Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Engine Powers Tony Kanaan to Career-First Indianapolis 500 Victory

Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Engine Powers Tony Kanaan to Career-First Indianapolis 500 Victory

INDIANAPOLIS (May 26, 2013) – Tony Kanaan, No. 11 Hydroxycut KV Racing Technology SH Racing Chevrolet, had been denied a trip to victory lane many times at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), but as fate would have it this year, he was in the right place at the right time to capture his first Indianapolis 500 win.   Kanaan, the 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series champion, started 12th and led 34 laps, but the key move came when he took the lead on a lap 197 restart, and was stretching his advantage over the field when the caution flew again on lap 198 of the 200-lap race. Kanaan, who was making his 201st career IndyCar start, took the checkered flag with the race under caution.
Kanaan’s first Indy 500 victory was also the first trip to the coveted Victory Lane for the Chevrolet V6 2.2 liter direct injected twin turbo charged purpose-built IndyCar engine. Today’s victory was the eighth time the Bowtie has gone to the Indianapolis 500 Winner’s Circle, but the first Indianapolis 500 win for Chevrolet since 2002.  
“Congratulations to Tony Kanaan and the No. 11 Chevrolet-powered KV Racing Technology team for winning the 2013 Indianapolis 500,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Tony drove a great race, and the team executed flawlessly.  Their total focus was on driving to the front of the field.  Tony and the No. 11 team demonstrated tremendous teamwork, perseverance and a never-give-up-attitude all day.”
Rookie Carlos Munoz, No. 26 Unistraw Andretti Autosport Chevrolet, had an impressive run in his first Indianapolis 500 by finishing second in the event and leading five times for 12 laps. Defending IZOD IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 1 DHL Andretti Autosport Chevrolet, was third at the checkered flag after leading 13 times for a total of 26 laps. Marco Andretti, No. 25 RC Cola Andretti Autosport Chevrolet, finished fourth to give Andretti Autosport a 2-3-4 finish in today’s race.  
“In addition to Tony Kanaan’s Indianapolis 500 victory, congratulations to Andretti Autosport Chevrolet-powered drivers Carlos Munoz, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti on finishing second through fourth respectively at the Brickyard,” Campbell concluded.
The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 was one of the most crowd-pleasing races that featured astonishing on-track action with 68 lead changes among 14 drivers – over a third of the field. The race was slowed only five times by caution for a total of 21 laps run under the yellow flag.
“A proud congratulations to Tony Kanaan and the entire Chevrolet-powered KV Racing Technology team for winning the 97th Indy 500!” said Chris Berube, Chevrolet Racing Program Manager for the IZOD IndyCar Series. “The win was hard fought through a record number of lead changes and clean, close racing. We are so proud of the tireless efforts put in by KV Racing and our technical partners to prepare for the race and executed it so well. On to Detroit where Team Chevy will carry the momentum of this great result to the Dual in Detroit on Belle Isle!”
Team Penske drivers Helio Castroneves, No. 3 Shell V-Power/Pennzoil Ultra Chevrolet and rookie AJ Allmendinger, No. 2 IZOD Chevrolet, finished sixth and seventh respectively.   Castroneves led one lap and just couldn’t crack the top-five in the waning laps for a shot at the win while Allmendinger overcame a loose seat belt which put him out of pit sequence to lead 3 times for 23 laps.
Ed Carpenter, No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet led the 33-car field to the green flag of the Great American Race.  Carpenter, a local Indiana hero, led a race-high 37 laps but got mired in traffic late in the race and the car was not as good around other cars as it was near the front.  He would finish 10th to round out the top-ten.