Why the Indy 500 MATTERS 

The Indy 500 matters because it gives us some actual racing after sitting through the Monaco GP

Greatest day in motor racing Monaco in the morning, Indy 500 in the middle of the day, and the Coke a Cola 600 at night

I remember watching Castroneves get his fourth Indy win two years ago, and he was celebrating like it was his first. This race means way more than a non-racing fan could ever imagine.

The Indy 500 is so cool that F1 does a 2 hour parade in Monaco to celebrate it.

I think that younger audiences don't appreciate the feat Nigel Mansell achieved in 1992 and 1993. Obviously 1992 was well known as the year where, after 12 years of trying, he finally clinched the world title in F1. However, due to being (to say the least) messed around by Williams even before he clinched the title that year, he got his own back on the team by walking away at the end of 1992. From there, he was contacted by Paul Newman and Carl Haas, the co-owners of Newman/Haas Racing in Indycar, a team capable of challenging for the Indycar title (having helped Michael Andretti, who moved the opposite way to Mansell, going from Indycar to F1, to the Indycar title in 1991). It's hard to overstate how big a story it was for Nigel Mansell, the reigning F1 World Champion, starting out in Indycar. At the season opener in Surfers Paradise, where Mansell made history by becoming the first rookie in the series to clinch pole and the win for their first race, there was a bigger crowd of journalists than the Indy 500. After that dream start, it wasn't all plain sailing, he had a crash in practice at Phoenix that left him unconscious and his back split open internally (which required surgery before he participated in the "Rookie Test" at Indy). Not only did he qualify for Indy, but he led a large amount of the race, ultimately finishing third, but of the remaining races on ovals, he won all of them. These, coupled with consistent performances in races he didn't win, led to him clinching the Indycar title with a race to spare. This meant that for roughly a week, he was F1 and Indycar champion simultaneously

My favorite Indy story is probably the 1994 500. Penske found a loophole, and he sent out in secret to build his loophole engine. Nicked named the beast, he had the engineers working by candle light as not to raise the electricity bill. During the day he would have two guys fly on Concorde to England to grab more parts, and fly back on Concorde, all in a day. The push rods were like 2 inches long, which for pushrods are very short It was estimated that the Beast had 200hp on everyone else, and if you look up the 1994 500 on RU-vid. When the green flag waves, it's like everyone else is still jockeying

Josh how have you NOT made a video about Scott Dixon yet? He’s literally the most successful driver from your country of all time. Edit Scott McLaughlin as well deserves one

It’s nice to see true motorsport fans here and not F1 fans shitting on other disciplines just bc it’s not F1

As a American, this race is such a treat to watch. It's one of my favorite races ever and probably in about 5-6 years, I'll be there watching it live. Yeah, that race in 2011 was such a heartbreak for J.R, had it won then luck ran out. Wheldon won and then I believe that was his final victory before Las Vegas 2011 where we lost him that day.

I love Memorial Day weekend, Monaco for breakfast, Indy for lunch and big ass dinner later at night with the Coke 600, genuinely one of my fav days of the year

Too many fond memories of watching the Indy 500, sometimes directly after the Monaco Grand Prix in the morning. Wheldon's final win before his passing, JPM taking a second '500 win 15 years after his first, Rossi's insane fuel gamble which saw him become the first rookie to win the Indy '500 since Castroneves did it in 2001, Takuma Sato becoming the first Asian to win the Indy 500 (and then the first Asian to do it twice), Castroneves getting his 4th win while holding back an insanely quick Palou, and the epic final duel last year between Ericsson and O'Ward...good memories 🔥

This race got me into IndyCar. Watched it in 2019 for the first time and fell in love with it, especially oval racing. Always thought this gotta be boring... Well, I was wrong. Can't wait for it!

Fun fact about 2011. Jr was driving a National Guard car, was leading the race at turn 4, but didn't win. By Jr I don't mean JR Hildebrand, I mean Dale Earnhardt Jr in the 88 National Guard car who ran out of gas on the last turn of the Coke 600, the NASCAR race that same day. Kind of a weird coincidence that both National Guard cars driven by a JR on the same day were one turn away from winning their respective race but failed to do so

I've been going to the 500 since 1970, and still your presentation is probably the best, well researched, and explained primer I have ever heard. Heck, you even did the qualificaitons process perfectly. If you've been doing your research, and you clearly have done so, you may have come across Al Unser Jr's 1992 interview as he was climbing out of the car, the drink of milk, and don't forget the kiss from the 500 Festival queen, Little Al was choked up. "you just don't know what Indy means."

I grew up in the shadow of IMS and it's hard to put into words how much this whole month means. Thanks for covering this for a foreign audience it's so special

The 500 is something special. I'm from Europe but I made it to the 500 myself 4 times now and I can't wait for the opportunity to go again

11:08 This is why this dude is the best - no way any other content creator that isn't full-time on Indy would be able to make a Helio-Paul Tracy deep cut reference from 20 years ago

Indy is one of the few events where the driver who qualifies last (or not at all) makes just as much headlines as the driver who gets pole.

The most important part is that it was won twice by the man and the legend Takuma Sato and he came close to a third. No joking though, those successes make him arguably the most internationally successful Japanese racing driver in history.

Loving the use of the Codemaster IndyCar Series game OST at the outro! Game gives me many memories!

As an American who love auto racin in almost all shapes, Memorial weekend for me is packed tight: Monaco early in the mornin, Indy 500 around mid-day, then the Coca-Cola 600 at night. Occasionally a driver doin the marathon known as racin in the Indy 500 and Coke 600

For me Indy represents Peak Single Driver Skill Endurance LeMans is Peak Team Endurance Monaco is Peak precision driving

“…and then, after the Monaco GP and the Indy 500, the Motorsports tripleheader concludes with another race that’s high on history and high on class. A race in a series that requires finesse. A race that demands etiquette of the highest order. NAZZZZCAHHHH” *guitar riff*

We need to give IndyCar far more love than it gets, the cars are not just built different vs F1, but IndyCar unlike F1 and more like NASCAR, has a beautiful mix of speedway races and road courses mixed into their calendar. And unlike F1, IndyCar races on Road America! IndyCar needs tons of skill to drive just like NASCAR and F1, I just wish it was treated with more prestige like F1 instead of being called the failed F1 racer league...

Dude I love this channel. Your opinion pieces are great and your history lessons are interesting af. Keep up the awesome work!

Another feather in the cap of the Indy 500 is that the first winner, Ray Harroun's Marmon Wasp was the first Single-Seat (racers always had ride-along mechanics before that) purpose-built open-wheel racing car. Also the first with a rearview mirror. It is the common ancestor of all modern IndyCars, Midgets, Sprint Cars and, yes, F1 cars.

Thank you for making this video Josh. As an Indy native and lifelong motorsports fan, seeing people from around the globe enjoy this race and understand how special it is brings feelings of happiness and even pride. The last Sunday in May is always a great day for us racing fans. Three big shows we get to enjoy throughout the day! Keep up the great work.

Man it always hurts me inside that Dan wheldon won the 500 bcuz of hildebrandts crash and him winning the 500 is the only reason he was in that car in vegas that took his life later that year such a wierd situation to have the greatest moment of your entire life being the catalyst for your death

If you are an F1 fan then this weekend each year gives you the chance to watch an adrenaline-filled, continuously changing, nail-biting racing spectacle by skipping the most boring race on the F1 calendar, Monaco, and watch the Indy 500 instead.

It’s the 2nd part of a trifecta of racing: Monaco, Indy, Coke 600

People underestimate how big the circuit is due to the sheer speed of the cars. You could fit the Kentucky derby horse racing track, Wimbledon, Four major football stadiums and the entire Vatican City inside its infield, and still have room to spare. Half a dozen or more f1 circuits could fit inside it together.

i might be an outlier, but i started watching Indy 500 after watching the movie Turbo. i had no freaking clue how all of this worked, but i've followed it ever since, from my favourite racetrack in NASCAR games, to actually watching the weekend live and following everything around it. absolutely love this track

Qualifying for the Indy 500 last weekend was more entertaining than any F1 session so far this season.

I500 should send Josh a big reward for he single-handedly spiked (and revamped) the interest in this series among F1 - and other motor race -, fans. His video here is beyond a mere promotion of Indy, it is poetry in motion.

"bUt It'S jUsT aN oVaL rAcE" - People who don't know wheel

Now I'm here just on the cheering for a Josh collab with David Land, his channel has the best coverage on the Indy 500, the same way Josh has the best content on "entertainment-oriented-information?"

"Hot set of new tyres from the oven" Mate it's not F1, Indycar don't use tyre warmers.

Watching this year’s Indy 500, it really proves that it isn’t over until the checkered falls. That last lap pass from Newgarden was amazing to witness and to see his Penske teammate in nascar Ryan Blaney win on the same day was all the more special

I might actually give this a watch this year

This video is EXTREMELY well done and does a great job explaining a historic and complex race

The indy 500 is a very important part of motorsports, I was there back in 2015, best experience of my life.

I love how at the end of the video when it shows Helio winning the 4th. You inserted the music from the IndyCar game back in the day. AWESOME!!

I have been a fan of this race since 1963. It was still on Memorial Day which was May 31st. The race was rained out and was run June 1st. I cried and begged my mom to let me stay home and listen to the race (it was only on the radio, no live TV coverage) you could see it a m

I’ve been working at IMS for over 12 years, just attended my 13th 500 and each and every year is an incredible show. truly a special moment every year.

I just watched the McLaren video of their 1974 win. It was wonderful to hear the excitement still in the voice of the winner!

One simple fact that keeps me coming back every year, it is The Fastest Race in the world. There's nothing like it.

I've been to the Indy 500 twice. Such an amazing event. 400k+ people there.

I don't know about you guys, but '87 was my favorite race. Watching Al Unser Sr. win his 4th 500 after starting the month without a ride was unforgettable. He stepped in for Danny Ongais after he crashed in practice and was out due to injuries. Al Sr. struggling to qualify with the car. Had to pull the previous year's car that was put in a hotel lobby in PA out to run. Got it up to speed and qualified midpack. Ran back part of the top 5 for most of the day. Found himself 3rd behind Mario Andretti and Roberto Guerrero. Mario dominates the whole day and then breaks with 23 laps to go. Guerrero inherits the lead and has a lap lead over Unser, but stalls the car repeatedly when pitting for gas because it was stuck in I believe 6th gear. Unser unlaps himself and then leads the last few laps to victory. This whole race was the most Indy thing ever. The track picks the winner. Al went from no ride to a 4th 500 title.

For those wondering about 2002... Paul Tracy had it won. That deserves a video in of itself.

If I could visit one race ever, this would be it!

Born and raised in Indy. I love this track and race. I'm spoiled, I know, but deserves my love and affection. Great piece Josh.

Continued month later on ABC's Wide World of Sports ( the start, finish, and the crashes). It wasn't until the 80's that we had same day coverage and the 90's were finally live. But I still can't wait for Sunday. I will be cheering for Helio for the win.

As a long time Indy fan and growing up there, I hope this video got some new people to watch the race today. cheers!

Now we need a LeMans video

Josh, every time you make a video, it makes my day. You’re a huge reason I got into F1, which got me into Indycar and Supercars. Thanks for all you do to bring us awesome racing content

Any major Motorsport event is like Christmas let’s be real

Love when motorsport youtubers make videos about IndyCar!

I hardly ever get the chance to watch IndyCar usually, but I always make sure I can watch the Indy500 live. What a race.

I watched the indy 500 for the first time last year, I've been a fan of indycar since. It's great

I still can't believe a nitrous powered snail not only qualified for the race, but also won it. IN HIS FIRST ATTEMPT.

Thank you so much for posting this, Josh!

This years Bump day was so stressful for me,watchin Jack Harvey going round trying to beat Graham time and when he had i did cry and i am so sad that Stef Wilson is not in the race cause of his crash.

This was an absolute work of art!!!Goosebumps

The 500 is the only oval race that is consistently FANTASTIC.

I absolutely loved watching last years 500 in the short chute of two it was so fun walking through the infield before the race started. the track announcer was getting the fan to cheer for who they thought were going to win the under whelming cheers for Ericsson was met with my voice for he and Roman groshen were the drivers I knew

It's the crown jewel of a series with the best racing product on track by a country mile. Where qualifying requires 4 digits behind the dot. Where multiple strategy options exist. Where on a good day, the team with a budget of 1 million dollars can compete with a team with a budget of 40 million dollars.

Nice video. I would also say the Indy 500 matters because of the crowd attending. That's a big part of the spectacle. There are people who have attended races for decades straight here. Living around the track I can tell you that there are stories galore around the race. It's very special for that reason alone...what it means to generations of families here.

Dude these videos just keep getting better and better. Amazing stuff you Kiwi legend

Having gone last year, it truly is the greatest spectacle in racing!!! 🏁

Was actually thinking that you were going to mention about the Indy 500 in a video a few days ago. Brilliant as always Josh!!!

Nice to see contemt creators making videos on Indy wpuld love more NASCAR and Indy car content. Its probably alot to ask, but i would love yo see it josh!

Babe wake up, Josh posted another great video about IndyCar

I've watched the Indy 500 every year, (pretty sure its a requirement for American Gearheads) but this year was the first time that I watched it from start to finish and it was well worth it

"To drive at Indy is like playing a violin with one string. You must be a virtuoso to make music from it."--Zora Arkus-Duntov, father of the Corvette

This years race was insane! Gone 16x in person now can’t wait till next year

Don't forget that the cars go above 220 MPH and that Indycar was formerly known as Cart

For those who don't know, Sergio Loro has made a fantastic interpretation of IMS as it was run in the 1930's for Assetto Corsa; at a point where the banked corners were paved over with tarmac but both straights were made of a patchwork of tarmac & brick.

This is such a great weekend of racing. Motocross first race outdoors, nascar at charlotte, indy 500 and Monaco I’ll be sitting on the couch all weekend

Indy means everything to me and I gotta say…that vid was OUTSTANDING! In less than 10 min you explained why Indy is the “World’s Greatest Sporting Event”. Cheers!

My favorite race is and stays the 24h on the Nürburgring. A challenging track with cars ranging from a Dacia Logan to a brand new GT3 car and sometimes even prototypes like the SCG 007 LMH over a total race distance of more than 2480 miles, if it’s not red flagget because of the unpredictable weather in the Eifel.

I didn't know the 'full' story till so far (so thanks for that Josh). I am following the Indy 500 since 2010-ish. I liked the older IRL cars more. But the new cars have grown on me as well.

Flying at top speed of 240 mph for 200 laps without a mistake just to have a chance to win. This really is The Greatest Spectacle in Racing

I sat on the inside of turn four in 2001 it was one of the best things I've ever watched. One weird thing to me was how narrow the track actually is in person

Two lap shoot out... Indy Fans : WOOOOOOOOO! F1 Fans: REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Oh that music at the end, the memories ❤️

Jacques Villeneuve's 1995 Indy run still blows my mind. Even coming in second would've been impressive given the two lap penalty he earned in the early stages of the race. Scott Goodyear just had to get antsy.

Two Josh Videos in 3 Days? Is this a Dream? Love your content

Thank you Josh! Excellent video as usual. Indy is awesome and now that Roger Penske owns it the future is bright

Aahh that song at the end from the old Indycar Series games🔥

The way you describe these races could turn any non racing person into a heavy hearted rev head.

12:00 Kinda fitting you had to add that throwback tune!

This video was incredible and then the credits rolled... and I had something that hit me with nostalgia so hard I now have a concussion.

I’d also like a vid abt why the Indycar title matters. Even tho the 500 is the biggest race in the world, it almost overshadows the fact that it’s still part of a full season championship

Love hearing that music from the old game at the end

Pretty good video Josh! This got me hyped!

Craziest, most tragic 500 ever, 1973. From practice, to qualifying, weather delays and the race itself, 1973 Indy 500 was a month of tragedies. Gordon Johncock was declared the winner of a rain shortened race, but nobody celebrated. RiP road warriors.

Money, points and things, presents cars, ring, watch and more.

I always feel so lucky that I go every year simply because I live in the area and tickets run in the family. I don’t pay attention to much racing besides the Indy 500, but it really is so fun to watch as an outsider. This year was rough, and I wanted to ditch after the four hour rain delay, but that last lap pass by Newgarden (AGAIN!!! HE DID THIS LAST YEAR TOO!!!) made it totally worth it. Great video.

I remember you said one video about doing a video on Jules. Hopefully it’s still on your mind and working on it! Love to watch that.

Love this channel, Josh, whatever you do, don’t leave the channel, introduce new hosts and those multiple new hosts don’t live up to the expectation of the original channel. I’m not saying any other channel by name that’s F1 related, but………..