Kannan Kisses The Bricks, Wins Indianapolis 500

Tony Kannan won the 97^th annual Indianapolis 500 Sunday afternoon after passing Ryan Hunter Raey on the final restart of the race. Kanaan took the lead away from Raey with five laps to go just as Dario Franchitti hit the wall causing the race to end under caution.

The win was his 16^th of his career and his very first Indianapolis 500 win. Kannan now 38 years old has come so close to winning the 500 many times. In 2012 he made an amazing move on a restart going from fifth to first, but got passed on lap 194 and finished third .On another occasion, in 2011 Kannan avoided another driver on pit road having to overshoot his pit box to avoid another driver. He ended up restarting 24^th, but charging his way up to second place before having to pit again for fuel and finishing fourth.

After 12 attempts at the Indy 500 it was finally the Brazilian native’s turn to kiss the bricks in Indianapolis. Kannan was emotional in victory stating:

“I want to thank everybody. I’ve never seen so many people from other teams (offering congratulations). This is it, man. I made it. I’m finally going to put my name on that trophy.  We were known for not winning; now we’re known for winning. I don’t know what to say.”

Rookie Carlos Munoz finished second on Sunday even leading a few laps in his first 500. Hunter Raey who was first on the final restart ended up finishing third, Marco Andretti fourth, and Justin Wilson finished fifth.

Kannan’s team owner Jimmy Vasser spoke to reporters after the emotional win stating “He was great all day,” car owner Jimmy Vasser said. “We got a little luck from Alex Zanardi today. He gave us his gold medal from London and said ‘rub this all over the car.’ The Indy 500. I can’t believe it.”

Indianapolis native Ed Carpenter, who sat on the pole for Sunday’s race, fought with Marco Andretti during the opening laps of the race before being shuffled back in the pack and finishing tenth. Former NASCAR regular AJ Allmindinger finished in seventh place and even led a lap in his first Indianapolis 500

What did you think of the race? Did you mind that the race ended under caution? Which was the better race “Indianapolis 500” or “Coca Cola 600?” Let me know in the comments below.

Finishing order

1. Tony Kannan
2. Carlos Munoz
3. Ryan Hunter-Reay
4. Marco Andretti
5. Justin Wilson
6. Helio Catroneves
7. Aj. Allmindinger
8. Simon Pagenuad
9. Charlie Kimball
10. Ed Carpenter
11. Oriol Servia
12. Ryan Briscoe
13. Takuma Sato
14. Scott Dixon
15. Ana Beatriz
16. Tristen Vautier
17. Simona De Silvestro
18. E.J. Viso
19. Will Power
20. James Jakes
21. James Hinchcliffe
22. Conor Daly
23. Dario Franchitti
24. Alex tagliani
25. Graham Rahal
26. Katherine Legge
27. Townsend Bell
28. Josef Newgarden
29. Sebastion Bourdais
30. Pippa Mann
31. Buddy Lazlier
32. Sebastian Saavedra
33. Jr. Hildebrand