South Florida is well represented at the Indianapolis 500 with drivers and fans
SPEEDWAY, Ind. — A substantial bit of South Florida will be on-site at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Sunday’s 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 – some of them racing and a whole lot of others to cheer those drivers on.
A half dozen racers on the 33-car Indy 500 starting grid call South Florida home – from Ft. Lauderdale’s Rinus VeeKay, who will start seventh, to Jupiter’s Kyle Kirkwood, who starts 11th and Fort Lauderdale’s Ryan Hunter-Ray, who will roll off 12th.
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, who starts 20th, is a longtime Miami resident. French native Romain Grosjean moved to Miami after transitioning from Formula One to the IndyCar Series. He’ll start 26th. And now Brazilian third-generation racing talent Pietro Fittipaldi calls Miami home as well.
For good measure, Marco Andretti – another third-generation racing star – lived in a Miami Beach high-rise for years before moving back to his native Pennsylvania recently.
Kirkwood joked that he ran out of Indy 500 passes to hand out to his family and friends, part of the large Florida trackside contingent expected this weekend.
“I went through all my credentials,’’ Kirkwood said with a grin.
It’s not only the sheer amount of South Florida residents in the race, but their proven ability behind the wheel that makes another Sunshine State winner’s toast a good possibility following Sunday’s race.
Hunter-Reay, Castroneves share 5 Indy 500 trophies
Of the five Indy 500 victories among this group, Hunter-Reay is the 2014 Indy champion and Miami’s Castroneves has earned four trophies (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021) tying him with racing legends A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser Sr. for most all-time. This weekend, Castroneves may well take that record for himself.
A hugely popular competitor, Castroneves – a former “Dancing with the Stars” champion – has been quick all month. His No. 06 Meyer Shank Racing Honda was second fastest in Friday’s final practice session at Indy and a bit out of his colorful character, Castroneves has preferred to downplay his historical opportunity. He has been more-business at hand, less historical hype.
Castroneves is one of the best ever at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis oval. In addition to his four wins, he has three runner-up finishes. The combined difference of those three second place showings – the difference between already making history and instead creating a jaw-dropping statistic - is a mere .56-seconds. He is second all-time in miles run at the track and leads all active drivers making his 24th Indianapolis 500 start on Sunday.
Castroneves, who turned 49 earlier this month, also could become the oldest race winner in history – his age bringing a smile to his fellow seventh row starters, 43-year old Scott Dixon and 37-year old Marco Andretti, who jokingly acknowledged their interview created “a geriatric room’’ compared to the ages of other starting rows on the Indianapolis grid.
It has only been extra motivation.
“No question I don’t come to a race here to think I’m just going to participate,’’ Castroneves said.
“In the race car, I felt very very strong,’’ he added. “I was able to use a lot of things that I did in the past with the set-up numbers. So yeah, I am [optimistic]. My expectations are high like always. Looking forward to a very challenging day, without a question. Five hundred miles is not easy. But looking forward to a very fun day.
“In the end of the day, you can only be thinking about the end [of the race]. You got to work for it. You got to prepare for it. If it’s meant to be, it will be.’’
Hunter-Reay makes only one start a season - in Indy 500
In Hunter-Reay’s case, he currently only makes one start a season – the Indianapolis 500. His past success here is a good reference point, but not something he says he can count on even though he turned in a solid qualifying effort.
It is a welcome challenge, however, and one that he’s certainly handled well this month. He’s finished top-11 in four of the last Indy 500s he’s raced and has six Top-10 finishes in 15 starts.
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“I’ve got a lot of experience preparing for this race,’’ said Hunter-Reay, who drives the No. 23 Dryer & Reinbold Chevrolet. “I know the things I need to push in the off-season, the things I need to push two months out, one month out. Just go through that process.
“It’s always an absolute pleasure being on track here, being here during the month of May. It’s an absolute privilege. Feel very thankful every time I have the opportunity.’’
Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sunday, 12:30 p.m., NBC
Defending champ: Josef Newgarden
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Helio Castroneves, Rinus VeeKay, Kyle Kirkwood among South Floridians in Indy 500
