2007 Indianapolis 500

91st running of the Indianapolis 500

The 91st Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday May 27, 2007. It was the twelfth Indianapolis 500 sanctioned by the Indy Racing League and the fifth race of the 2007 IndyCar Series season. Hélio Castroneves started the race on the pole position. The race began at 1:11 p. m. EDT, and was televised in the United States on the ABC. The race was broadcast in high definition for the first time. The race also was carried live on the IMS Radio Network and XM Satellite Radio. On lap 113, the race underwent a lengthy rain delay, with Tony Kanaan tentatively sitting as the leader. After three hours, the rain ceased, the track was dried, and the race restarted shortly before 6:15 p. m. EDT. A crash on lap 162 between Dan Wheldon and Marco Andretti brought out the yellow flag with Dario Franchitti leading. Under the caution, rain began falling again and officials halted the race on lap 166. Dario Franchitti was declared the winner after leading 34 laps during the race. All entries utilized ethanol, after 42 years of utilizing methanol. As part of a two year roll out, the cars used a 10% ethanol blend in 2006, and for 2007, the cars utilized a full ethanol mixture. Although branded as "100% percent fuel grade", the fuel was actually a denatured 98% ethanol/2% gasoline blend (E98). The 2007 race was also the final 500 to see the Panoz chassis in competition.

Team Penske won the 31st annual pit stop contest, their record tenth overall victory in the event. The teams of Hélio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr. (both Penske entries) met in the finals with Castroneves and his chief mechanic Rick Rinaman winning the $100,000 first prize after an 8.335 second pit stop.

+ Pole Day Saturday, May 12, 2007 Attempt Time Day CarNo. Driver Laps TotalTime Speed(mph) Result Position Rank 1 12:03 1 15 Buddy Rice 4 2:42.3336 221.766 Qualified; bumped by Michael Andretti — — 2 12:08 1 9 Scott Dixon 4 2:40.4630 224.351 Qualified; withdrawn — — 3 12:12 1 12 Ryan Briscoe 4 2:40.4208 224.410 Qualified 7 7 4 12:18 1 8 Scott Sharp 4 2:41.7994 222.498 Qualified; bumped by Marco Andretti — — 5 12:21 1 10 Dan Wheldon 4 2:40.9401 223.686 Qualified; withdrawn — — 6 12:27 1 20 Ed Carpenter 4 2:41.6630 222.685 Qualified; bumped by Castroneves — — 7 12:31 1 22 A. J. Foyt IV 4 2:42.5527 221.467 Qualified; bumped by Scheckter — — 8 12:36 1 55 Kosuke Matsuura 4 2:42.2603 221.866 Qualified; bumped by Simmons — — 9 12:40 1 7 Danica Patrick 4 2:40.6596 224.076 Qualified 8 8 10 12:45 1 4 Vítor Meira 2 1:21.4705 220.939 Waved off — — 11 12:48 1 11 Tony Kanaan 4 2:40.2719 224.618 Qualified; withdrawn — — 12 12:53 1 27 Dario Franchitti 4 2:39.8642 225.191 Qualified 3 3 13 12:58 1 2 Tomas Scheckter 4 2:41.5238 222.877 Qualified, bumping Foyt IV 10 14 14 1:03 1 39 Michael Andretti 4 2:41.5880 222.789 Qualified, bumping Rice 11 16 15 1:07 1 17 Jeff Simmons 4 2:41.6617 222.687 Qualified, bumping Matsuura; bumped by Hornish — — 16 1:11 1 26 Marco Andretti 4 2:41.2186 223.299 Qualified, bumping Sharp 9 13 17 4:12 1 3 Hélio Castroneves 4 2:40.0088 224.988 Qualified, bumping Carpenter; withdrawn — — 18 4:36 1 6 Sam Hornish Jr. 4 2:39.8969 225.145 Qualified, bumping Simmons; withdrawn — — 19 4:51 1 6 Sam Hornish Jr. 4 2:39.9227 225.109 Qualified 5 5 20 5:23 1 9 Scott Dixon 4 2:39.9136 225.122 Qualified 4 4 21 5:28 1 8 Scott Sharp 4 2:41.6209 222.743 Failed to qualify — — 22 5:33 1 17 Jeff Simmons 4 2:41.8433 222.437 Failed to qualify — — 23 5:38 1 10 Dan Wheldon 4 2:40.2557 224.641 Qualified 6 6 24 5:42 1 20 Ed Carpenter 4 2:41.6871 222.652 Failed to qualify — — 25 5:48 1 14 Darren Manning 4 2:41.6844 222.656 Failed to qualify — — 26 5:52 1 3 Hélio Castroneves 4 2:39.4214 225.817 Qualified 1 1 27 5:57 1 11 Tony Kanaan 4 2:39.4634 225.757 Qualified 2 2
+ Sunday May 13, 2007 Attempt Time Day CarNo. Driver Laps TotalTime Speed(mph) Result Position Rank 28 12:02 2 8 Scott Sharp 4 2:40.8041 223.875 Qualified 12 9 29 12:07 2 55 Kosuke Matsuura 4 2:41.7290 222.595 Qualified 17 18 30 12:11 2 99 Buddy Lazier 4 2:43.3010 220.452 Qualified; bumped by Rice — — 31 12:16 2 17 Jeff Simmons 4 2:40.9352 223.693 Qualified 13 10 32 12:20 2 25 Marty Roth 4 2:43.7193 219.889 Qualified; bumped by Foyt IV — — 33 12:25 2 14 Darren Manning 4 2:41.0950 223.471 Qualified 15 12 34 12:30 2 50 Al Unser Jr. 4 2:42.9233 220.963 Qualified; bumped by Herb — — 35 12:35 2 19 Jon Herb 4 2:43.7065 219.906 Qualified; bumped by Fisher — — 36 12:39 2 02 Davey Hamilton 4 2:41.9238 222.327 Qualified 20 21 37 1:09 2 4 Vítor Meira 4 2:41.9196 222.333 Qualified 19 20 38 1:45 2 20 Ed Carpenter 4 2:41.0777 223.495 Qualified 14 11 39 2:24 2 22 A. J. Foyt IV 4 2:41.8607 222.413 Qualified, bumping Roth 18 19 40 3:26 2 5 Sarah Fisher 4 2:42.1914 221.960 Qualified, bumping Herb 21 22 41 3:34 2 15 Buddy Rice 4 2:41.5612 222.826 Qualified, bumping B. Lazier 16 15 42 5:29 2 19 Jon Herb 4 2:42.8440 221.070 Qualified, bumping Unser Jr.; bumped by B. Lazier — — 43 5:53 2 99 Buddy Lazier 4 2:42.6165 221.380 Qualified, bumping Herb 22 24 44 5:58 2 21 Jaques Lazier 1 0:40.8700 220.210 Waved off — —
+ Saturday May 19, 2007 Attempt Time Day CarNo. Driver Laps TotalTime Speed(mph) Result Position Rank 45 12:03 3 23 Milka Duno 4 2:44.2129 219.228 Qualified 29 32 46 12:07 3 24 Roger Yasukawa 4 2:41.6855 222.654 Qualified 23 17 47 12:12 3 19 Jon Herb 3 2:02.5974 220.233 Waved off — — 48 12:25 3 25 Marty Roth 4 2:44.4421 218.922 Qualified 30 33 49 12:59 3 33 John Andretti 4 2:42.3403 221.756 Qualified 24 23 50 2:20 3 50 Al Unser Jr. 4 2:42.9871 220.876 Qualified 25 25 51 5:14 3 98 Alex Barron 4 2:43.2871 220.471 Qualified 26 26 52 5:18 3 21 Jaques Lazier 4 2:44.0774 219.409 Qualified 28 31 53 5:23 3 19 Jon Herb 4 2:43.5561 220.108 Qualified 27 28 54 5:27 3 31 Phil Giebler 3 2:01.9724 221.362 Crashed in turn 2 on 4th lap — — 55 5:44 3 77 Roberto Moreno 4 2:46.4902 216.229 Qualified; withdrawn on bump day — — 56 5:54 3 18 Jimmy Kite 4 2:47.8104 214.528 Qualified; bumped by Giebler on bump day — —
+ Bump Day Sunday May 20, 2007 Attempt Time Day CarNo. Driver Laps TotalTime Speed(mph) Result Position Rank 57 2:39 4 91 Richie Hearn 4 2:43.7408 219.860 Qualified 32 29 58 3:52 4 31 Phil Giebler 4 2:43.9071 219.637 Qualified, bumping Kite 33 30 59 5:01 4 77 Roberto Moreno 4 2:43.4139 220.299 Qualified 31 27 60 5:57 4 18 Jimmy Kite 1 0:41.9103 214.744 Waved off — —

During the pace lap, the race nearly took a dramatic turn as pole sitter Hélio Castroneves failed to start. After several attempts, his car finally fired, and he joined the field in turn 4. A rather ragged start saw Castroneves take the lead into the first turn, but Tony Kanaan slipped by to lead lap one. Green flag racing continued until lap 11, when John Andretti lost a rear view mirror, bringing out a debris caution yellow flag. When racing resumed, Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, and Scott Dixon all took their turn at the lead. Roberto Moreno caused the 2nd caution when he slid high in turn 1, slapped the wall, and hit the wall again in turn 2 before coming to rest. Jon Herb was the next car to be in an accident after he slid in turn 2 and hit the wall, ending his day. Milka Duno also spun in turn 1 and backed her car into the wall, damaging and ending her day as well. On the 74th lap, Dario Franchitti took the lead for the first time, and led until he pit on the 89th lap. Around that time, officials were warning that rain was approaching the area. After several drivers sequenced through green flag pit stops, Tony Kanaan led Marco Andretti. Suddenly, on the 99th lap, John Andretti got high in turn two, and crashed into the outside wall, bringing out the caution. Jeff Simmons found himself unexpectedly in the lead, but pitted a lap later, giving Marco Andretti the lead. With rain only a few miles away, the ensuing lap 107 restart could decide the winner. As the green came out, Tony Kanaan got the jump on Andretti, and took the lead in turn 1. Moments later, Phil Giebler spun and crashed in turn 1, bringing the yellow out once again. Before safety crews could clear the track, heavy rain fell, and the race was red flagged.

When the race was stopped, 113 laps were completed. A race is required to go a minimum of 101 laps before it can be official. If rain continued the rest of the afternoon, it could be declared official. Andretti Green Racing was scored 1st 2nd 3rd with Kanaan leading, Marco Andretti second, and Danica Patrick third. After nearly three hours, the rain stopped and the track was dry. Shortly after 6:00 p. m., the field lined up in the pits for a restart.

Tony Kanaan took over where he left off and pulled away from the field. Danica Patrick got by Marco Andretti and took over second place. Approximately 30 laps of uninterrupted intense green flag racing followed. Another sequence of green flag pit stops saw all of the leaders head to the pits. Jaques Lazier stayed out a couple of extra laps, and led the race for the first time in his career. After the stops, Kanaan returned to the lead, followed by defending champion Sam Hornish Jr.

On the 151st lap, Marty Roth slid high in turn 1 and smacked the wall, and started an exciting sequence of events. The skies were darkening, and rain was fast approaching again, which would certainly end the race for good. Under the yellow, many leaders pit for tires and fuel, while some drivers, including Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, stayed out to gain track position. On the 156th lap, the field went back to green, however, in turn four, Tony Kanaan came up on the back of Jaques Lazier, sending Lazier into the wall, and sending Kanaan's car into a spin. He blew a tire and coasted into the pits. Moments later, the field assembled for what was expected to be the final restart before the rains came. Franchitti, working lap 163, held the lead into the backstretch. Behind him, Marco Andretti tangled with Dan Wheldon, and Andretti's car flipped down the backstretch. Buddy Rice was also involved. Before the track could be cleared, a heavy rainstorm fell on the track, and the race was called after 166 laps with Dario Franchitti declared the winner. As was the case in 2004, victory lane celebrations were cancelled. Franchitti drove his car inside the Master Control Tower ("Pagoda") for victory ceremonies in an indoor setting, which is now established as the standard procedure in inclement weather. As of the 2022 race, this was the most recent "500" to be shortened by rain.

The pace car for the 2007 Indy 500 was a Chevrolet Corvette. Patrick Dempsey was the driver. Kid Rock headlined the Miller Lite Carb Day concert. Other performers during the month included Daughtry, Saliva, Augustana, and Bräck (a band headed by the former Indy 500 champion). Indianapolis Colts quarterback and Super Bowl XLI MVP Peyton Manning served as the grand marshal of the IPL 500 Festival Parade on May 26, and waved the green flag to start the 2007 Indy 500. No testing took place prior to the start of official May activities. The initial official entry list was released on April 10, 2007, featuring 69 cars, four former winners, and one rookie. Davey Hamilton's 02 car marks the first time in which a car number beginning with the digit "0" has been entered in the 500. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was fined $25,000 for the use of an illegal fuel mixture, containing 27% methanol (no methanol is allowed) in one of its cars during pole day. Team officials claimed this was due to an inexperienced crew member using an old container of fuel and was not intentional. Indy Racing League chief administrator Brian Barnhart called this "at least plausible," noting that the presence of water in the fuel mixture supports the claim that the fuel was old. The illegal mixture was used only during practice, not for a qualification attempt. From 1974 to 2005, only methanol fuel was used in the Indianapolis 500; and from 1965 to 1973, the rules were crafted in such a way to encourage the use of methanol in order to be competitive. In 2006, a 10% ethanol 90% methanol mixture had been used in the IRL in transition to the ethanol fuel used in the IRL for the 2007 season. Jim Nabors, who sang "Back Home Again in Indiana" during the pre race festivities twenty nine times from 1972 to 2006, missed the 2007 race due to an illness. The fans were asked to sing the song in his place.