JUNE 1, 2016

(Photo by Mike Harding/INDYCAR)
Twenty-four-year-old Californian and Verizon IndyCar Series rookie Alexander Rossi (No. 98 Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian NAPA Auto Parts Honda Turbo V6) leads Simon Pagenaud (No. 22 Team Penske Menards Chevrolet Turbo V6) and Tony Kanaan (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT Data Chevrolet Turbo V6) through Turn 1 during the 100th Indianapolis 500. Rossi literally coasted across the finish line to win the epic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in the most improbable and memorable fashion. Rossi stretched his last tank of fuel over the final 36 laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's famed 2.5-mile oval, running dry of Sunoco E85R as he entered Turn 4 on the final lap. The car's momentum was enough to carry Rossi across the finish line, 4.4975 seconds ahead of teammate Carlos Munoz. Rossi became the 10th rookie in Indianapolis 500 history to win the race and the first since Helio Castroneves in 2001. Rossi, fresh out of F1, became a Verizon IndyCar Series winner in just his sixth race and the first to win a race in his debut season since Carlos Huertas in 2014. "I have no idea how we pulled that off," a stunned Rossi admitted in Victory Circle after drinking and then pouring the celebratory bottle of milk over his head. "We struggled a little bit in the pit stops but Bryan (Herta) came up with an unbelievable strategy. I can't believe we've done this!" In yet another thrilling Indianapolis 500 that saw 13 drivers swap the lead 54 times - the second most changes in Indy 500 history (68 in 2013) and seventh most for any Indy car race - Rossi led just 14 laps. Look for more Indy 500 coverage in "Fumes."

(Photo by Chris Jones/INDYCAR)
For Carlos Munoz (No. 26 Andretti Autosport United Fiber & Data Honda Turbo V6), it was another bitterly disappointing runner-up finish, his second in four starts. The Colombian placed second to Tony Kanaan in 2013 to earn rookie of the year honors. Munoz was some 40 mph faster than Rossi at the end of the race, but he just ran out of time and couldn't catch Rossi before the checkered flag. "I was really disappointed when it comes to fuel (strategy) and you lose the race because of that," the 24-year-old said. "I was really disappointed to get second. Half a lap short, that's what it took."

(Photo by Bret Kelley/INDYCAR)
Josef Newgarden (No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Preferred Freezer Chevrolet Turbo V6) finished third, but like all but one of the front runners, ended up being disappointed. "Today's gut-wrenching just because I think I had a winning car," Newgarden said. "And when you know you have a winning car and you know you can win the thing and you go for it and it doesn't happen because of a strategy call, it's kind of tough."

(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
Tony Kanaan (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing NTT Data Chevrolet Turbo V6) gets pit service from his Chip Ganassi Racing crew during the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. Kanaan led 19 laps. It was the 12th Indy 500 that Kanaan has led, second only to A.J. Foyt's 13. “I’ve raced many times here at IMS and I’m not one to brag, but this was the race of my life," Kanaan said after the race. "It really was one of the best races I’ve ever driven, probably even better than the race I won here in 2013. This is just Indy for you. It’s never been fair and it never will be, but I’ll take it. I’m just humbled to be able to participate in this race and humbled to be able to experience this atmosphere here today with this place so packed. This is a lesson that I’ll take the good out of and use it to get better.”

(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
A stunned Alexander Rossi in victory circle after winning the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. "I don't even know where to begin," Rossi said. "In February I wasn't even thinking about Indy car, and now we've just won the Indy 500. Thanks to an amazing group of people who gave me an opportunity to come here this year." Look for more coverage from Indy in "Fumes."

(Photo by Dana Garrett/INDYCAR)
An Indianapolis 500 winner his first time out. Does it get any better?

Editor-In -Chief's Note: To all of the whiners out there complaining that the Indianapolis 500 turned into a fuel economy run, please stop. Alexander Rossi's win was special, certainly worthy of the 100th Running of the race. Why? Because with Bryan Herta's superb coaching, the kid was able to out-fox his opponents and win the biggest race of his life. I'll leave it to Coach Herm Edwards to remind us of what we're talking about here. -PMD

Here are the top ten finishers and prize money awarded from Sunday's Indianapolis 500:

1. Alexander Rossi, Honda, $2,548,743
2. Carlos Munoz, Honda, $788,743
3. Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, $574,243
4. Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, $445,743
5. Charlie Kimball, Chevrolet, $423,243
6. JR Hildebrand, Chevrolet, $257,305
7. James Hinchcliffe, Honda, $502,993
8. Scott Dixon, Chevrolet, $384,493
9. Sebastien Bourdais, Chevrolet, $371,743
10. Will Power, Chevrolet, $390,243

(Photo by Shawn Gritzmacher/INDYCAR)
Dario Franchitti sits in Jim Clark's 1965 Indy-winning Lotus-Ford during the pre-race festivities on Sunday.

(Photo by Jim Haines/IMS)
The Lotus 38 Ford is still one of the most striking - and beautiful - cars ever to race at The Speedway.

(Photo by Shawn Gritzmacher/INDYCAR)
The F18 Super Hornet flyover before the start of the Indianapolis 500.
(Photo by Chris Owens/INDYCAR)
How's this for an unlikely duo? Lady Gaga with Mario Andretti prior to the 100th Running of the Indy 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. She was Mario's passenger in the IndyCar two-seater for the pace laps before the start of the race.

Honda. Make no mistake, winning the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 was huge for Honda. The company had devoted all of its efforts to win the 500, and it paid off in the most spectacular way. Congratulations to all involved and well done.

(Mazda)
When Dean Stoneman (Andretti Autosport) crossed the finish line 0.0024 ahead of Ed Jones in the Indy Lights Freedom 100, it was the closest finish in the more than 100-year history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The two had battled for the lead during most of the 100-mile race, and Jones pulled alongside Stoneman in Turn 3 on the final lap. The duo stayed wheel-to-wheel for the remainder of the race to the finish line. The Englishman Stoneman is a rookie in the Indy Lights series, and is back in racing after battling cancer. He is only the second driver with two wins this year after eight races. (Jones is the other.) Ed Jones continued his lead in the Indy Lights point standings, while Stoneman moved into second place.

(BBC)
Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 AMG Petronas Mercedes) won the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, his first win of the 2016 Formula 1 season. Daniel Ricciardo (No. 3 Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer Renault) was second and Sergio Perez (No. 11 Force India Mercedes) was third. The race started in full wet conditions and then gradually dried out. Hamilton benefited from a slow pit stop for Ricciardo but also from his own decision to delay a tire change on the drying track until he could go straight to slicks. He then held Ricciardo at bay for the final 45 laps. Hamilton cut his deficit to Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg (No. 6 AMG Petronas Mercedes), who finished seventh, to 24 points.
(Pirelli World Challenge)
Alvaro Parente (No. 9 K-PAX Racing Pfaff/McLaren Toronto McLaren 650S) swept the weekend in the GT class at the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Lime Rock presented by Bentley. Patrick Long (No. 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R) was second Kyle Marcelli (No. 2 CRP Racing Audi R8) finished third in the Saturday race. The weekend was marred when drivers Andrew Palmer and Jorge De La Torre were seriously injured in a morning warm-up. Palmer suffered a head injury and De La Torre suffered multiple fractures. Further updates are expected. GT action from Lime Rock Park will air on CBS Sports Network Thursday June 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern.
(FIA World Rallycross Championship/newspress)
Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom (No. 5 EKS RX Audi S1quattro) won last weekend’s World RX of Great Britain, his third back-to-back victory in the 2016 FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy. Reigning Champion Petter Solberg (No. 1 Citroen DS3) took the runner-up spot, while Team Peugeot-Hansen driver Timmy Hansen (No. 21 Team Peugeot-Hansen Peugeot 208 WRX) clinched third. In the overall drivers’ standings, Ekstrom leads Solberg by five points.

(Logan Whitton/LAT Photo USA ©2016, courtesy of Toyota Racing)
Martin Truex Jr. (No. 78 Furniture Row Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota Camry) broke records with his dominant victory in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Truex led 392 of 400 laps - 588 of the 600 miles - the most ever in NASCAR's longest Sprint Cup Series race. Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Jimmy John's Chevrolet SS) finished second and Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Lowe's Patriotic Chevrolet SS) came in third. There's so much more to the Truex story. Get more info here.

Editor's Note: Ford has just released "Let's Race" - the third of five chapters in “The Return,” which is a long-form documentary that follows the development of both the street car and race car versions of the Ford GT from the decision to build the cars to the return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Watch chapter one, "The Decision," here and chapter two, "The Cutting Edge," here. (FYI: The Autoextremist makes a cameo appearance in chapter one.) -WG

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