By: Ashley McCubbin

The Indianapolis 500 is called “The Greatest Spectacle in Motorsports” for a reason, and today just proved that once again in the display shown at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

All race fans dream of a close battle at the end of an event, with side-by-side racing and passing. Check that box off as evident by the battle between Pato O’Ward and Josef Newgarden back and forth. It was textbook in O’Ward not wanting to make a move with three to go in not want to go too early, to Newgarden’s pass of perfection down the backstretch. The greatest spectacle should feature the best drivers, and that pass wasn’t part of amateur hour for sure.

Newgarden winning was a joyous occasion, with all the emotions written on his face as he went to celebrate with the fans in attendance followed by his interview. He says it’s the perfect kickback for the controversy surrounding Team Penske last month, and perhaps he is right in that regard. It is proof to the naysayers that he is not going to listen to them, and shows they are coming back stronger. Will it quiet everyone? Perhaps not, based simply on the reasoning of excuses he used in his post-race press conference and what happened. But it doesn’t matter when you have $3 million in your pocket, a glass of milk, and enjoy the sweet kiss with the bricks.

O’Ward, on the other hand, showed why this is the biggest event in motorsports and the prestige in potentially putting your name in the history books. The frustration and defeat in knowing he had come close for the third consecutive season crushed the hearts of fans across the world. He did everything he could, and there is no doubt he will eventually etch his name in those history books. A young talented driver like himself cannot be left on the sidelines forever.

The great battle, matched with the feature on the celebration to showcasing the defeat, was cinema and NBC rightfully deserves applause for their television coverage. They caught all the incidents that happened, multiple replays shown, and each discussed for the audience watching. The shots on the battles – showing just how far the drivers were willing to push the envelope, to catching some of the talented saves across the board.

It just added to the lure and history in knowing why this is one of the highest regarded races, and should be treated as such. It showed how the drivers were willing to do whatever it took to win, and that brought new fans who may be tuning in for a special event intrigue. If this is how hard they are willing to push and how good the battles could be, I may tune in every single week to see more of the action. 

From start to finish, it was a masterclass and arguably an event that you cannot complain about – well, except if you are Ryan Hunter-Reay. Being ran off the track by a fellow competitor in Scott Dixon and no consequences for him in regards to his actions was not the right decision. Next time someone is getting ready to be passed, just go slight right and send your competitor off the road and it’s fine. Not the message you want to be sending to your competitors, or the precedence you want to setting with how dangerous this racing can be at over 200 mph.