2009 indianapolis 500

This year I covered the Indy 500 for the Indianapolis Star from pit row. I was assigned to the south pits, which included Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Graham Rahal, Raphael Matos, Marco Andretti, and Paul Tracy. Here are some of my favorites from the starting grid to the celebrations.


Will Power had a great race, running as high as 2nd and finishing 5th.


Graham Rahal's crew says a prayer before the race


Team Penske makes adjustments to Will Power's car on the starting grid.


Each year the Speedway honors veterans as a part of the Memorial Day weekend race.


Helio pits during the race. His team was the fastest pit crew during the Carb Day competition.


Marco leaves the track following a disappointing crash on lap 1.


Marco waits for his car to be brought back out to run a few more laps.


Scott Dixon and team Chip Ganassi make a pit stop. Dixon lead for 73 laps, but finished 6th.


Team Penske won its 15th Indy 500 since first competing in the race in 1969.




Rookie driver Raphael Matos ran as high as 4th, but crashed with Vitor Meira on lap 173.


Pit crews wait for their cars to enter during a yellow flag.


Paul Tracy leaves the pits.


Helio Castroneves's girlfriend, Adriana Henao, and mother, Sandra, run down pit row to greet him when he exits his car after winning.


The festival princesses squeeze in to watch the victory celebration happening below.


Helio does his signature fence climb after winning his third Indy 500.


Helio is joined on the fence by his pit crew.


Dan Wheldon, the second place finisher, congratulates Danica Patrick on her third place finish.


Helio in the pace car, a 2010 Chevy Camaro.


Helio thanks his fans.


Keeping the tradition...


Helio is one of only nine drivers to have three or more wins in 93 years of the Indy 500.

Click here to check out all the images.