Charging Wilson Finishes Fifth at Indianapolis

In a record-smashing race that saw new marks for lead changes, number of different leaders and average speed, Justin Wilson put on an inspiring charge that led the way for Honda in the final laps, posting the fastest race lap en route to a fifth-place finish at Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

After starting 14th, Wilson took his Dale Coyne Racing Honda Dallara into the top-10 in the early laps, but a blistered rear tire as the 200-lap race neared its mid-point dropped him to the very back of the field and forced the veteran driver to contend with an ill-handling car until the next round of pit stops on Lap 124.  Wilson spent the final portions of the race working is way towards the front of the field, reaching fifth place just after the final race restart on Lap 197, when Dario Franchitti crashed to end the race under caution.

A cool, overcast day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway produced a record 187.433 mph race average, bettering the previous record of 185.981 mph set by Arie Luyendyk in 1990.  In addition, the 68 lead changes – among a record 14 different drivers – shattered the mark of 34 set just last year.

Behind Wilson, Simon Pagenaud brought his Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports Honda from 21st on the starting grid to finish eighth, while Charlie Kimball posted another top-10 result, running ninth in his Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Other Honda drivers encountered problems in today’s 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.  Alex Tagliani was an early top-10 competitor, but dropped off the lead lap after brushing the wall on Lap 168 and having to pit for repairs.  The Target Chip Ganassi Racing duo of Franchitti and Scott Dixon suffered from gearing and handling issues throughout the race, with Dixon finishing 14th and Franchitti crashing without injury on Lap 197 to end the race under caution.