Dan Wheldon wins Indy 500 as rookie J.R. Hildebrand crashes on the last turn just a few hundred yards from the finish line. Hildebrand manages to coast to the checkered flag to take second.
Anything Can Happen At the INDY 500. Like Crashing Seconds From the Finish
Wheldon, skillfully driving the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport car, won the race in 2005 and became an emotional second-time winner due to Hildebrand's unfortunate accident. Of course, J.R. Hildebrand's misfortune was Wheldon's good fortune as the unbelievable crash occurred when it appeared that Hildebrand was certain to win the Indy 500.
For the rookie Hildebrand the 100th anniversary race of the Indianapolis 500 will be a bitter memory. He only needed to make it through one more turn to take the checkered flag and win his Indy debut. It appeared that he got a little too high going into turn four and the car suddenly lost traction and slammed into the wall. He was lucky to finish second. The car was badly damaged but the point of impact was close enough to the finish line so that the car's forward momentum carried it to a second-place finish.
Dan Wheldon Takes a Deserved Victory in a Surprising Finish
For Dan Wheldon it had to be a totally unexpected victory. Not that it was undeserved as Wheldon drove a clean and smart race. Wheldon displayed a great deal of emotion while getting out his car and taking his sip of milk at the victory podium. Winning the Indy 500 is a very big deal in auto racing, especially when it looks like on the last lap there is no chance for victory but you find yourself on the top spot of the winner's podium.
Dan Wheldon is probably in a happy but almost disbelieving state about his victory. For the rookie J.R. Hildebrand it is going to be a long sad trip back to his California home. He is going to hate watching the video of his last lap crash that has probably already been posted to YouTube where it will remain forever.
Source:
- IndyStar.Com " Dan Wheldon wins Indy 500 when leader JR Hildebrand crashes on last lap "
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