2009 Indianapolis 500

It was a feel good story with a "Hollywood ending" as Helio Castroneves won the 93rd Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. And yes, he climbed the fence!

Castroneves started from the pole; led the 1st 7 laps; ran in the top 10 for much of the race; made adjustments on his car himself throughout the day; and then took over the lead on lap 142 for the final 58 laps. On the final restart with 17 laps to go, Helio jumped out in front of Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick by almost 2-seconds.

"This is incredible," he said. "I think my tears speak for everything. What a great team. I thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity, to be strong, to have a family that I have. I have to thank Roger (Penske), Tim (Cindric), my guys, everybody because they gave my life back."

It's Helio's 3rd Indy 500 win. He joins a short list of just 8 drivers that have at least 3 Indy 500 wins. It's the 20th time a polesitter won "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing". It also gave team owner Roger Penske a record 15 Indy 500 wins.

Dan Wheldon finished 2nd followed by Danica Patrick, Townsend Bell and Will Power. Last year's Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon finished 6th. He led a race high 73 laps. His Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dario Franchitti finished 7th. Franchitti led 50 laps.

There 6 lead changes among 4 drivers:

1-7 Helio Castroneves; 8-52 Dario Franchitti; 53-63 Ryan Briscoe; 64-85 Scott Dixon; 86-90 Dario Franchitti; 91-141 Scott Dixon; 142-200 Helio Castroneves

It was a crash filled race slowed by 8 cautions for 61 laps. Mario Moraes and Marco Andretti made contact on the very first lap and seemingly set the theme for the day. Andretti was able to get back out and run laps late in the race. He finished 30th. Tony Kanaan was running 3rd when something broke in his car sending him into the wall. Kanaan finished 27th. Vitor Meira's car caught on fire on pit road. After the crew extinguished the flames, he got back out on the track - only to get tangled up in a wreck on lap 174 with rookie Raphael Matos. Meira was taken to a local hospital. He was diagnosed with lower-back fractures. Surgery was not necessary, but he will need to wear a back brace.

Laps 1-6 Contact: #5 Moraes & #26 Andretti in T2
Laps 21-27 Contact: #21 Hunter-Reay in T4
Laps 57-62 Contact: #02 Rahal in T4
Laps 83-89 Contact: Car #44 Hamilton in T4
Laps 98-108 Contact: #11 Kanaan in Turn3
Laps 132-140 Contact: #00 Philippe in T4
Laps 161-166 Contact: #18 Wilson in T1
Laps 174-182 Contact: Cars #2 Matos & #14 Meira in T1

For the results, click here.

For the entire run down of the festivities and race day action, click here.