So Alexander Rossi, whose IndyCar races you can count on one hand, wins the Indianapolis 500 by a last-minute decision to gamble on not stopping for fuel, and crosses the finish line at double-digit speed?
NASCAR’s Memorial Day race was almost as bizarre.
The fact that polesitter Martin Truex, Jr., won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Coca-Coca 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is not nearly such a surprise, but this is: Truex’s number 78 Toyota led more miles tonight than anyone has, ever, in the history of NASCAR.
Part of that, of course, is that the 600 is the longest race in the NASCAR season, but still: Truex led for 588 miles, losing the lead only a few times as pit stops shook out, then taking it right back. Jimmie Johnson, hoping to tie now-TV commentator Darrell Waltrip as the only other person to win the 600 five times, managed to squeeze by Truex under the green flag for a less than 60 seconds, and he and Kevin Harvick were the only other drivers to lead the race at all, for any reason. Harvick finished second, Johnson third.
Amazing, even if Truex didn’t win, given the fact that he drives for a one-car team, based in Denver. But this year, an affiliation with Joe Gibbs Racing and a move from Chevrolet to Toyota has energized Truex and the 78 team, and now that he’s in the Chase for the Championship, Truex, crew chief Cole Pearn and the Furniture Row team could be a factor come November.
“It’s just kind of kicking in now,” Truex said. “We won the 600!”
Boy, did you.
Maybe the least dominating win every at Indy, and the most dominating win ever at Charlotte? Craaaazy day.