Latest news with #Indy500
Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Drivers weigh in on cars at end of Indy 500 lead lap: ‘Get the F out of the way'
Bruce Martin Special to DETROIT — For many of the 350,000 fans that attended the 109th Indianapolis 500 and the peak audience of 8.4 million viewers that watched on FOX, they wondered why the winner of the race was the third car that crossed the finish line and the fourth car on the track was scored as second. It was a rare situation that happens on ovals when the last two cars on the lead lap are actually running ahead of the leader and haven't been lapped yet. Because they are fighting to stay on the lead lap, they do not have to yield their position to the race leader, per INDYCAR rules. At the end of last Sunday's Indy 500, those two cars were raced by Devlin DeFrancesco of Toronto and Louie Foster, a rookie from Odiham, Hampshire, England. Both drivers race for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and both were fighting to complete all 200 laps of the Indianapolis 500 on the lead lap. But in the final 16 laps of the race, Alex Palou masterfully used the two cars on the end of the lead lap to improve his speed the draft. That meant Palou's No. 10 DHL Honda could run faster while saving fuel. Marcus Ericsson was running second at the time after Palou boldly passed him for the lead on the inside of Turn 1 on the 187th lap. Because Palou was being aerodynamically towed by Foster and DeFrancesco, the car fourth in line experienced turbulence and could not get a run to attempt to pass Palou for the win. When the checkered flag waved, Palou was the winner of the race and Ericsson was scored second. Ericsson would later get bounced to 31st place by INDYCAR officials after his No. 28 Honda failed post-race technical inspection because of illegal modifications to the engine management system cover. Andretti Global teammate Kyle Kirkwood was also penalized for the same infraction after finishing sixth and he was moved to 32nd in the final results. Although Foster and DeFrancesco were both racing ahead of the leader based on the rules, many drivers believe the spirit of the rules should have seen those two drivers move over to let Palou and Ericsson by. Also, Palou knew his car performed better with another car in front and chose to stay behind the two to maintain his position as the leader, rather than give Ericsson a chance on the track. "We had two cars that were almost a lap down right in front of us," Palou explained to me in an exclusive interview the day after winning the Indy 500. "They were breaking the air in front of me, so I had a tow on the straight, so I was going a lot faster on the straight than if I was alone leading the race. "The only bad part is that on the corners, you're losing down force and you're losing grip, so you cannot go as fast. "It was the same for Marcus on the corners, but at least Marcus couldn't really get a big difference with the tow on me to overtake me on the straight. "It's similar to what Helio Castroneves did to me in 2021. "I'm glad it worked out for me this time." In the 105th Indianapolis 500 in 2021, Castroneves went to the outside to pass race leader Palou with two laps to go at the start-finish line. As they encountered a pack of lapped cars out of Turn 4, it gave Castroneves the drafting advantage. The cars at the tail end of the lead lap that ran in front of the two drivers fighting it out for victory were Ryan Hunter-Reay in the DHL car, Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske and James Hinchcliffe of Andretti Autosport. Castroneves knew to draft behind those cars to disturb the aero on Palou's No. 10 Honda on the final lap, as he became the fourth four-time Indianapolis 500 winner. Ironically, Hunter-Reay's sponsor on the No. 28 Honda in 2021 was DHL — the same sponsor for Palou's No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in 2025. David Malukas was scored as third on Sunday but moved up to second place on Monday after Ericsson was penalized. After the race, Malukas claimed that "lappers spoiled the party." At Monday night's Indianapolis 500 Victory Awards Celebration at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, he took a much more open view of the end of the race. He said neither Foster nor DeFrancesco did anything wrong. It was just bad timing for some of the drivers fighting it out for the win that they caught up to the tail end of the lead lap near the end of the race. "I understand it from both sides," Malukas told me. "It's more of just an unfortunate situation that they get to be there at that final battle. "You take those lap cars out of the scenario, and now it's a four- or five-way battle for the lead. It's not like if lapped cars weren't there, it's a guaranteed win. "To be fair, we could have probably finished even worse and could have been fifth, but … it just makes for a very good ending. "It's a high-octane finish. People are going left, right, back and forth, pushing. But when you have lapped cars racing up to speed and you have the leader just towing up behind them, nobody can do anything with 15 laps to go. "Everybody knew that." Team Penske's Will Power believes INDYCAR officials should revise the rule and force the tail end of the lead lap to move over and let the drivers fighting it out for the victory get by. "If the leader is coming up behind you, get the F out of the way," Power told me Monday. Night. "That's certainly one way to do it. "Just get out of the way. Your day is done. There are 15 to go. People are fighting out for a win. "Come on." Power won the 2018 Indianapolis 500 and has often criticized race officiating for not having slower cars move over to keep the leaders out front. "There would have been a lot of passing for the win if there weren't two back markers racing in front of them," Power continued. "All the people watching and they're just watching two back markers for the last people on the lead lap fight it out which is wrong. "I just think maybe with 20 to go, you need a blue flag rule or something because everyone's there to see the leaders fight it out. For me it's been a huge problem with INDYCAR for a long time. Why should you fight with a person in last place, who is still running?" Barry Wanser calls the race strategy for Palou at Chip Ganassi Racing and he is the team manager for the six-time Indy 500 winning team. He was adamant that it was the circumstance of the race that the drivers fighting it out for the win encountered the end of the lead lap. "They were definitely not lapped cars," Wanser told me. "They were the tail end of the lead lap, which means if a yellow came out, they would be packed up at the back of the pack and they'd be racing for a higher position when it goes green. So, they were doing exactly what they were entitled to do. "It benefited us. You don't know what is going to happen during the race that will hurt you or benefit you. That helped us. "We lost to Helio in 2021 because he passed us and then caught the traffic in front of him. And then that makes it much harder, and we had to settle for second. "This allowed us to run technically in third as the leader with those two cars in front of us, which helped us." Wanser also cleared up the misconception that INDYCAR should have used the blue flag, for Foster and DeFrancesco to move over. On the ovals, INDYCAR uses the 105-percent rule. "If you are not maintaining at least 105 percent of the leader's pace, then you're required to make a pit stop and change the car," Wanser explained. "On road courses, street courses, we have the blue flag rule, but you have to be a lap down to the entire field until you're a blue-flag eligible." Ricky Davis is Palou's crew chief at Chip Ganassi Racing and prepared the race-winning machine that won. "They didn't spoil it," David told me, referring to Foster and DeFrancesco. "Well, they didn't spoil our party. They might have spoiled it for Ericsson and Malukas, and we were certainly appreciative of that. "Those cars are still in lead lap, so they did not have to move over. If they were off the pace, they would have moved over. But the thing is, they were running as fast, if not faster, than we were." Palou's latest win came in the biggest race on Earth and gives the popular driver from Spain a 112-point lead over Pato O'Ward in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship. It was also Palou's fifth win in the first six INDYCAR races this season. Team owner Chip Ganassi realizes this combination is historically special and credits Palou with understanding the situation that helped him win. "There was lots of racecraft going on in his head while he's driving around," Ganassi told me. "We won the race, and we lost the race by those same sort of circumstances, as you said. "It's just one of those things that happens in motor racing, when you're on a closed circuit and you have other cars that are going to be involved in the outcome of a race sometimes." It was Castroneves that schooled Palou to become the fourth four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 2021. Four years later, Palou remembered that lesson and used it on 2022 Indy 500 winner Ericsson. "He was an amazing teacher," Palou said of Castroneves. "It was an expensive class, honestly. "I would say there's part of luck, as well. Like you need to have the traffic at the right time, and yes, you need to be able to read it, but everything was falling to my way and then I had to overtake Marcus. But I don't know if he thought he was safe or if he was not thinking that traffic was playing a big role on the race or not. "But yeah, glad that the 2021 class paid off." With his latest triumph, Palou has certainly moved to the head of the class in INDYCAR. Bruce Martin is a veteran motorsports writer and contributor to Follow him on X at @BruceMartin_500 . BEST OF FOX SPORTS' INDY 500 COVERAGE: Ranking Indy 500 drivers from 33 to 1: Can anyone unseat Josef Newgarden? Got milk? 33 potential Indy 500 winners pick preferred dairy option Pato O'Ward pens letter to Indy 500: 'Had my heart broken here … but it also fuels me' No oval experience, no problem: Rookie Robert Shwartzman captures Indy 500 pole Rash of Crash: Inside a wild weekend of wrecks during Indy 500 prep From 'magical' to 'legendary': Drivers describe the Indy 500 in one word 2025 Indy 500 liveries: See the designs of all 34 cars on the track at The Brickyard Counting down the 25 most memorable moments in Indy 500 history recommended Get more from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox News
6 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter: California takes centerstage in transgender athlete debate, Indy500 drama
GIRLS' SPORTS – A transgender athlete finished in first place in multiple events at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Track Championship Masters Qualifiers over the weekend. The athlete is set to compete in the girls' long jump and triple jump state championships later this week. The Department of Education is investigating the CIF. Continue reading… ELIGIBILITY RULES – The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) told Fox News Digital it amended its eligibility rules for the state championship. The change was announced shortly after President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California. Continue reading … FAMILY REACTS – A rule change will allow at least two California high school athletes to qualify for the state title after falling just shy of the typical qualification threshold after a transgender athlete won a pair of events. A family with a daughter trying to win a title told Fox News Digital they are "grateful" the White House is taking an interest in the upcoming event. Continue reading … MOVED TO THE REAR – Andretti Global drivers Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood were stripped of their original finishes in the Indy 500 after their cars failed post-race technical inspection. Continue reading … INDY 500 HISTORY – Alex Palou etched his name in the history books and enjoyed the ceremonial swig of milk in Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500 over the weekend. He became the first Spanish driver to win the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Continue reading … CHAOS ENSUES – Tensions flared during Saturday's NCAA baseball game between Samford and Mercer. A player's animated home run celebration sparked ejections for players, coaches, and even parents. Continue reading … 'GREAT FOR OUR GAME' – Caitlin Clark was whistled for a flagrant foul on Agnel Reese during their latest WNBA matchup. The heated moment sparked more debate about the rivalry, which is something Dawn Staley believes is ultimately "great for our game." Continue reading … CAN'T VERIFY – The WNBA said it was unable to substantiate a report of racist fan behavior at the Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game on May 17. Officials said the league "will continue to be vigilant in enforcing our fan code of conduct." Continue reading … SIDELINED – Wednesday will mark the first game Caitlin Clark has missed across her four years at Iowa and her time in the WNBA. On Monday, the Indiana Fever announced the star guard will miss at least two weeks with a quad strain. Continue reading … FROM OUTKICK – Kirk Cousins skipped the Atlanta Falcons' first day of voluntary organized team activities. The veteran quarterback has expressed his desire to move to another team where he will have the opportunity to start in 2025. Continue reading … WATCH NOW – The Pacers took a commanding series lead by defeating the Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd discusses Tyrese Haliburton's standout performance. Continue reading … FROM FOX SPORTS – NFL on FOX analyst Terry Bradshaw criticized the Pittsburgh Steelers' reported ongoing pursuit of free agent star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Continue reading … Fox News FirstFox News Opinion ' Fox News FirstFox News Opinion
Fox Sports
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
2025 NASCAR odds: Kyle Larson favorite for Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Nashville this weekend for the Cracker Barrel 400. When it comes to the odds, bettors can also dive into that action and place wagers on which driver they think has what it takes to win outright. Last week at Charlotte, Kyle Larson (+340) closed as the favorite. But he encountered misfortune at both the Indy 500 and then at the Coca-Cola 600, and Ross Chastain (+1800) ended up getting into victory lane. Will Larson redeem himself at Nashville Superspeedway or will another driver take the checkered flag? Check out the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 28. Cracker Barrel 400 2025 Kyle Larson : +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total) Denny Hamlin : +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total) Christopher Bell : +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total) William Byron : +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total) Ryan Blaney : +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total) Tyler Reddick : +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total) Ross Chastain : +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total) Chase Elliott : +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total) Joey Logano : +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Chase Briscoe : +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Chris Buescher : +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Brad Keselowski : +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Ty Gibbs : +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total) Kyle Busch : +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total) Josh Berry : +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total) Alex Bowman : +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Carson Hocevar : +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) Ryan Preece : +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) Bubba Wallace : +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Austin Cindric : +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Daniel Suarez : +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total) Corey Heim: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total) AJ Allmendinger : +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) Zane Smith : +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) Noah Gragson : +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) Erik Jones : +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total) Michael McDowell : +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total) Austin Dillon : +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. : +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) Todd Gilliland : +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total) Justin Haley : +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total) John Hunter Nemechek : +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total) Cole Custer : +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total) Shane van Gisbergen : +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total) Riley Herbst : +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total) JJ Yeley: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total) Cody Ware : +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total) Chad Finchum: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total) Ty Dillon : +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Empire State of Mind: Indy 500 champ Alex Palou having star moment in NYC
NEW YORK — Alex Palou went to throw out the first pitch at the New York Mets game Tuesday night and figured someone would recognize him and possibly heckle him. Not for winning the Indianapolis 500 but for walking around in an Indiana Pacers jersey at the New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers playoff game Sunday night while still sporting the 500 winner's wreath. "There was one or two people that said I was at the Pacers game [a couple nights] before," said Palou, who, like most INDYCAR drivers, lives in Indianapolis. "And I was like, 'Yeah.' "But we won last night." Palou even went to the NBA store on Wednesday and stood outside of it wearing a Tyrese Haliburton jersey to show his Pacers fandom. So it appears Palou was having fun during his two-day media tour in New York City and was really enjoying himself. "I just get to a van and they take me to different studios, different places, different TV shows," Palou said Wednesday morning, as he stood on a balcony near the top of the Empire State Building. "It's been amazing. It's been overwhelming. So fun. But this [view] is amazing." Palou couldn't name all the media outlets he visited or the photos he took as he was shuttled from stop to stop, like the one he took in front of the NASDAQ building. Amid the media stops, he has barely had any time to think about or talk to his team about the Detroit Grand Prix this weekend. He admits that, while he has gotten a little bit of sleep, he's behind in race preparation. "It's not the ideal scenario or preparation or conditions," Palou said. "But it's amazing. I'm trying to enjoy every single second of it. "And I think it's a great opportunity to see how we can do with big challenges ahead." Palou also gets plenty of questions about his goals, especially about whether a move to Formula 1 is a possibility. He said, as far as he knows, the Indy 500 win didn't spark any inquiries from F1 teams. To be fair, his road-course prowess is what would attract F1 teams. And with the Indy 500 win, some might assume he's accomplished everything a driver would want in INDYCAR and that he could be looking for a new challenge. "Nothing has come up [from F1]," Palou said. "I'm perfect here. I'm super happy, the happiest I've ever been. "At the end of the day, that's what everybody looks for — being happy, winning races, being with my family. And here I just have an environment that is perfect." And there's another league that's not calling Palou, and that's the MLB, after seeing his first pitch. His pitch ahead of the White Sox-Mets game needed a hop to get to the plate. "That was not good," Palou said. "I prepared a little bit, but the distance that we were preparing with was a lot shorter than the real one. "And once I did the first pitch, it just went down. So not good. But it is what it is." Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. recommended Get more from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Indianapolis Star
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
The Inside Line IndyCar Podcat: Alex Palou wins the Indianapolis 500
In this week's edition of The Inside Line, IndyStar motorsports insider Nathan Brown and co-host Joey Barnes break down everything that was in this year's Indy 500, from Alex Palou's late-race win — and the pass that made it so on Marcus Ericsson — to other standout performances and disappointing ones throughout the field. The pair also dive into the post-race penalties and what they believe IndyCar would've done had Ericsson won with an illegally modified car, as well as the Fox broadcast and IndyCar's massive ratings win from it.
