The 2023 Indianapolis 500 delivered a wild one-lap dash to the finish after several red flags in the closing stages, and Josef Newgarden passed Marcus Ericsson to win in a thrilling finish.
Ericsson got a great jump on the restart, but Newgarden was able to use the draft to pass Ericsson down the backstraight, and held off the defending Indy 500 champion through the final two turns to win IndyCar’s biggest race in his 12th attempt.
Instead of climbing the fence, Newgarden went into the crowd to celebrate with the fans. Here’s what fans were saying after an epic race.
Also see:
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Kyle Kirkwood’s on-board camera captured a terrifying angle of his Indy 500 crash
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Felix Rosenqvist’s flying tire smashed into a parked car after narrowly missing Indy 500 crowd
THE FINAL LAP OF THE 107TH #INDY500.
JOSEF NEWGARDEN WINS! pic.twitter.com/jgsyatqtFS
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 28, 2023
A man of the people!
Josef Newgarden goes INTO THE CROWD to celebrate his Indy 500 victory! #INDY500 pic.twitter.com/1mBUzoMSfH
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 28, 2023
JOE NEWGARDEN IN THE STANDS WHAT A LEGEND
— Joey (@JoeyMulinaro) May 28, 2023
More respect for Josef Newgarden. The Indy 500 has always belonged to the fans.
📸 @SkySports #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/g3Du6vfzHi
— Simon Strang (@StrangRacing) May 28, 2023
Welp…. regardless of the machinations of how that race ended, seeing Josef Newgarden's emotions immediately after winning the #Indy500 are incredible
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) May 28, 2023
That man should have been the face of this series half a decade ago. About time Josef Newgarden got his moment. He's a Superstar. And that was all his. #Indy500
— Dre Harrison (@Dre_WTF1) May 28, 2023
Marcus Ericsson said he didn’t think it was “fair or safe” to do that last restart straight out of the pits on cold tires.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 28, 2023
Marcus Ericsson said he didn’t think it was “fair or safe” to do that last restart straight out of the pits on cold tires.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) May 28, 2023
A moment Josef Newgarden will never forget. #Indy500 🥛 pic.twitter.com/0b85q5X2Nj
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 28, 2023
