Closest Indy 500 Finish Ever: Rosenqvist Wins by 0.0233 Seconds

The Thrilling Finish

Felix Rosenqvist swung to the outside of David Malukas, then found a way past the Team Penske driver to win the closest Indianapolis 500 in history by a margin of 0.0233 seconds on Sunday.

The Event Details

Malukas looked as if he was in position to win when he passed race leader Marcus Armstrong off the final restart with one lap to go while Meyer Shank Racing teammates Rosenqvist and Armstrong battled wheel to wheel down the back straightaway and through the fourth and final turn.

But Rosenqvist had just enough power to pull away from Armstrong and snake behind Malukas before making the decisive outside pass in the final 50 feet.

The Previous Record

The closest previous finish came in 1992 when Al Unser Jr. beat Scott Goodyear across the yard of bricks by 0.043 seconds.

The Impact Analysis

The wild finish began with a red flag that came out with seven laps to go because of a scary crash involving Indy 500 rookie Caio Collet. Flames billowed out of the side of his car as it skidded to a stop in the grass.

When racing resumed after a 10-minute delay, Armstrong and Malukas sped past the top two cars – Rosenqvist and Pato O’Ward.

The Prediction

Rosenqvist's win marks a significant moment in his career, coming in the same month he became a father. Malukas, a 24-year-old American, was consoled by his father in pit lane after the race.