JR Hildebrand was one turn away from winning the Indianapolis 500 at the first attempt.Then, within sight of the checkered flag, the 23-year-old Californian made the ultimate rookie mistake.
Hildebrand slammed into the wall on the final turn, and Dan Wheldon drove past to claim an improbable Indy 500 win
in his first race of the year.
Wheldon, the 2005 winner but without a full-time ride this season, appeared to be heading for his third straight runner-up finish as Hildebrand took the white flag with a comfortable lead and needing only to make it through the last of 200 laps around the 2-mile speedway.
New Zealand's Scott Dixon finished sixth.
The New Zealander led with 22 laps remaining but was forced to pit for more fuel and failed to recapture the lead.
The first three turns went smoothly for on the last lap for Hildebrand. Then, Hildebrand came up on another rookie, Charlie Kimball, in the fourth turn. Instead of backing off, Hildebrand slid to the outside, got in the rough patch of the track and lost control. He slammed the wall, allowing Wheldon to drive into Victory Lane.
"I caught him in the wrong piece of track," Hildebrand said. "I got up in the marbles and that was it."
Hildebrand's crumpled machine slid across the finish line in second place while hugging the wall. While Wheldon celebrated, IndyCar officials reviewed the video to see if Wheldon passed the wrecked machine before the caution lights went on. It appeared he did, giving the Brit another Indy 500 title with a part-time team.
"I just felt a lot of relief. It's an incredible feeling," Wheldon said. "I never gave up."
- Herald Online/AP
