For the all-important Indianapolis-500 Millennium Group

It’s time to celebrate America’s Greatest Race. This Sunday IndyCar Series Celebrating the 107th edition of the Indianapolis 500, one of the oldest events in motorsports in which 33 aspiring drivers do their best to win the coveted Borg Warner Trophy, a silver trophy bearing the faces of all winners.

Mexican Patrick Oward, the indisputable figure in this tournament and one of the favorites to win the championship, also starts with chances to win the prestigious race. Pato will start on the second row in fifth place, hoping to improve on what he has done in the previous three starts.

Close to glory

When O’Ward made his IndyCar debut in 2019, he didn’t qualify for the Indy 500 with Team Carlin, but he made it the following year, already as a contender for Arrow McLaren. In his first start, he started from 15th and finished sixth, while Japanese Takuma Sato, who was racing for Rahal-Letterman Lanegan Racing, took the win – his second, along with Andretti Autosport in 2017 – by only 57 thousandths . New Zealander Scott Dixon. The man from Monterey took home the award for best rookie in this race.

In 2021, Pato started 12th and finished 4th, almost a second behind Brazilian Helio Castroneves, who triumphed in his No. 06 Meyer Schunk Racing car, barely half a second behind Spaniard Alex Ballou, who finished said season as champion. IndyCar.

Last year, Patricio gave his best performance in Indianapolis 500. He improved from qualifying, bringing him to the Fast 12 and starting 7th on the grid. He took the provisional lead on lap 32 as the first pit stop began, pitted three laps later and dropped back to fifth.

His good pace allowed him to move into the group of leaders mid-race, until recovering from a hard pit stop on lap 144, when he dropped to 11th after problems with his upper left tire. But he didn’t take long to recover and take back the lead, as he ran into the last 25 laps of Swede Marcus Ericsson, who defended well in his No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing car and held off O’Ward (+1.7929).

highest score

Pato is the seventh Mexican to participate in the Indianapolis 500. In 1981, Josele Garza (Garza Racing driver with a Penske chassis) made Indy 500 history as the first to qualify for the legendary race. He was also motivated to start from sixth and led 13 laps, until a mechanical problem forced him to retire on lap 138. He raced seven times between that year and 1987, with a tenth-place finish in 1984.

For many years, he held the record as the youngest driver to start and lead an Indy 500, at 19 years, 2 months, and 9 days. But AJ Foyt VI (exactly 19 years old) took the record from him in 2003.

Hector Alfonso Reback (Forsythe Racing) joined Josele for the 1982 edition, the only year the two Mexicans raced together. He qualified fifteenth and competed in the top eight, but a fire in his No. 52 car forced his retirement; In the rating it is placed in the thirteenth position.

In 1989, Bernard Jordan qualified 20th with Andale Racing and had a memorable 9th-place finish which was instrumental in him being named CART PPG Indy Car World Series Rookie of the Year. He appeared again in 1991 with AJ Foyt Enterprises, finishing 18th. A crash in 1990 kept him from participating that year.

Carlos Guerrero raced in 1995 from the 29th position, but was unable to live the desired experience when he crashed at the start and finished last, with no laps whatsoever; Adrián Fernández competed twice in CART (1994, 1995) and a couple more in the IRL (2004 and 2005), the penultimate participation being the most notable, with a seventh-place finish and three laps to go, as rain affected his strategy.

Engaged to Michel Jordan Jr. in 1996 (first edition with IRL) and in 2012, with Current IndyCar. His debut was his best as he was only 19 when he started from eighth and finished 13th for Team Skandia.

Grille came out

driver (country) team

1. a. Palu (Spain) Chip Ganassi

2. R. VeeKay (PB) Ed Carpenter

3. F. Rosenqvist (Su) Arrow McLaren

4. S. Ferrucci (USA) AJ Foyt

5. Beward (MX) Arrow McLaren

6. S Dixon (New Zealand) Chip Ganassi

7. Arrow Rossi (EU) Arrow McLaren

8. Te Sato (Japan) Chip Ganase

9. T Kanaan (Brazil) Arrow McLaren

10. M. Erickson (Su) Chip Ganassi

keys

Pedro Rodriguez

Although he was the first Mexican to seek qualification, he failed in his three attempts (1963, 1964 and 1967).

Mario Dominguez

He also sought a permit in 2008 with Pacific Coast Motorsports, but was one of four drivers who missed a demotion.

Numbers

4

Victories have AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and Hélio Castroneves in this race, the first winners in Indy 500 history.

52

The United States Airmen share 74 victories; Followed by the United Kingdom (8 victories, 5 pilots) and Brazil (8 victories, 4 pilots)

DAO