Indianapolis 500 news stories on Newser

IndyCar CEO Had Promised More 'Carnage'

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:19:36 CDT

In a June interview that seems eerily prescient in light of Dan Wheldon’s death , IndyCar Chief Executive Randy Bernard promised more “carnage and wrecks” in the upcoming races. IndyCar, struggling to compete with the more popular NASCAR, was attempting to make its races more exciting by increasing the risks: more...

Dan Wheldon Wins Indy 500 After Rival Crashes

Mark Russell — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:00:00 CDT

A spectacular crash on the last turn of the last lap made this year's Indianapolis 500 one of the most exciting in recent memory, giving Dan Wheldon his second win at the fabled track. It was just the second time a driver—Wheldon rival rookie JT Hildebrande—lost the lead...

Franchitti Wins 2nd Indy 500

Sun, 30 May 2010 15:34:47 CDT

Dario Franchitti has won the Indianapolis 500, beating Dan Wheldon to help Chip Ganassi become the first car owner to win at Indy and the Daytona 500 in the same year. Franchitti's victory today was his second at the Indy 500 in four years and denied Helio Castroneves a chance...

Where to Find Real America

John Johnson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:32:00 CDT

Travel writer Gary McKechnie helps USA Today round up some of the best places to get a taste of old-fashioned Americana: Little League World Series, Williamsport, Pa.: The end-of-August tradition is free. Mark Twain America, Hannibal, Mo.: Be like Tom Sawyer and go on a guided cave tour. All-American Soap...

Two Crash on Lap 1 of Indy 500

Drew Nelles — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:02:29 CDT

Today's Indianapolis 500 had barely started when Mario Moraes drifted to the outside and made contact with Marco Andretti, sending both cars into the wall going into the second turn. "The kid doesn't get it, and he never will," Andretti said, blaming Moraes for the crash. "He's just clueless out...

Dixon Nails Indy 500 Win

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:27:53 CDT

Quick crew work boosted Scott Dixon to victory at the Indianapolis 500 today, ahead of Vitor Meira and Marco Andretti, the AP reports. Danica Patrick, vying to be Indy's first female winner, got clipped with 29 laps left, snapped her suspension, and finished 22nd. Several other crashes and failures haunted...

'Danica Rule' Is Confusing, Controversial

Katherine Thompson — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:31:42 CDT

Danica Patrick will carry 35 pounds of ballast in her car in this weekend's Indianapolis 500 to make up for her tiny, 100-pound body. But even those who agree that ballasting is the fair way to account for differences in racers' body sizes aren't sure the IndyCar system is entirely...

Indy Champ Castroneves Considering NASCAR

Doug Sweeney — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:13:24 CDT

Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves is considering trading in his Indy car for a NASCAR stock car, reports the Los Angeles Times . "I won't deny that I'm thinking about it," Castroneves said. "It would be great to one day try the cars. But at this point I'm focusing on...

Danica's Car Hits Crew Member

John Johnson — Sat, 10 May 2008 10:35:40 CDT

Danica Patrick, racing's rising star, clipped a crew member yesterday during practice for the Indianapolis 500. Patrick—who became the first woman to win an Indy Car race last month—struck the 63-year-old mechanic in pit row with both left tires and sent him flying through air, the Indianapolis Star...