Hey everyone, I’m back with another story. Today’s about something that happened a few years back, in 2017 to be exact. I’m a big racing fan, and the Indy 500 is like the Super Bowl for me. So, I was super stoked about the 2017 race and had to see who won.
My Race Day Routine
First, I looked up the past winners, you know, to get a feel for who might be strong this year. I found out that Helio Castroneves had won it three times already, in 2001, 2002, and 2009. That guy’s a legend! And there was Juan Pablo Montoya, who won twice, in 2000 and 2015. Scott Dixon had won before too. These guys were definitely on my radar.
Checking the Lineup
Next, I checked out the starting lineup for 2017. Scott Dixon, driving the No. 9 Camping World Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, was leading the field to the green flag. That was a big deal, seeing him at the front.
I heard that the 101st Running of the Indy 500 was going to be wild, with nearly half the drivers potentially getting knocked out. That just added to the excitement. I was glued to my screen.
Finding the Winner
Everyone was talking about Fernando Alonso, but as the race went on, things got crazy. Then, in a crazy turn of events, Takuma Sato became the first Japanese driver to win the Indianapolis 500! That was huge, and honestly, a bit unexpected. His best race of his career to date ended prematurely.
I remember reading about a past race where Dario Franchitti won under a yellow flag, and that this moment has defined Sato’s career since. Winning under yellow is always controversial, but a win’s a win, right?
I also found that Indy 500 has a $4.2 Million Man: Josef Newgarden earns record prize for second consecutive win at Brickyard. And I learned about the whole milk-drinking tradition for the winner, which started way back. But in 1993, Emerson Fittipaldi drank orange juice instead after winning because he had a stake in the Brazilian citrus drink industry. That was a funny story.
One team swept the front row for the Indianapolis 500 for the second time, as Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin.
It was a wild ride, and seeing Takuma Sato take the checkered flag was something I’ll never forget. That’s my Indy 500 story for 2017. What a race!
- Looked up past winners: Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon.
- Checked the 2017 starting lineup: Scott Dixon on pole.
- Followed the race: Lots of drama, Fernando Alonso in the spotlight.
- Found the winner: Takuma Sato makes history!
- Read some fun facts: Milk tradition and Emerson Fittipaldi’s orange juice moment.
Thanks for joining me on this trip down memory lane. Stay tuned for more stories!
