 | |||||
| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | IndyCar | ||||
| Season | 2017 IndyCar season | ||||
| Date | May 28, 2017 | ||||
| Winner |  Takuma Sato | ||||
| Winning team | Andretti Autosport | ||||
| Average speed | 155.395 mph (250.084 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position |  Scott Dixon | ||||
| Pole speed | 232.164 mph (373.632 km/h) | ||||
| Fastest qualifier | Scott Dixon | ||||
| Rookie of the Year |  Fernando Alonso | ||||
| Most laps led |  Max Chilton (50) | ||||
| Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
| National anthem | Bebe Rexha[1] | ||||
| "Back Home Again in Indiana" | Jim Cornelison[2] | ||||
| Starting command | Tony George | ||||
| Pace car | Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport | ||||
| Pace car driver | Jeffrey Dean Morgan | ||||
| Starter | Paul Blevin | ||||
| Honorary starter | Jake Gyllenhaal & Jeff Bauman[3] | ||||
| TV in the United States | |||||
| Network | ABC (blacked out locally) | ||||
| Announcers | Allen Bestwick, Scott Goodyear, Eddie Cheever | ||||
| Nielsen ratings | 3.6 | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
| |||||
The 2017 Indianapolis 500 (branded as the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil for sponsorship reasons) was a Verizon IndyCar Series race held on Sunday May 28, 2017, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, United States. The race was the premier event and the sixth race of the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series season.
Despite a threatening weather forecast in the days leading up to the event, the race ran its scheduled distance of 200 laps (500 miles) and was won by Japanese driver Takuma Sato of Andretti Autosport. Sato, who also finished on the podium at the 2004 U.S. Grand Prix on the road course at Indianapolis, became the first Asian driver to win the Indianapolis 500. Sato assumed the lead with six laps to go and held off Hélio Castroneves over the final fifteen miles.
Two violent crashes occurred during the month, involving Sébastien Bourdais (during time trials) and Scott Dixon (during the race), respectively. Bourdais suffered a broken pelvis and other injuries, forcing him to sit out the event, while Dixon suffered a minor ankle injury.
Alexander Rossi entered the race as the defending champion. The event also featured Fernando Alonso, the first active Formula One World Championship driver to contest the race since Teo Fabi in 1984.[4] Alonso was voted Rookie of the Year, having led 27 laps before retiring in the closing stages of the race.[5]
The month of May activities formally began on May 13 with the fourth running of the IndyCar Grand Prix on the combined road course. Practice for the Indianapolis 500 began on May 15, and time trials were held on May 20–21. Scott Dixon, the 2008 winner, won the pole position, his third career Indy pole. Dixon's qualifying speed of 232.164 mph (373.632 km/h) was the fastest pole speed since 1996. Carb Day—the traditional final day of practice, as well as the annual Pit Stop Challenge and Indy Lights Freedom 100, were held on May 26. Support races featuring the Road to Indy were also held during the month.
- ^ "Singer Bebe Rexha to perform national anthem at Indianapolis 500". Fox 59. May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- ^ "IU grad Jim Cornelison to sing 'Back Home Again in Indiana' at 101st Indianapolis 500". Fox 59. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ^ "Honorary starters for Indy 500 named". WTHR. May 15, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- ^ SportsCentre. 28 May 2017. TSN.
- ^ "Alonso beats Jones to Indy 500 Rookie of the Year award". crash.net. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.