pulled off a surging effort for the closest win in occasion historical past.
It was wild from the second the inexperienced flag dropped, with seven cautions – together with two purple flags – that accounted for 51 of 200 laps. Even with that, although, the race featured 70 lead modifications, which is a document for the Indy 500 and stands because the third-most in IndyCar Collection historical past. The motion was in all places with 567 passes for place, and 144 of these coming inside the highest 5 (second-most on document). And, lastly, the one-lap shootout noticed Rosenqvist go from third to first and beat to the end line by a slim 0.0233s.
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It was a fairytale Month of Could for Rosenqvist, who grew to become a father for the primary time earlier within the month, too.
So, with out additional delay, listed below are the winners and losers from the seventh spherical of the 2026 season.
WINNER: Felix RosenqvistFelix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Honda
Anytime you win the Indy 500, you’re going P1 on this listing. With that, although, my goodness did Rosenqvist have a rocket all through the 2 weeks. He set the quickest four-lap common in qualifying, together with his Spherical 1 run faster than ’s pole-winning efficiency. Within the race, he had the sector coated to win on gasoline mileage earlier than the warning got here out whereas main with eight laps to go. Then he pulled off the restart of a lifetime by going wheel-to-wheel from the excessive lane with teammate for almost all of the one-lap shootout earlier than breaking away and gorgeous with a photograph end over Malukas.
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It was profession win #2 for the 34-year-old from Värnamo, Sweden, which got here practically a full six years after his first at Street America in 2020. Moreover, he’s now acquired $4.34 million to assist with the diaper finances.
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Josef Newgarden, Staff Penske Chevrolet
The 2-time Indy 500 champion was poised to be a menace for the win, showcasing elite tempo and at-will passing potential after storming from twenty third to tenth in simply 31 laps. He ran as excessive as third and traded positions with Malukas and teammate because the complexity of the race – at one level – made it appear it was these three versus ’s Alex Palou, the 2025 Indy 500 winner, and . The whole lot modified, nonetheless, coming to take the inexperienced flag on the Lap 125 restart when Newgarden clipped the within curbing of Flip 4, which led to him spinning and pounding the surface wall practically head on in his #2 Chevrolet.
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Though Newgarden was seen and launched from the Infield Medical Heart (IMC), officers shared with the media that he opted to remain within the IMC to observe the top of the race whereas icing his left foot. He was seen in a strolling boot on Monday whereas attending the Indy 500 awards ceremony on Monday evening.
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David Malukas, Staff Penske Chevrolet
A number of rivals, if not all, will say they study extra from defeats than victories. I realized extra about Malukas on this Indy 500 efficiency than every other exhibiting in his IndyCar profession, and even Indy NXT, for that matter.
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At the start, the Chicago native drove his ass off, main 30 laps after qualifying third and doing every little thing potential to win the race, together with a superbly timed restart to overhaul Armstrong on the ultimate restart. The feelings that got here after are what supplied the exclamation level. By no means earlier than have I ever seen Malukas, normally a humorous and laid again kind of character, show such a uncooked feeling. It was refreshing. And fittingly, , who befell the same destiny 20 years previous to Sam Hornish, Jr.,
Malukas continues to be the brilliant spot for Staff Penske, together with his season performances up to now elevating him to second within the championship standings and simply 37 factors behind four-time and reigning sequence champion Alex Palou (273-236).
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Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti International Honda
It’s puzzling to know the place all of it went improper for Kyle Kirkwood. Though qualifying was feeble for Andretti International as a complete, there was loads of confidence within the race tempo, with Kirkwood in a position to carve by way of the sector in race trim by way of the 2 weeks – and throughout the Open Take a look at in April. Regardless of beginning twenty fifth, there was an expectation, particularly after Carb Day, Kirkwood could be an element on race day.
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That by no means occurred, although, as he broke into the highest 10 briefly earlier than sliding again to complete sixteenth. It was a intestine punch, of kinds, because the Floridian got here into the race second within the championship standings and Palou whiffed on technique close to the top to complete, by his requirements, a lowly seventh. Kirkwood leaves Indianapolis third within the general standings, however extra importantly, a staggering 49 factors behind Palou (273-224).
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WINNER: Rinus VeeKay, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Rinus VeeKay, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Rinus VeeKay has began on the entrance row of the Indy 500 3 times, all with ECR, however by no means transformed it to something higher than eighth.
This 12 months, the Dutchman not solely put into the Quick 12 in qualifying, he propelled them – and himself – to a best-ever end on the grandest stage with a sixth-place end result. Whereas the result stands out by itself, the truth that an early technique name to not pit on the opening warning, which elevated him to the race lead, had him chasing the race from behind.
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Regardless of that, he was in a position to overcome that by way of tempo and stellar pit stops to grab his second high 10 of the 12 months.
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Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
The phrase “distress loves firm” was just about the theme for ECR’s run within the Indy 500.
At the start, credit score to , the 2016 Indy 500 winner, for battling by way of an ankle and foot damage – each of which required procedures following a crash on Monday after qualifying – and looking out like a contender within the race early on by taking the struggle to Palou, main into Flip 1 earlier than being out entrance for six laps.
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That was the spotlight, although, as Rossi finally retired on fireplace with a mechanical problem for the second 12 months in-a-row. , a three-time pole-sitter within the Indy 500 and the one driver/proprietor within the race, was on the improper finish of contact with two-time “500” winner , crashing out after simply 27 laps. After which , the ‘Sultan of Sketch’ as he’s identified by the FOX Sports activities play-by-play sales space, was by no means correctly within the struggle and retired with a mechanical drawback after 144 laps.
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