104th Indianapolis 500: Late crash for Pigot secures second win for Sato

  • Published on 23 Aug 2020 23:45
  • comments 2
  • By: Coilin Higgins

It was Takuma Sato that took victory during the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 after a late accident for Spencer Pigot brought out the caution that would end the race.

Scott Dixon would come home in second, as Graham Rahal ended the race in third, making it a first and third for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Poleman Marco Andretti led away on the green flag but was passed by Dixon as the cars made their way to the first corner, while Josef Newgarden made up a number of positions on the first lap.

James Davison's Indy 500 would only see six laps after his brakes overheated and caught fire, forcing a retirement for Davison.

The second caution of the race came out for Marcus Ericsson after the Swede at turn two. Ericsson explained how he just lost the rear coming into the corner, putting him in the wall in the process.

As the race reached quarter distance, Dixon led from Alexander Rossi, with rookie Rinus Veekay up in third.

Rookie Dalton Kellett brought out the third caution of the race, taking away Dixon's early lead after Kellett crashed in turn three.

Conor Daly and Oliver Askew was involved in a big accident in the final corner, which saw Daly spin coming out of the corner, while Askew, unsighted by the smoke from Daly's spin, slammed the inside wall hard, hitting Daly in the process. Both drivers emerged unscathed from the accident as the third caution came out.

Fourth and fifth went to Santino Ferrucci and Newgarden, while Pato O'Ward and James Hinchcliffe finished in sixth and seventh.

Alex Palou was the next driver to fall foul to the wall on lap 123, after the Spanish driver crashed coming out of turn two, with the caution overseeing a flurry of cars enter the pits.

Despite staying in second throughout the race, Rossi hit the wall also at turn two twenty laps later, being forced to leave the car after attempting to drive back to the pits, ending the race for the Andretti driver, who was also awarded an earlier penalty for contact with Takuma Sato in the pit-lane. 

With forty laps to go, Sato took the lead from Dixon, with the Kiwi pulling back in an effort to save fuel while Graham Rahal found himself sitting in third position.

Zack Veach led the race with twenty laps to go, as himself and Max Chilton opted to extend their strategies as Sato and Dixon sat behind in third and fourth.

Sato retook the lead with fifteen to go, and blocked of Dixon as the Chip Ganassi car tried to go around the outside of Sato at the first corner.

Only a half of a second separated both cars as they moved onto the final ten laps, with Santino Ferrucci and Josef Newgarden closing in behind. 

Rahal and Ferrucci closed right up to the back of Dixon's car as the lead cars battled to lap traffic. Sato broke away after lapping Tony Kanaan.

Yet another caution came out for a massive incident involving Spencer Pigot, who slammed into the tyre wall at the start of pit lane after spinning off at turn four. Despite being helped from the car by the medical crew, Pigot was relative okay.

It was then confirmed that Takuma Sato would take the win as the race would not be red-flagged with only three laps to go, as the Japanese driver took his second win in three years, ahead of Dixon and Rahal.

Eighth and ninth went to Colton Herta and Jack Harvey while Ryan Hunter-Reay rounded out the top ten. Fernando Alonso, on his third attempt at the Indy 500, could only manage 21st.

Fantastic job by Sato. Totally deserved. Even if the race ended yellow flagged.

Dissapointed with Alonso. I never understood what happened but his pace dissapeared after the crash in practice. Never again in the top 20. The Arrow McLaren was clearly good enough. Both O Ward and Askew were fighti... [Read more]

  • 2
  • Aug 24 2020 - 00:37

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Fantastic job by Sato. Totally deserved. Even if the race ended yellow flagged.

    Dissapointed with Alonso. I never understood what happened but his pace dissapeared after the crash in practice. Never again in the top 20. The Arrow McLaren was clearly good enough. Both O Ward and Askew were fighting in the top ten almost all of the race

    • + 2
    • Aug 24 2020 - 00:37
  • Dert38

    Posts: 377

    What a disgusting troll is that Sato. All his racing model is based on stealing, not performing. I'm sure Vettel and Podzigun will be happy for him. Totally undeserved. Race not worth watching.

    • + 2
    • Aug 24 2020 - 19:09

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar