What happened on the last lap of the Indy 500?
And on the last lap, a yellow flag came out for a crash toward the back of the field, and Ericsson won the 2022 Indy 500 under caution. Despite that, the final laps were beyond captivating:
Who died in the Indy 500 crash?
Jones died in the hospital about six hours after the crash, while Gray survived, having sustained a broken arm and internal injuries. Bill Denver and his riding mechanic Bob Hurst were killed on a warm-up lap in preparation for a qualifying run.
Who was leading at the restart of the Indy 500?
Johnson’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Ericsson, had the lead going into the restart, followed by Pato O’Ward, Tony Kanaan, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi. It was a wild restart, but Ericsson shot out front and aggressively weaved all over the track, as O’Ward charged after him and tried (but failed) to find the perfect spot to make a pass.
What happened to Smiley at the Indy 500 in 1980?
May 23, 1980. ^ Caleca, Vic (May 23, 1980). "Jeep rolls over race fan in 'Snake Pit,' killing him". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on 2018-07-31. ^ "Indy driver Smiley killed in qualifying at 185 mph (298 km/h)". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. May 16, 1982. ^ "Spectator killed when hit by tire flying off track".

Who Wrecked in last lap of Indy 500?
Leading the race in his first-ever Indy 500 on the final turn of the final lap, Hildebrand crashed into the wall with seconds to go, allowing Wheldon to come from behind and steal the victory.
Who refused to drink milk after winning Indy 500?
This year, the Indianapolis Star states that 26 of the 33 drivers in the Indy 500 field have requested whole milk, while six -- Helio Castroneves, Callum Ilott, Tony Kanaan, Sage Karam, David Malukas and Takuma Sato -- have requested 2%. Two-time Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya listed no preference.
Were there any wrecks at the Indy 500?
Jimmie Johnson wrecks on Lap 194 of the Indy 500, bringing out red flag. INDIANAPOLIS -- Turn 2 claimed another victim at the Indianapolis 500. Jimmie Johnson, who had just led a lap under pit cycles, clipped the apron on Lap 194 just a bit too much and spun around, hitting nearly head-on into the outside wall.
What happened at the end of the Indy 500?
Indy 500 results Chip Ganassi Racing's Marcus Ericsson took home his first Indy 500 victory, holding off Pato O'Ward in a fast and furious two-lap shootout at the end of the race.
Who drank orange juice after winning Indy 500?
Emmerson Fittipaldi, who owns an orange grove, drank orange juice in the winner's circle in 1993 before quickly chasing it with the traditional milk. Not for nothing, but that is a disgusting combination. Fittipaldi was booed for his crimes, but he got the last laugh.
How much money does the winner of the Indy 500 get?
Prize money: $2 million (est.) The calculus for the Indy 500 purse payout is complicated. A number of factors go into how the prize is divvied up, including the pole winner, laps led, and certain sponsorships.
Who crashed at Indy today?
Rinus VeeKay crashes out of Indy 500 from third on Lap 39.
Has anyone won the Indy 500 5 times?
With Castroneves' win in the 2021 Indy 500, he tied A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears for the most wins all-time in the history of the race with four....MORE: Here are the 5 closest Indianapolis 500 finishes in race history.DriverWinsWilbur Shaw1937, 1939, 1940Louis Meyer1928, 1933, 19364 more rows•May 29, 2022
Where did Jimmie Johnson finish in the Indianapolis 500?
Johnson finishes a IndyCar career-worst 28th, his lowest finish in 18 IndyCar races to date. Jimmie Johnson was involved in a late-race crash that left him with a 28th-place finish, his worst career showing in an IndyCar race. Photo: IndyCar / Joe Skibinski.
Can a race end under caution?
In NASCAR, if the race is still under caution with less than two laps to go, the race distance is extended. Once the caution ends, the green flag is waved, and competitors will race for two full laps.
Is the Indy 500 part of NASCAR?
The Indy 500 is part of the IndyCar series, and the open-wheeled cars that compete in these races are much lighter than their NASCAR counterparts. They can weigh less than 1,400 lbs., which is less than half of NASCAR's stock cars. The fastest recorded speed in an IndyCar competition stands at 236 mph.
How many laps is the Indianapolis 500?
200 laps2022 Indy 500: How many laps are run and how long is the Indianapolis 500? The race, which has been held since 1909, consists of 200 laps of the 2.5-mile oval.
Who was the rookie in the 1964 Indianapolis 500?
1964 — Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald. The 48th running of the Indianapolis 500 was one of the darkest days in race history. Dave MacDonald, a rookie, was moving through the field quickly late on the second lap when his car spun coming out of the final turn. The car hit the inside wall, causing an explosion that sent the car careering across ...
What happened to the car that flipped in the third turn?
Bedard was coming through the third turn when his car plowed violently into the inside wall and split into pieces with Bedard still in the cockpit. The car flipped end over end several times before stopping in the grassy infield. Track workers eventually got Bedard into an ambulance.
What happened to Sneva's car?
The contact sent Sneva’s car airborne and into the catch fence as it caught fire. When Sneva’s burning car landed on the track, it tumbled side over side before rolling to a stop in the back straight. Somehow, Sneva managed to climb out of the cockpit without help and was not seriously injured.
What happened to Danny Ongais?
With television cameras and crews still explaining how Rick Mears and six of his crew members were seriously burned in a pit fire, Danny Ongais’ frightful crash on Lap 63 caused even more confusion. The original Flyin’ Hawaiian was traveling at about 210 mph when he hit the outside wall in the third turn and eventually rolled to a stop with his car in flames. Safety workers shielded television viewers from the scary scene by parking in front of the car with Ongais still seated in the cockpit as the air filled with white smoke. Debris landed in the stands, injuring three track workers. Ongais was later diagnosed with serious leg injuries but started six more times at Indianapolis and remains the only Indy starter from America’s 50th state.
What happened to Tony Bettenhausen?
Two years later, Bettenhausen tried to help out an old friend by testing Paul Russo’s struggling car with tragic consequences. In the front straight, Bettenhausen lost control of Russo’s car and slammed into the outside wall. It rolled 325 feet, snapping metal poles and ripping off the 3-foot high fencing before it became entangled in steel cables and burst into flames. Series officials determined the crash was caused by a bolt that fell off, allowing the front axle to twist and forcing the car into the wall.
How high did Bettenhausen's car slam?
In the front straight, Bettenhausen lost control of Russo’s car and slammed into the outside wall. It rolled 325 feet, snapping metal poles and ripping off the 3-foot high fencing before it became entangled in steel cables and burst into flames.
Why did Al Keller pull his hand brakes?
When Rodger Ward lost control of his car because of a broken axle on Lap 57, Al Keller pulled his hand brake to avoid a collision. Keller’s car veered back onto the track and plowed into Johnny Boyd, who skidded between Ward and the wall — and directly into the path of Vukovich.
Who was the first driver to die in the Indianapolis 500?
Floyd Roberts was the next driver at the Indy 500 to die in 1939, followed by Shorty Cantlon in 1947. In 1953, Carl Scarborough became the first driver to be killed from heat exhaustion. Some believe that Scarborough may have inhaled CO2 while crews were putting out flames from the car with a fire extinguisher, which could have been the actual cause of death.
Who died in the 1919 Indianapolis 500?
Louis LeCocq & Arthur Thurman (1919) The 1919 Indy 500 claimed two lives. The first was Arthur Thurman, whose car turned over on lap forty-four, which killed him instantly. Then Louis LeCocq was turned over on lap ninety-six, which caused the fuel tank to rupture and burst into flames.
How did Bill Spence die?
He died en route to the hospital from a fractured skull. Four years later, both Mark Billman and Lester Sprangler died in 1933.
How did Scott Brayton die?
Most recently, driver Scott Brayton, who had won the pole position, died due to a skull fracture sustained during a practice run while testing a back-up car in 1996.
How many people can fill the Indianapolis 500?
The Indianapolis 500 is one of the biggest events in auto racing each year. More than 257,000 people can fill the seats outside of the 2.5-mile oval, while another 130,000 can pack into the infield, making for a potential capacity of roughly 400,000.
Who was the car that Johnny Hannon crashed in?
Clay Weatherly (1935) In 1935, Clay Weatherly was driving the same car that Johnny Hannon had fatally crashed in ten days earlier during testing. Weatherly went flying into and over the wall in turn four and was already pronounced dead when rescue crews arrived.
What happened to Bill Vukovich?
One of the most heart-wrenching accidents in history happened in 1955 when Bill Vukovich entered that year’s edition of the Indy 500 as the two-time reigning champion. Vukovich was leading the race when Rodger Ward spun his car coming out of turn two. His car wound up hitting and going over the outer wall, sending it into a high-speed cartwheel outside the track. He would die of a basilar skull fracture before help could reach him.
Who was the spectator who crashed the Indianapolis 500?
Spectators Howard H. Jolliff, 20, of Franklin, Indiana, and James West, 38, of Indianapolis, were also killed by the crashed car. Following another accident, the race was abandoned after 235 miles. Howard Jolliff. Spectator.
Who was the first person to die in the Indianapolis 500?
Sam Dickson was the riding mechanic for Arthur Greiner and was the first person killed during the Indianapolis 500. On lap twelve, one of the front wheels came off the American Simplex car Greiner was driving, causing him to lose control and both men to be thrown from the car.
How many fatalities were there in the Indianapolis 500?
All fatalities are related to Championship Car races at the speedway unless otherwise noted. 58 of the 73 fatalities occurred as part of the Indianapolis 500 (including the race, qualifying, and practice).
How many people died at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway?
The following is a list of 73 individuals killed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 42 drivers, one motorcyclist, 13 riding mechanics, and 17 others including a pit crew member, track personnel, and spectators. All fatalities are related to Championship Car races at the speedway unless otherwise noted.
What was the temperature at the Speedway in 2003?
On the morning of October 22, Renna was scheduled to conduct a tire test at the Speedway. On that morning, it was about 50 °F (10 °C) air temperature, and the track surface cool.
What happened to the car that was pulled into the pits?
According to speedway historian Donald Davidson, when Scarborough pulled into the pits, smoke or a small fire may have broken out on the car, which crews quickly doused with fire extinguishers. In the process, Scarborough may have inhaled CO 2, which may have contributed to, or been the actual cause of death.
How many people were injured in the Indianapolis shooting?
Two spectators in the infield, Fred H. Linder, 36, of Indianapolis, and William C. Craig, 37, of Zionsville, Indiana, were killed, and as many as 82 were injured, when a homemade scaffolding collapsed.
Who was the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500?
Wheldon became the first driver to ever win the race while leading only its final lap, and that would be the final lap he ever ran in the Indy 500. He became just the second driver to win the race via a last-lap pass, with the first being Hornish over Andretti. To this day, Hildebrand has never avenged his defeat.
How long was the 2011 Indianapolis 500?
The 2011 race was the 95th running of the 200-lap “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) oval in Speedway, Indiana, and it marked the race’s 100th anniversary.
Has Hildebrand ever avenged his defeat?
To this day, Hildebrand has never avenged his defeat. He has competed in the race in every year since, but his top finish, save for this heartbreaking second place result, is a sixth place finish in 2016.

1955 — Bill Vukovich
1961 — Tony Bettenhausen
- Tony Bettenhausen, the fearless driver from Illinois, was every bit as well known for winning races and championships as flipping cars and surviving close calls. He retired three times before a 1959 Indy crash sent his car sliding 33 feet into the infield upside down. Two years later, Bettenhausen tried to help out an old friend by testing Paul Russo’s struggling car with tragic consequences. I…
1964 — Eddie Sachs and Dave Macdonald
- The 48th running of the Indianapolis 500 was one of the darkest days in race history. Dave MacDonald, a rookie, was moving through the field quickly late on the second lap when his car spun coming out of the final turn. The car hit the inside wall, causing an explosion that sent the car careering across the track and directly into the path of Eddie...
1973 — Art Pollard, Salt Walther, and Swede Savage
- Speculation about cracking 200 mph vanished during a month everyone wanted to forget. Driver Art Pollard was killed in a horrific pole-day qualifying crash. As the race started, Salt Walther and Jerry Grant touched wheels, launching Walther’s car into the catch fence . The impact broke a support pole and showered the crowd with debris. Walther’s car pin-wheeled down the front strai…
1975 — Tom Sneva
- Tom Sneva became the talk of the town in ’75 when he and rookie Eldon Rasmussen touched wheels in the second turn. The contact sent Sneva’s car airborne and into the catch fence as it caught fire. When Sneva’s burning car landed on the track, it tumbled side over side before rolling to a stop in the back straight. Somehow, Sneva managed to climb out of the cockpit without hel…
1981 — Rick Mears and Danny Ongais
- With television cameras and crews still explaining how Rick Mears and six of his crew members were seriously burned in a pit fire, Danny Ongais’ frightful crash on Lap 63 caused even more confusion. The original Flyin’ Hawaiian was traveling at about 210 mph when he hit the outside wall in the third turn and eventually rolled to a stop with his car in flames. Safety workers shielde…
1982 — Gordon Smiley
- Nebraska native Gordon Smiley was not the best-known driver attempting to qualify2. But with the pole-winning speed jumping nearly 6½ mph from 1981, everyone including the 36-year-old Smiley was pushing the limits on Pole Day. Smiley never got a chance to show what he could do. As his car sped through the third turn on the second warmup lap in qualifying, Smiley tried to save his c…
1982 — Kevin Cogan
- Kevin Cogan’s second Indy start came between Rick Mears and A.J. Foyt on the front row. When the green flag waved, Cogan accelerated and his car veered hard to the right, turning into Foyt, and then hard to the left, taking out Mario Andretti on the inside of Row 2. Incredibly, Cogan smashed the chances of two fan favorites in one unforgettable sequence (18:30). Then the fireworks beg…
1984 — Patrick Bedard
- Patrick Bedard, a former writer for “Car and Driver” magazine, decided to give the Indy 500 a second chance. Bedard was coming through the third turn when his car plowed violently into the inside wall and split into pieces with Bedard still in the cockpit. The car flipped end over end several times before stopping in the grassy infield. Track workers eventually got Bedard into an …
1991 — Mark Dismore
- During 1991 practices, Mark Dismore was coming out of the fourth turn at more than 215 mph when his car went to the right and backed into the inside wall. If the crash ended there, Dismore wouldn’t even be close to making the list. Instead, the car rebounded and slammed hard into the attenuator at the end of pit lane. As debris flew, Dismore’s car caught fire and slid dangerously t…