Dixon Nails Indy 500 Win

IndyCar had purposely been upping danger to add excitement

(NEWSER) - In a June interview that seems eerily prescient in light of Dan Wheldon’s death , IndyCar Chief Executive Randy Bernard promised more “carnage and wrecks” in the upcoming races. IndyCar, struggling to compete with the more popular NASCAR, was attempting to make its races more exciting by increasing the risks: more drivers, pushed closer together via side-by-side racing, meaning a heightened possibility of collisions. The Las Vegas race, in particular, was promised to be “wild” due to a fast and smooth track, the Wall Street Journal reports. Also increasing the buzz was a dangerous publicity stunt Wheldon was taking part in, in which he would win $5 million if he could win after starting in last place. More»

(NEWSER) - Today's Indianapolis 500 had barely started when Mario Moraes drifted to the outside and made contact with Marco Andretti, sending both cars into the wall going into the second turn. "The kid doesn't get it, and he never will," Andretti said, blaming Moraes for the crash. "He's just clueless out there." More»

Does move intended to even out drivers' weights even do that?

(NEWSER) - Danica Patrick will carry 35 pounds of ballast in her car in this weekend's Indianapolis 500 to make up for her tiny, 100-pound body. But even those who agree that ballasting is the fair way to account for differences in racers' body sizes aren't sure the IndyCar system is entirely fair, the Indianapolis Star reports. More»

Driver may follow previous open-wheel racers and bolt for stock cars

(NEWSER) - Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves is considering trading in his Indy car for a NASCAR stock car, reports the Los Angeles Times. "I won't deny that I'm thinking about it," Castroneves said. "It would be great to one day try the cars. But at this point I'm focusing on Indy cars and winning the Indianapolis 500 again" on Sunday. More»

Racer 'really' likes her odds (and car) in next week's big race

(NEWSER) - No longer just a pretty face, Danica Patrick finally has a win, a winning team, and the fastest car she's ever raced. “I really, really like my chances" in next weekend's Indy 500, she tells Sports Illustrated. "And man, how huge would it be if I could win the thing?" More»