American Racing News Vol 1, Issue 2 Issue 8 | Page 25

saving performance to take the
checkered flag in May's historic
100th Running of the
Indianapolis 500 presented by
PennGrade Motor Oil.
The drama began as several
drivers at the front began to
peel off into the pits for late
splash-and-go stops, while Rossi
moved into the lead and just
kept going. The No. 98 coughed
and sputtered as he fought hard
to save enough Sunoco to finish
the final three laps. Newly
fuelled Andretti Autosport
driver Carlos Munoz put his foot

down trying to erase Rossi's 16second lead, but the No. 98
driver made it work, taking the
checkered flag on fumes.
“We ran out in Turn 4 and we
were clutching it and coasting it
down the back straight,” Rossi
said after taking the checkered
flag by 4.4975 seconds over
teammate Munoz. “I have no
idea how we pulled that off. I’m
at a loss for words but it will
change my life, for sure.”