Photo Credit: Chris Owens/IndyCar
Will Power can now say he’s won it all in the Verizon IndyCar Series. The 37-year-old from Australia has won the 2018 Indianapolis 500 after dominating the last 300 miles of the race.
In total, Power led 59 of 200 laps to take the win.
The race was full of tumultuous conditions. With track temperatures reaching more than 130 degrees at times and a touchier aero kit than in years past, drivers had to fight hard to keep their cars heading in the right direction.
James Davison and Takuma Sato were the first two drivers to exit the race. Davison who struggled with handling throughout the early portion of the race. On Lap 46, Davison was more than 20 MPH off the pace while driving in the middle of the groove in turn two. With nowhere to go, Sato collided with the slower car and the two crashed, ending both their days.
Danica Patrick, who was competing in her final Indianapolis 500, crashed out early as well. Her day ended when she lost control of her car on Lap 67. She would finish 30th in her last hurrah.
Ed Jones, Sebastien Bourdais, Helio Castroneves, Sage Karam and Tony Kanaan’s days also ended early due to accidents.
Meanwhile, as the race hit the final stages, a late-race caution due to Kanaan’s crash brought Oriol Servia, Stefan Wilson and Jack Harvey to the front of the pack.
When the race restarted with seven laps to go, Wilson, the brother of late Justin Wilson, propelled in front of Servia to take the lead. Pulling away from the rest of the leaders, he held on for a few laps before needing to pit for fuel with only three laps to go. Power would take the lead and not look back, winning his first Indianapolis 500 for Roger Penske.
Ed Carpenter, the Indiana native who started on pole, would finish second. It was his best finish in the Indy 500 and first podium finish in the race.
Scott Dixon was third followed by Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Simon Pagenaud, Carlos Munoz, Josef Newgarden, Robert Wickens and Graham Rahal.
Wilson, Harvey and Servia who appeared to be in the catbird seat at the end of the race, finished 15th, 16th and 17th respectively.
