By most reports it didn’t, considering the equivalent of the population of New Orleans was descending into Indianapolis.
Official attendance figures aren’t given. But race organizers did say reserved seats for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 sold out two weeks ago for the first time in nearly two decades.
General admission ticket sales were halted on Wednesday.
The majority of the spectators were in the stands – or at the least inside IMS – when the green flag dropped.
“It was nuts here today,” said Josef Newgarden, who finished third. “It’s always cool when you do the parade laps, see how many people are here. But today was another level.
“This place is all about courage, innovation, passion. I think providing a great spectacle for America. It’s one of our icons for sporting events. It’s probably the largest crowd you’ll ever see gathered together in one setting for one day.”
Penske's day the pits: Team owner Roger Penske entered Sunday with a record 16 victories.
He left the same way.
Three-time winner Helio Castroneves led four times for 24 laps before running into trouble on lap 117. Townsend Bell and Ryan Hunter-Reay – teammates themselves with Andretti Autosport – made contact exiting their pit stalls, then made contact with the side of Castroneves as he rolled past. Castroneves, who last led on lap 157, pitted on lap 163 with a damaged wheel pod on the left rear. He finished 11th.
Will Power, who led laps 67-74, was penalized on lap 54 for an unsafe release from the pits when he struck Tony Kanaan. Power was sent to the back of the field and worked his way up to finish 10th.
Simon Pagenaud, the winner of the past three races, couldn’t overcome penalties on lap 75 (improper pit exit) and lap 158 (entered a closed pit and pit speed violation). He was sent to the back of the field for all three violations. Pagenaud finished 19th.
Juan Pablo Montoya skipped the pits and went straight to the garage on lap 64. The defending Indy 500 champion spun and made contact with the SAFER barrier in Turn 2. Montoya finished 33rd.
Follow the leader: The 54 lead changes was the second most in Indy 500 history. The record is 68 in 2013.
Thirteen different drivers led the race, led by Hunter-Reay who paced the field 15 times for 52 laps. Both were race highs.
Pole-sitter James Hinchcliffe led 11 times for 27 laps.
Winner Alexander Rossi led three times for 14 laps. It’s the second fewest laps led by a rookie winner since Graham Hill led 10 laps in 1966.
Sunday also marked the sixth straight race the winner took the lead for the final time with four laps or less remaining.
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