Scott Dixon leads Indianapolis 500 at halfway point
INDIANAPOLIS — Scott Dixon led the Indianapolis 500 at the halfway point Sunday, and teammate Dario Franchitti surged back to second place after suffering early trouble in the pits.
Ryan Hunter-Reay was running third, Graham Rahal fourth and Justin Wilson fifth at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on a clear, sticky day with temperatures hovering near 90 degrees.
Marco Andretti was 11th and pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe was 15th.
Dixon, who won the famed race in 2008, and Franchitti, a two-time winner of the Indy 500, both drive for the Chip Ganassi Racing team.
Franchitti was rolling toward his pit during the first caution period when his car was tapped from behind by the car of E.J. Viso. That caused Franchitti’s car to spin and tap the wall, crumpling his car’s nose. After repairs, Franchitti came out 29th and then began his climb back to the front.
A major crash occurred on Lap 79 when Mike Conway spun, got slightly airborne and Will Power slammed into him, with Power’s car actually sliding underneath Conway’s. Neither driver was injured.
One of the drivers’ tires also flew off and nearly struck three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves as he came up to the crash.
Power leads the Izod IndyCar Series championship standings after winning the last three consecutive races, but all those were on street and twisty road courses. This is the series’ first oval race of the year.
MORE:
Tommy Lasorda, Pete Rose take in first Indy 500
Indy 500 supporters seek to accelerate its appeal
Marco Andretti confident despite family’s woes in race
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