Sato wins 104th edition of Indianapolis 500
Third on the grid, Takuma Sato edged Scott Dixon to give RLL Racing a prestigious success, the Japanese’s previous success having been signed with Andretti Autosport. The team of Bobby Rahal and David Letterman is all the more thrilled as Graham Rahal has climbed to the third step of the podium.
In a race long dominated by Scott Dixon, the ex-F1 driver began to look like a serious contender for victory in the final quarter of the 104th edition of the American Classic. In the 158th lap, he took the lead on a regular basis, taking the upper hand over the five-time series champion, who continues to see the Brickyard resist him since his only success in 2008, but who substantially increases his lead in the series. general.
.@TakumaSatoRacer to the lead with less than 50 to go in the # Indy500!
TV: NBC
Stream: https://t.co/THKlb49aWT pic.twitter.com/jcefAr9MAh– Indy 500 on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) August 23, 2020
Dixon had however regained the upper hand over Sato at the end of his last refueling, on lap 170, but the Japanese speed was higher. Three laps later, the RLL driver thus definitely took the lead, and saw his success secured when the RLL Racing freelance writer, Spencer Pigot, caused a final neutralization on the 195th lap, after a spin ended violently at the level of the entrance to the pitlane. The Nippon could breathe, while battling in traffic against the latecomers, and Dixon still threatening.
Oh Damn Spencer Pigot
Pilot Ok # Indy500 pic.twitter.com/TiE1GUfjjz– Burgrid7 (@ Burgrid7) August 23, 2020
Before Sato, the New Zealander had mostly battled with Alexander Rossi. On the 102nd lap, the winner of the 2016 edition even took the lead, the start of an intense mano to mano between the two men who never ceased to take the lead.
This seemed to prefigure the finish of the race, but Rossi saw his efforts reduced to nothing following a poorly negotiated pit-stop, where he touched Takuma Sato’s car without damaging it when he came out of his pitbox. Penalized, the American of Andretti Autosport had to start again at the back of the peloton on the 129th lap. He would finally finish his race in the wall (144th lap).
It’s over for @AlexanderRossi.
Trying to race his way back to the front, he crashes out of the # Indy500 we @NBC: https://t.co/THKlb49aWT pic.twitter.com/MvINVIPrkO
– Indy 500 on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) August 23, 2020
25th party, Simon pagenaud (Team Penske) occupied the lead for a time (32nd to 45th lap), thanks to a staggered strategy, but he was never able to return to the streak of the leading drivers. Victim of contact with Ryan Hunter-Reay (132nd lap), the Poitevin was forced to return to the pit to change a damaged wing, and had to be content with 22nd place.
Author of an anonymous race, Fernando Alonso (McLaren SP) finished a small place ahead of the defending Frenchman.
Find in the issue 2275 of AUTOhebdo, available Monday evening in digital and Wednesday in newsstands, the analysis of the Indy 500 2020.
