The 500-mile marathon came down to a 2.5-mile sprint, and it was Josef Newgarden who had just a little bit more than defending race champion Marcus Ericsson. Newgarden got a tremendous run on Ericsson at the exit of Turn 2 and down the back straight, and he powered away to win the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500.
It is Newgarden's first Indy 500 win, to go along with series titles in 2017 and 2019, and the 19th for Team Penske.
Behind them was Santino Ferrucci, who held off a hard-charging Alex Palou to claim the final podium spot, followed by Alexander Rossi, Scott Dixon, Takuma Sato, Conor Daly, Colton Herta and Rinus VeeKay.
So caught up in the moment was Newgarden that he slipped between the catch fence and the wall, went into the stands and celebrated with the fans.
"I have always wanted to go into the crowd, and if [this] was ever going to happen I wanted to do it," Newgarden said.
The drama was set up by a series of accidents and red flag stoppages over the final 50 laps of the race. Each time on the restart, the leading car was jumped by the trailing car in second, and the final restart with one lap to go was no different.
For the entire month of May, it was Chip Ganassi Racing and Arrow McLaren SP that put up times and speeds that left most thinking they were the teams to beat. It was looking like that was going to be the case until the second restart of a red flag sequence, when the Arrow McLaren of Pato O'Ward got clipped by the Chip Ganassi racer of Ericsson's and went into the wall with nine laps to go. Time and scoring let the field go around a few times before deciding to red flag the race for a third time with only two laps left to go. That meant the field restarted in the pits and came around once and had one flying lap to finish things up.
"There were not enough laps to go to do what we did," Ericsson said later. "I don't think it was safe to restart the race out of the pits on cold tires with half the field still trying to get out on the track as we go green. I don't think it's the right way to end the race."
It didn't help that Ericsson was also the leader, and on every restart the leader was pretty much a sitting duck for the cars behind him.
"I think the cars, with the aero spec we have, it was hard to lead. We've seen it all month, that it's hard to keep the lead. Last year, there was just a little bit less drag … I knew it was going to be almost impossible for me to keep the lead."
But try the Swede did, and it looked like he got the jump on Newgarden as the cars took the green flag and headed into Turn 1.
"I got going really early and that I caught him by surprise, and I had him going into [Turn] 1," Ericsson said. "But I just couldn't hold off Josef on the back straight. He's a worthy champion, and congratulations to Josef and Team Penske, but it's hard to swallow. It's tough."
Ferrucci and Tony Kanaan, who finished 16th in his final Indy 500, thought it was the right call.
"I don't mind what IndyCar did. I think they did a good job," Ferrucci said. "I think Marcus has his opinion, as he finished second. Finishing third … that was just tough because there was nothing we could do but just watch."
Kanaan was more philosophical.
"The reality is this: 32 guys are pissed and one guy is happy," he said with a smile. "I mean, do you really want to finish this race under yellow, with all these people watching? For me, it was the right call.
"And for Josef, him being with the Captain [team owner Roger Penske's nickname], that's a lot of pressure right there that's gone. It was just a few years ago that all his teammates had won the 500 and he hadn't. Well, that's it. He made it. He's a well-deserved champion."
Newgarden echoed those sentiments later and said, "I wanted to win it so bad. They look at you like you're a failure when you don't win it. I was trying to stay locked in [at the finish], but I was all pure emotion. I can't talk highly enough of the team. It takes so long to get to this one moment. We are going to enjoy it tonight."
GREEN-GREEN-GREEN!
Ericsson pulls out, Newgarden can't close on him. Down the back straight and Newgarden gets a great run, he's past Ericsson and he does it!
It's Josef Newgarden as the winner of the 107th Indianapolis 500, Marcus Ericsson second, Santino Ferrucci third.
Getting ready to go again.
The field will come around once, leaving one lap at the green.
Timing and scoring still sorting out the remainder of the field.
Again, it's $420,000 to Ericsson if he goes back-to-back at the Indianapolis 500.
Timing and scoring adjusts the grid to show Ericsson as the leader but moves Newgarden to second and Ferrucci to third, Rossi fourth.
O'Ward, after being released from the infield care center, on the pass by Ericsson: "I got down to the apron and gave him room, and he squeezed me more. I won't forget this. ... Next time he comes with me."
This is going to be interesting. The race will probably restart with only ONE lap to go, and if it plays out like the other restarts, Ericsson is a sitting duck to Ferrucci and Rossi.
Timing and scoring presently shows Ericsson, Ferrucci and Rossi, with Newgarden fourth.
And with the race is red flagged for a THIRD TIME!
GREEN-GREEN-GREEN and four laps to go!
And yellow is out again. Crash at the back of the field.
Cars are back out under yellow, building temp into the tires. What can Newgarden do to defend the top spot from Ericsson and Ferrucci?
There will be 6 laps to go when the come out of the red flag.
Timing and scoring has Newgarden in the lead, followed by Ericsson and Ferrucci. Then Rossi, Palou and Dixon.
And another red flag.
7 laps to go.
CAUTION! O'Ward gets into Ericsson and O'Ward is into the wall!
Simon Pagenaud also comes to a stop, along with Agustin Canapino.
GREEN-GREEN-GREEN with 8 laps to go!
Ericsson immediately jump out, and Newgarden is with him past O'Ward!
Start waved off. Field was too slow coming tot the flag.
Kyle Kirkwood, after his release from the infield care center: "Glad I'm OK, but super disappointed."
Timing and scoring is showing the leaders as being O'Ward, Ericsson, Newgarden, Rossi and Ferrucci at the front now.
Early in the week, drivers were talking about how the aero changes have made it easier for the second car to close on the leading car and make a pass.
Ericsson is ready to put that to the test right now.
Th cars are back out under yellow, and are bobbing and weaving to build temperature back into their Firestones.
Hunter-Reay's team says he doesn't have enough fuel and will need to pit, which is likely the same situation for Ilott and Canapino behind him.
That will mean that defending race champion Marcus Ericsson will inherit the lead with Pato O'Ward, Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi and Santino Ferrucci aiming for a terrific restart.
