On Indianapolis 500 day, Indianapolis is bigger than New York. This year, there were a reported 350,000 fans in the stands, and a report claimed that one out of every 1100 Americans was there.
To the folks of Indianapolis, Pacers and Racers aren’t about one night. It’s about May, the dawn of summer.
In the opening prayer, the Archbishop of Indianapolis, Charles C. Thompson, blessed the fallen and prayed for the drivers and the Pacers. At one point, Special Forces helicopters paced the cars along with flyovers. And when the NBA playoffs meet, it is a head-on collision, a treasured race that has lived up to the hype.
There are stories within stories.
Alex Palou, a spectacular driver from Spain who won five races this year, claimed the 500 by saving his fuel and drafting behind faster drivers. Before the race, he wore a Tyrese Halibuton jersey to the Grand Parade. Later, he showed up at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and was cheered again.
The pole setter and first-place qualifier, Robert Shwartzman, locked his brakes and crashed into the pits after driving well. On the Pacers’ end, Aaron Neismith sprinted the whole game, was a dominant force, and busted a wheel at a bad time.
Joseph Newgarden, in the Penske Shell car, started at the very back after penalties in qualifying. He drove brilliantly, patiently waited, fought, and advanced 23 spots. On the edge of opportunity, his fuel pump went out. He was close to winning his third consecutive Indy 500.
The Pacers were close to winning their third consecutive game. The team played exceptionally well to start the game, up 20 in the second quarter. But perhaps it was the Knicks that watched the 500.
Karl-Anthony Towns was essentially benched in their last loss. But he came back after a four-point first half on Sunday and throttled the Pacers with a dominant fourth quarter.
The Pacers shined, setting the city on fire, like the race cars, rain, sun, and spotlight of the 500. The Knicks, patient and tough like Alex Palou, drafted behind the faster car and saved fuel.
The City drank it all in, quite literally.
The Pacers (simply) ran out of gas.
