First American in 8 years wins Indy 500

Ryan Hunter-Reay became the first American in eight years to win the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday and denied hard-charging Brazilian Helio Castroneves a record-equaling fourth victory at the Brickyard.

Billed as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indy 500 lived up to the hype with a heart-stopping finish as Hunter-Reay beat Castroneves by less than a car length to become the first American winner since Sam Hornish in 2006.

"I've been watching this race since I was in diapers sitting on the floor ... I'm thrilled," said Hunter-Reay after chugging from the traditional quart of cold milk in Victory Lane. "This is American history this race, an American tradition."

Staged on the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Indy 500 may indeed be a uniquely American event, but it had taken on an international flair with only two homegrown drivers reaching Victory Lane since 1998.

With a seething crowd of 250,000 on its feet, Hunter-Reay and Castroneves staged a dramatic two-car duel by swapping the lead over the final six laps.

Stalking Castroneves, Hunter-Reay made the decisive move entering the final lap surging to the front then won a drag race with the Brazilian down the home stretch before punching his fist into the air as he crossed the famous yard of bricks.

Hunter-Reay's Andretti Autosport teammate, Marco Andretti, trying to become the first member of the Andretti clan to reach Victory Lane since his grandfather Mario Andretti in 1969, finished third.

Adding to a spectacular day for Andretti Autosport was Colombian Carlos Munoz, who followed his teammate home in fourth, just ahead of compatriot Juan Pablo Montoya, who was racing his first 500 since winning 14 years ago.

Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup champion making his Indy debut, finished sixth but had little time to savor a brilliant result as he immediately got onto a private jet and headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he will race NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 in a bid to complete a rare Memorial Day double.

Only four drivers have attempted the treacherous high-speed endurance test with Tony Stewart in 2001 the only one to complete the 1,100-mile Memorial Day double.

Gates to the Brickyard opened before sunrise and spectators hauling coolers and wagons packed with beer and barbecues slowly filled the grandstands that ring the 2.5-mile oval for an afternoon of high-octane drama.

The first half of the race was one of the most uneventful as drivers set a record pace reaching the midway mark of the 200 laps without a single caution and only one retirement.

The finish of the race, however, was far different as the favorites made their moves, Carpenter, Hinchcliffe and Scott Dixon all crashing out of the race.

Dixon, the 2008 winner, spun into the wall to end his day while Carpenter and Hinchcliffe came together with 24 laps to run wrecking both cars before Townsend Bell slammed into a barrier setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

Reuters