Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) won his first Indianapolis 500 this Sunday in a race marked by multiple accidents that delayed the conclusion and which was decided in the last two laps, with Spanish Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi) fourth after leaving the 'pole' and as one of the big losers when receiving an impact in the pits of the Dutch Rinus Veekay (Ed Carpenter).

The final red flag of the day was displayed with two laps to go and resumed with Swede Marcus Ericsson (Chip Ganassi) first, Newgarden second and Santino Ferrucci (AJ Foyt) third. A mini sprint race in which the most practical was the North American to savor the glory.

Newgarden had the patience to avoid possible contact, and did not attack until the last lap. The strategy worked out for him and he crossed the Indianapolis brick line first.

The champion celebrated with the fans: “I always wanted to go to the stands in Indianapolis to celebrate with the people, it's a dream that I wanted to live sometime in my life. This venue is incredible, as is the energy of the Indianapolis crowd.”

Ericsson was about to repeat success and win for the second year in a row. After him, Ferrucci completed the podium, who was one of the great cheerleaders, even leading several laps, and obtained third place, which is the best result in the 500 miles for an AJ Foyt since the year 2000.

PALOU, THE GREAT HURT

The fourth classified was Palou, who dominated in the first half of the race, squeezing the speed of his car to the maximum. The strategy allowed him to compete face to face with two McLarens, that of the Mexican Pato O'Ward and the Swede Felix Rosenqvist, who took over the lead during the first half.

Taking advantage of a massive entry into the pits for a yellow flag before lap number one hundred, Veekay (Ed Carpenter) lost control of his car and hit the Spaniard hard against the wall, forcing him to change the front wing and wheels, and restart from the backward positions.

Alex Palou talks to a member of his team. Darron CummingsAP

“From that moment we had to change the mentality and start from scratch. I had some luck with the yellow ones to be able to come back. It was hard for everyone,” Palou commented as he got out of his car.

Little by little he was recovering positions until he slipped into the top five, and in those last two laps he managed to overtake the McLaren of the American Alexander Rossi.

An unthinkable comeback had it not been for the great work of the team in setting up the vehicle. “We had one of the best cars today. We don't finish fourth if it's not because we have this car,” Palou said.

Palou's fourth place at least helps him maintain the IndyCar championship lead ahead of Marcus Ericsson and Pato O'Ward. Lifting the second title now becomes the great objective of the Spanish once the 500 miles escape another year. The next race will be in just one week in Detroit.

ACCIDENT AFTER ACCIDENT

It was a race marked, one more year, by accidents. But in this edition especially focused on the last laps, which caused the delay in the outcome.

In the pit area there were also many unusual contacts, with vehicles skidding when exiting or entering and taking rivals ahead.

The most important accident took place just fourteen laps to go, when Rosenqvist collided with the wall and lost control of the car, ending up in the middle of the track.. It couldn't be helped by Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Autosport), who literally flew his car upside down in terrifying footage.

The pilot had to open his helmet visor to be able to breathe while in the background the sparks that jumped due to the contact of the car with the track could be seen. Fortunately he was unharmed after starring in the big scare of the day.

A mini-competition of only fourteen laps was then resumed, nine specifically after the green flag with O'Ward leading, Ericsson second and Newgarden third.. The American went first in a great maneuver in the first corner, the Swede second.

There was another accident just two laps after the green flag, O'Ward crashed his McLaren trying to pass Ericsson on the inside. The Argentine Canapino (Juncos) could not avoid him and crashed against the McLaren, the two Latino drivers were out of the race at the same time.

A very frustrated O'Ward addressed the media coming out of his medical checkup. “It was nice to be there, I was going for it,” said the Mexican who returns to stay for another year with honey on his lips.