A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
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| Indianapolis Motor Speedway | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | |||||
| Sanctioning body | INDYCAR | ||||
| Season | 2013 IndyCar season | ||||
| Date | May 26, 2013 | ||||
| Winner |  Tony Kanaan | ||||
| Winning team | KV Racing Technology | ||||
| Average speed | 187.433 mph (301.644 km/h) | ||||
| Pole position |  Ed Carpenter | ||||
| Pole speed | 228.762 mph (368.157 km/h) | ||||
| Fastest qualifier |  Will Power | ||||
| Rookie of the Year |  Carlos Muñoz | ||||
| Most laps led | Ed Carpenter (37) | ||||
| Pre-race ceremonies | |||||
| National anthem | Sandi Patty | ||||
| "Back Home Again in Indiana" | Jim Nabors | ||||
| Starting command | Mari Hulman George | ||||
| Pace car | 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray | ||||
| Pace car driver | Jim Harbaugh | ||||
| Starter | Paul Blevin | ||||
| Honorary starter | Michael Peña | ||||
| Estimated attendance | TBD | ||||
| TV in the United States | |||||
| Network | ABC | ||||
| Announcers | Marty Reid Scott Goodyear Eddie Cheever | ||||
| Nielsen ratings | 3.7[1] | ||||
| Chronology | |||||
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The 97th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday May 26, 2013. It was the premier event of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season. Tony Kanaan, a native of Brazil, was victorious on a record-setting day. Kanaan became the fourth Brazilian driver to win the Indianapolis 500 joined by Emerson Fittipaldi, Helio Castroneves, and Gil de Ferran.
The track opened for practice on Saturday, May 11. Time trials were held May 18–19, and the final practice, traditionally dubbed "Carb Day", was Friday, May 24. A support race, the Freedom 100 for the Indy Lights series was also held on Carb Day. In time trials, owner/driver Ed Carpenter of Indianapolis won the pole position, the first American-born pole-sitter since 2006, and the first owner/driver to sit on the pole since 1975.
For the first time since 1987, two drivers in the field entered the race attempting to win a fourth Indianapolis 500.[2] Three-time winners Hélio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009) and Dario Franchitti (2007, 2010, 2012) attempted to tie A. J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears for the most Indy 500 victories. Neither driver was victorious this day, through Castroneves would achieve the feat in 2021. Unknown at the time, the 2013 race would be Franchitti's last; he retired after suffering severe injuries in a crash at Houston about five months later.[3]
After eleven previous attempts, Tony Kanaan, racing for KV Racing Technology, won the race. On a restart with three laps remaining, Kanaan overtook leader Ryan Hunter-Reay in the first turn. Three-time champion Dario Franchitti got loose and crashed into the outside wall bringing out the final caution of the race. Kanaan led Rookie of the Year Carlos Muñoz and Hunter-Reay across the line. The average speed of the race – 187.433 mph (301.644 km/h) – was the fastest Indianapolis 500, breaking the record set in 1990 by Arie Luyendyk. The record would stand until 2021. The 68 lead changes, and 14 different leaders, set during the race are also new records. Other records set (each of which have since been broken) included most cars running at the finish in a race that completed 200 laps (26), fewest caution laps (21), most laps completed by the field (5,863), as well as a 133-lap caution-free segment from lap 61 through 193.
Chevrolet swept the top four finishing positions, and took its first Indianapolis 500 win since 2002, breaking Honda's streak of nine consecutive Indy 500 wins. Chassis manufacturer Dallara won its 8th straight Indy 500, and 13th overall since joining the series in 1997.
Event background
- For the first time since 1989, the Indy 500 will be part of an Indy car "triple crown" along with Pocono and Fontana. A $1 million bonus prize will be offered for any driver to win all three races in the same season.[4]
- The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray served as the official pace car.[5]
- Lotus, who fielded underpowered and uncompetitive engines in 2012, was released from its contract, and did not participate from 2013 onwards.
- On December 21, 2012, Firestone signed a five-year contract extension to be the exclusive official tire supplier through 2018.[6]
- Following its popular success during the festivities surrounding Super Bowl XLVI, a zip-line was installed in the infield.[7]
- After missing the 2012 race due to an illness, Jim Nabors returned once again to perform "Back Home Again in Indiana" during the pre-race ceremonies. It was his 33rd year performing the song in-person, and 35th overall.
Selected rules and rule changes
- Cars will be allowed 130 kPa of turbocharger "boost" during practice (Saturday through Thursday), Carb Day, and race day. Cars will be allowed 140 kPa of boost for "Fast Friday" practice, and during time trials.[8]
- All entries will be allowed a total of 33 sets of tires for practice, time trials and race day. Rookie orientation participants receive four additional sets for exclusive use during that session, and likewise refresher test participants receive two additional sets for use during that session. Entries that qualify for the Fast Nine "Shootout" on Pole Day will receive an additional new set of tires for use during each shootout qualifying attempt, but they must be returned and can not be used during the race.
- Full-time IndyCar entries must adhere to the required 2,000-mile engine mileage limits. Unapproved engine changes will see a 10-position grid penalty at the next race of the season (Detroit). Most full-time teams will enter the month with the same engine they used earlier in the season (Brazil, Long Beach, etc.). The 2,000 miles on the engine must be exhausted during practice before installing a fresh engine for "Fast Friday" and qualifying. At the close of time trials, an additional fresh engine may be installed for Carb Day and race day, without penalty. However, the time trials engine (and the race day engine) must be re-installed and utilized for later events if it still has miles remaining on it.
- Part-time teams utilizing the "Short" engine program will be provided with one engine for use during practice, time trials, and race day.
Schedule
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* Includes days where track activity ROP — denotes rookie orientation program Comm. — denotes 500 Festival Community Day
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Entry list
The official entry list was released May 7, featuring 34 entries.[9] The initial entry list included four rookies (A. J. Allmendinger, Conor Daly, Tristan Vautier, Carlos Muñoz) and four former winners in Hélio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Buddy Lazier.
Ryan Briscoe—who took pole position for the 2012 race—was unable to secure a full-time drive for the 2013 season, but participated in the race in a fourth car entered by Chip Ganassi Racing.
