To me, Indy isn’t Indy without an Andretti racing. Mario Andretti’s grandson Marco’s debut in 2006 and it was so cool, as a teen, seeing someone that young racing at the “Greatest Spectacle In Racing”.
With the famed race running this Sunday, we asked readers what their favorite Indy moments from over the years were. These were their answers.
I think actually my favorite moment was when I saw Scott Dixon get out of his car in 2017. That horrific crash happened right in front of me, and I saw it from start to finish. I was so worried that I had just witnessed the death of one of the sport’s greats. The relief from the crowd when he emerged was palpable.
Suggested by: shop-teacher
By far, the Indy 505 of 1995.
Suggested by: Margin Of Error
2011 when Hildebrand leading hit the wall in the final turn allowing Wheldon to pass for the win.
Suggested by: Andy Huhn (Facebook)
I took my wife to the 500 in 1991 for her birthday. That was the first year A. J. Foyt retired. We’re Houstonians so we look at A. J. Foyt as a legend here in Space City. But we’ve got NOTHING on what they think of him in Indianapolis! We went to all the parties, parades, etc. that week and were simply blown away by his stature in Indy. He qualified for the front row and when the green flagged dropped, we couldn’t help ourselves. We just screamed “GO A.J.! GO A.J.! GO A.J.! GO A.J.! GO A.J.! GO A.J.! GO A.J.!” at the tops of our lungs. I still get goosebumps thinking about it.
Suggested by: Telecaster1959
Being there when Rossi won. Standing at the exit of turn four where he ran out of gas. That was my first 500 and it was incredible.
Suggested by: Eric Sean Delany (Facebook)
Probably Alexander Rossi in 2019, disproving the expression “Nobody remembers who got second”
Has one of the fastest cars, but gets behind due to pit problems and gets visibly piiiised. He then proceeds to blitz the field and duel with Pagenaud swapping the lead in the final laps. Great race.
Suggested by: thatguy1
Wheldon 2011. Was watching with my dad and started later to DVR skip commercials. We wanted to order a pizza, my dad opens the laptop and yells “Oh shit!” he saw the homepage headlines and watched the last laps waiting for it to happen. He was still shocked at the finish.
Suggested by: Drew Poulous
I love the Indy 500 so much. A lot of great memories and fun, but for me, watching Dario Franchitti finally win it in 2007 was so magical. Even though it was rain shortened, seeing him get over the hump was awesome.
He’s such a great guy and I was rooting for him.
Suggested by: Slider6294
2016 when I got to go to the 100th running.
It was fucking awesome.
And no amount of watching these things on TV can prepare you for how goddamn fast they are going.
Suggested by: WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAthenGTInowA4