Felix Rosenqvist finished the 2020 Indianapolis 500 in 12th place, completing the full distance of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing for the first time in his career.
Rosenqvist started 14th in the blue-riband event of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and completed the 200 laps around Indianapolis Motor Speedway in three hours and ten minutes to see the chequered flag at the end of a dramatic race that finished under caution.
Rosenqvist used a late overtake on pole-sitter Marco Andretti to seal 12th place, gaining valuable experience in the fabled oval event as Japan’s Takuma Sato snatched victory ahead of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon.
“We finished two positions better than where we started, but I think the car was capable of a bit more today,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “I think I am still figuring out how to work the ovals; that is the biggest Achilles heel in our operation right now on the No. 10 car. P12 is not something to cheer for, but it was a good finish. We got through it and we’ll have to come back stronger next year.”
Chip Ganassi Racing opted for a mid-race shift of Rosenqvist’s strategy to offset the Swede’s run plan, allowing him to briefly lead the race and pick up the bonus point on offer for doing so.
“The second half of the race felt really good, and I want to thank the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda crew for an outstanding job in the pits and with strategy,” Rosenqvist concludes. “Everything worked today when we needed it to and we peaked at the end of the race. I learned a lot and it’s good to have finished the Indy 500 for the first time.”
Felix Rosenqvist now sits tenth in the overall standings, having previously clinched the first INDYCAR win of his career earlier this season at Road America.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES resumes next weekend (August 29-30) with a double-header event at Gateway, Illinois.
RESULTS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 7
Indy 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway
1: Takuma Sato (JPN), Rahal, 200 laps
2: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, +0.0577s
3: Graham Rahal (USA), Rahal, +0.0953s
4: Santino Ferrucci (USA), Dale Coyne, +0.3929s
5: Josef Newgarden (USA), Penske, +1.6619s
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12: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Ganassi, +13.9668s
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | After 7/14 races
1: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, 335 p.
2: Josef Newgarden (USA), Penske, 251 p.
3: Pato O’Ward (MEX), McLaren SP, 218 p.
4: Graham Rahal (USA), Rahal, 214 p.
5: Simon Pagenaud (FRA), Penske, 212 p.
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10: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Ganassi, 157 p.