (Rule 7.10.1.4).
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Lap 26: #77 Pagenaud, #9 Dixon and #11 Bourdais on pit lane for four tires and fuel.
Lap 27: Leader #98 Hawksworth on pit lane for four red tires and fuel. #28 Hunter-Reay, #12 Power and #27 Hinchcliffe also pit for black tires and fuel. New leader is #19 Wilson.
Lap 29: #19 Wilson leads #18 Huertas by 2.0404 seconds.
Lap 31: Leaders, #19 Wilson and #18 Huertas, on pit lane for four red tires and fuel. #19 Wilson also made wing and air pressure adjustments. New leader is #98 Hawksworth.
Lap 33: Green flag stops complete, #98 Hawksworth leads #77 Pagenaud by 3.3190 seconds.
***
CARLOS MUNOZ (No. 34 Cinsay AndrettiTV.com HVM Honda): "I don't know. Everything happened really fast, you know...I was really in the back. I was already in 5th gear. I was really close to the car in front of me. I just saw him go to the right. I had to go to the left but was not fast enough. I wasn't okay to go a little to the left side and not to crash him just in front and just to crash him with my rear front...Everything went wrong. When you're qualifying so bad in the rear you can expect these kind of things. Not to forget tomorrow starts another race so we'll just concentrate on tomorrow and move on. I feel sorry for my guys. They work hard all the time really hard."
***
Lap 36: #98 Hawksworth leads #77 Pagenaud by 4.4782 seconds.
Lap 39: #98 Hawksworth leads #77 Pagenaud by 3.9029 seconds
Lap 41: Halfway: #98 Hawksworth leads #77 Pagenaud by 3.7736 seconds. #2 Montoya and #3 Castroneves, #41 Plowman and #25 Andretti on pit lane for four tires and fuel
Lap 42: FULL COURSE YELLOW. #9 Dixon spins off course in Turn 3 battling #12 Power for position. Car is stuck in the gravel trap. Car is assisted by the Holmatro Safety Team and rejoins the race. Leaders are: #98 Hawksworth, #77 Pagenaud, #12 Power and #28 Hunter-Reay
Lap 44: Pits are open. Leaders are on pit road for four tires and fuel. #28 Hunter-Reay does not pit and assumes the lead of the race. #77 Pagenaud beats #98 Hawksworth off pit road.
Lap 47: GREEN. #28 Hunter-Reay leads the field down the frontstretch.
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Verizon IndyCar Series officials have penalized #12 Power with a drive-through penalty for pit lane safety violation - Hitting Equipment (Rule 7.10.1.4).
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Lap 48: FULL COURSE YELLOW. #41 Plowman and #26 Montagny make contact in Turn 7, #41 Plowman got airborne after running over the curbing in Turn 7 and collected the car of #26 Montagny. Leaders under caution is #28 Hunter-Reay #19 Wilson, #18 Huertas and #27 Hinchcliffe.
Lap 51:GREEN. #28 Hunter-Reay leads the field down the frontstretch. Behind there is contact between multiple cars. #15 Rahal makes contact with the frontstretch wall after contact with Montoya. #19 Wilson passes #28 Hunter-Reay for the lead in Turn 7. FULL COURSE YELLOW. Leaders under yellow are: #19 Wilson, #28 Hunter-Reay and. #18 Huertas.
Lap 54: Pits are open. Leaders on pit road for four tires and fuel. #3 Castroneves doesn't pit and assumes the lead of the race. #19 Wilson wins race off pit road followed by #28 Hunter-Reay.
Lap 57: GREEN. #3 Castroneves leads the field down the frontstretch into Turn 1. #27 Hinchcliffe is off course in Turn 7.
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Verizon IndyCar Series officials have penalized #2 Montoya with a drive-through penalty Jumping Restart (Rules 7.5.1.4 and 7.5.1.6).
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Lap 60: #3 Castroneves leads #83 Kimball leads by .7164 of a second.
Lap 61: #98 Hawksworth on pit road for four red tires and fuel from third place.
Lap 63: #3 Castroneves leads #83 Kimball leads by .8585 of a second.
Lap 66: #3 Castroneves leads #83 Kimball leads by .6054 of a second.
Lap 69: #3 Castroneves leads #11 Bourdais leads by 2.9711 of a second. #83 Kimball on pit road for four tires and fuel from second place.
Lap 70: #3 Castroneves on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #11 Bourdais.
***
GRAHAM RAHAL (No. 15 National Guard Honda): "I just got punted. I mean Montoya's a lap down and he almost hit me actually the restart before he tried to dive bomb me into seven. I mean, the guy's a lap down. I don't know what he's trying to do playing with the leaders but it just ruined our day. The National Guard car was really good and we were looking to be third at that point because by the time the pit sequence cycled through we were in the hunt for a win there and there's nothing you can do...I feel bad for the National Guard guys cause this car was good. It was good today."
***
Lap 71: Leader #11 Bourdais and #8 Briscoe on pit lane for four tires and fuel. New leader is #16 Servia.
Lap 73: #16 Servia leads #77 Pagenaud by 7.3675 seconds.
Lap 76: #16 Servia leads #77 Pagenaud by 9.2520 seconds.
` Lap 78: Leader, #16 Servia, on pit lane for fuel only. New leader is #77 Pagenaud. #16 Servia stalled on exit.
Lap 79: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 2.2772 seconds.#3 Castroneves is third 5.2817 seconds behind the leader.
Lap 80: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 2.8621 seconds. #3 Castroneves is third 4.2795 seconds behind the leader.
Lap 81: WHITE: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 2.6216 seconds. #3 Castroneves is third 3.4023 seconds behind the leader.
Lap 82: CHECKERED. #77 Simon Pagenaud wins the Grand Prix of Indianapolis by .8906 of second over #28 Hunter-Reay. #3 Castroneves was third, 1.8244 behind.
VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1 Will Power 149
2 Ryan Hunter-Reay 148
3 Simon Pagenaud 143
4 Helio Castroneves 102
5 Scott Dixon 102
6 Mike Conway 93
7 Marco Andretti 89
8 Justin Wilson 87
9 Tony Kanaan 82
10 Sebastien Bourdais 80
SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
Jack Hawksworth 71
Carlos Huertas 63
Carlos Munoz 61
Mikhail Aleshin 49
Martin Plowman 12
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The next Verizon IndyCar Series race is the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be telecast live at 11 a.m. (ET) by ABC. The IMS Radio Network will also carry the race live on its affiliates, including Sirius 213 and XM 209.
