IndyCar 2015 - Penske vs Ganassi at the Indianapolis 500

Dixon leads the field away at the start of the Indy 500

Last weekends Indianapolis 500 saw a titanic battle between IndyCar superteam's Penske and Ganassi. Throughout the early parts of the race it looked like either Will Power, Scott Dixon or Simon Pagenaud would take the spoils, but a charging drive from Juan Pablo Montoya gave him his second win at Indianapolis, fifteen years after he last won the race back in 2000. That victory was "easy" he said, but this year, it was anything but easy for the Colombian.

Dixon and Pagenaud fight it out early on

As the green flag waved, Dixon lead the field away, and was trading places almost immediately with Power and Pagenaud, Tony Kanaan also in the mix, however the action was halted almost immediately after a collision with Takuma Sato and Saga Karam. Once the debris was cleared, the field got ready to go racing again, however the restart was waved off, after a coming together between Simona De Silvestro and Montoya.

Montoya was hit early on by Simonna De Silvestro

Under yellow, De Silvestro hit the rear of Montoya's car, taking off the rear right bumper. He pitted to get the rear of the car changed but it inevitably dropped him to 30th and last plast, De Silvestro one place ahead herself after pitting, and so began an incredible charge from Montoya that would result in him very soon being in contention for the win. 

Montoya was soon back in the mix, taking the fight to Penske team-mate Will Power

Montoya lost five seconds after running over his airlines during the pits but he was back on the same strategy as the leaders and was back in contention, the earlier pitstop almost being a blessing in disguise for him. He was soon fighting with Power, Dixon, and Pagenaud and Kanaan. Things though were about to go wrong for Kanaan and Pagenaud.

Tony Kanaan was right in the mix for much of the race, until a crash ended his way

Kanaan had been right in the mix along with his Ganassi team-mate Dixon, but as the race entered its final stages, Kanaan lost control of his Ganassi machine at spun into the wall. He had just made a pitstop and changed the setup of the car, but the sudden change in feel caught him by surprise. "We made a change at the last stop and it was apparently the wrong way to go" he remarked after his retirement. "I'm glad I'm OK. It's a very unfortunate thing to happen to me, but if I have to prove that we don't flip cars anymore, here it is for the critics. 

Marshall's clean up the mess from the Saavedra. Coletti and Hawksworth accident

It was a good point made by TK. After the accidents that had threatened to overshadow the event pre-race, none of the retirements/accidents in the race involved an airborne car. Stefano Coletti only got airborne after slamming into Sebastian Saavedra, who had already tangled with Jack Hawksworth, just over 15 laps from the end of the race.  "I have an ankle sprain and some bruising, but I'm putting everything behind me and trying to recover as quick as possible" said a disappointing Saavedra after the coming together. "Unfortunately,I have no idea what happened. I was the victim of a rookie."

Pagenaud lost his chance of victory after tagging the back of Dixon

Just before that three car pile up, things had gone wrong for Pagenaud. At the previous restart, with just 30 laps to go, he tapped the back of Dixon as he made a pass, damaging his front wing. He finished the race in 10th after recovering superbly from the unscheduled pitstop, but team owner Roger Penske was certain that Pagenaud had the best car of any of his guy's up to that point. "Early on, I think Simon had the best car of all of them" he said. "I think it would have been something if he'd been up there at the end, because he had the car to run up with Will, and he certainly had the car to run with Juan."

Power and Montoya exit pit-road as the race entered its final stages

With just 15 laps to go, it came down to a fight between Power, Montoya, Dixon and the other remaining Ganassi car of Charlie Kimball. Dixon faded as the laps ticked away and eventually fell back behind Kimball to 4th after initially holding the high ground, and getting very close to Montoya. Montoya and power duked it out and with three laps left, Montoya took the lead, and never looked back, Power lifting for a fleeting moment in turn e on the last lap. "Honestly, as soon as I lifted in turn 3, I knew it was over" Power admitted. "There's no way you're going to get him, no way."

Montoya took his second win at Indianpolis

Montoya spotted the lift immediately, and from that moment he knew he had the win in the bag. "By turn 4 he wasn't close enough. I was going 'Haha! I got this!'" said Montoya after he sealed the victory. "I was screaming, I was so happy!" It had been one hell of a race. He had been as far back as 30th, but came through it all to take an incredible victory. He was already in a very select group of Indy 500 and Monaco Grand Prix winners, something he shared with Graham Hill. After taking his second Indy 500 win, 15 years after his last one (a new record between Indy 500 victories), he enters his own unique club. Will we ever see a Monaco Grand Prix and two time Indy 500 winner? I doubt it.

Montoya celebrates the win with his team in victory lane

After the horrific accidents before the race (one which put James Hinchcliffe in hospital), IndyCar answered the critics with a thrilling contest, with drivers from two of its top teams, a battle we may not see again for a long time. Full race results are below;

The result also leaves Montoya with a very healthy 25 lead in the drivers standings;

This weekend see's the double header 'Dual in Detroit', where Montoya will try to extend his championship lead, and where Power, Dixon and Pagenaud will try to eat into that 25 point lead. Helio Castroneves, after a disappointing Indy 500 will be right in the as well, and keep and eye out for Graham Rahal! Until next time folks. Ciao.

The tower lights up green for the start of the race

Oh and one last thing...get well soon Hinch! Hope to see you back in a racing car soon.

James Hinchcliffe during practice. Get well soon Hinch!

All images copyright of the Verizon IndyCar Series