Round 6 - Indianapolis 500 [May 17th]

Now with the emotions better controlled I would like to thank everybody to make this event possible. What a beautiful broadcast from Jonathan and Gabriele!!

So many incredible moments I had this month of May.

At the start, a bit of misposition from my part a little bit forward from Janik. I was keeping my speed but seems he slowed down a little. I knew I wouldn't like to be fighting in the beginning so I had shortened the gears to have a great jump. The first stint I realized I had the legs to build a gap but I confess I was a bit surprised with 8s gap at the first pitstop. I decided to change the 4 tires at every stop to keep a steady fast pace the whole race. Austin overtook me by not changing the left tires in the first pitstop and it took me at least 15 laps to get the position back in turn 1.
After the overtake the gap increased again to 9s at the moment of the second pitstop. Once again when I looked in my mirrors there was Austin again!!! I started to scratch my head (in my mind) trying to understand how much faster his crew was doing his service.

This time I didn't have to re-take the position. Form there it was trying to keep my head down and do what I planed for my race. The fuel consumption was fine during the race due some overtakes lapping cars. I didn't have to manage my pace at any time and it was great. The gap was between 7s to 15s depending of the traffic.

In the 5th pitstop the gap increased to 25 seconds going up to 30s in the end of the stint. In my last pitstop in put fuel only for 23 laps enough to finish and I was just controlling the pace and then things started to happen, lap 190 I guess and then 197 to finish the deal...the computer took control and nothing I could do. Very unfortunate to take Ray with me.

I'm very sad also for a lot of mates who also had technical issues after such a long preparation.

The race was amazing, I didn't put a foot wrong during the whole race, not a single scratch before the retirement. Some few scary moments after Fitch crashed in T1 and also Jundt but nothing major.

Well, my congratulations to Jaques, Cezariusz and Austin for the podium, Nilsson for great 4th place and all the finishers.

I can't wait for the next race! This thing is a drug!!!

Take care!!