May 2009
146 posts
6:05 - Helio: Roger Penske “only smiles two times. On his birthday, and when he wins the Indy 500.”
6:04 - Check out our photos, capturing race action including Helio climbing the fence: http://htxt.it/TYju
5:59 - Finally the post-race press conference begins as Roger Penske, Tim Cindric and Helio Castroneves make it to the Media Center.
5:10 - Donald Davidson: Tagliani was the highest finishing rookie (11th) but does he win Rookie of the Year when he didn’t qualify the car?
5:08 - Helio: “This is the best month of May ever. Wow. Three. I can’t believe it.” #indy500
5:03 - Great traffic tip from Donald Davidson: pedestrian traffic will be allowed to clear the area first before vehicles. #indy500
5:01 - Country music your thing? @500coverage photographer Ernie Mills has the drive-home show on HANK-FM: http://htxt.it/a9UA
5:00 - As IMS Network coverage ends, we invite you to tune to 1070 The Fan for continuing coverage. http://htxt.it/C9wI
4:53 - Vitor Meira has been transferred to Methodist Hospital for more evaluation. Awake, alert and moving all extremities -good news there.
4:39 - Helio drinks the ice cold milk in Victory Circle, and is in tears as the post-race interviews begin.
4:33 - Helio Castroneves has won the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500. The crowd salutes the 3-time winner!
4:32 - 2 to go, and Helio’s lead is now over 2.3 seconds on the field. #indy500
4:32 - 3 laps to go for Helio Castroneves and what would be his 3rd #indy500 win.
4:30 - 4 laps to go. This is Helio’s race unless something unexpected happens.
4:28 - 6 laps to go. Helio still a comfortable lead -nearly 2 seconds - over Wheldon. Then Danica, Bell, Power. #indy500
4:26 - 10 laps to go. Helio, Wheldon, Danica, Bell, Power, Dixon, Dario, Carpenter, Tracy, Mutoh. #indy500
4:23 - HUGE lead for Helio, with the rest of the field trying desperately to catch up. Just 13 laps to go.
4:21 - Hideki Mutoh running 10th into the grass but saves it and gets back on the track!
4:21 - Back to green. Great battle between Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick for 2nd.
4:20 - 182 laps complete. Helio, Wheldon, Danica, Power, Bell, Dixon, Dario, Carpenter, Tracy, Mutoh top 10.
4:18 - Mike Conway, Sarah Fisher, John Andretti come in for fuel - plenty of it. At tail end of lead lap, if others falter they’ll be ready.
4:17 - Briscoe dips into pits for splash-and-go, only one of the frontrunners to do so. He short-fueled last time to gain track position.
4:16 - Paul Page on IMS Network: Penske, Ganassi not afraid to gamble with their strategies in the final laps of the #indy500
4:14 - 87 degrees at the Speedway, warmer than anyone predicted. Track temp 105. Only rain in area is now southeast of Indianapolis.
4:12 - Matos and Meira both out of their cars, stretcher being used for Vitor, hopefully just as precaution. Welders repairing the wall.
4:09 - This sets up a sprint to the finish. Who comes in, and who stays out? 25 laps remaining, Helio, Briscoe, Wheldon, Danica, Power top 5
4:07 Matos’ left front hits Meira’s right rear, sending both into the wall at entrance to Turn 1. Heavy damage to both cars. #indy500
4:06 - Contact! Vitor Meira and Rafa Matos, running 19th and 20th at the end of the lead lap, hit hard, especially Meira.
4:03 - IMS official stats at lap 160/400 miles: Avg speed 151.695. 6 lead changes. 46 caution laps. Fast lap 221.311 by Power on lap 159.
4:01 - 21 cars on the lead lap as we go back to green with 167 laps complete. #indy500
4:00 - Reset at 165 laps: Helio, Briscoe, Wheldon, Danica, Bell, Power, Dixon, Carpenter, Dario, Conway. Great run for the rookie, in 10th.
3:56 - Last pit stops? Everyone in. Helio out 1st, then Briscoe gets out 2nd, a huge jump for the 6.
3:53 - Caution! Justin Wilson spins in turn one, battling with Alex Lloyd for position Everyone else avoids the 18, which brushes the wall.
3:50 - Sometimes we’ve gotta move at 220+ in the Media Center to keep up….
3:50 - correction, moving too fast. Power in 2nd place, with Helio on the point.
3:50 - Will Power is now around Scott Dixon and into the lead. Now Penskes are 1-2 at the #indy500, and teammate Ryan Briscoe is up to 8th.
3:45 - 150 laps, three-quarters of the way. Helio, Dixon, Power, Wheldon, Bell, Carpenter, Danica, Tracy, Briscoe, Conway top 10. #indy500
3:42 - Ryan Briscoe ordered to fall behind Danica Patrick after something happened between them on the restart. #indy500
3:41 - Bell just turned a lap of 220.987, and even more impressive Helio’s 220.836 at the front.
3:39 - Great battles as first Wheldon, then Bell both get around Paul Tracy.
3:38 - Helio into the lead into turn one on the restart.
3:35 - Reset the lineup after the stops: Dixon, Helio, Power, Tracy, Wheldon, Bell, Carpenter, Franchitti, Danica, and Briscoe back to 10th.
3:31 - IMS official stats at 120 laps/300 miles: Avg speed 146.824. 5 lead changes. 37 caution laps. Fast lap Helio 220.836 on lap 95.
3:30 - How about that? Vitor was on fire, and 20 seconds later he’s back on the track. Only one word for that: wow.
3:29 - Fire in the pits for Vitor Meira’s 14, the crew puts it out, and Vitor is OK and gets back on track!
3:28 - Problems for Franchitti leaving his pit box and he ends up losing a lot of spots.
3:25 - It’s amazing how many of our new followers today are brand-new Twitter users; we’re their very first follow. Thanks for signing up!
3:24 - Caution as Nelson Philippe brushes the wall at exit of Turn 4. 132 laps down, 68 to go.
3:16 - 120 laps, 300 miles. Dixon, Dario, Power, Helio, Matos, Wheldon, Bell, Carpenter, Tracy, Danica, Tagliani, Meira, John Andretti.