INDIANAPOLIS — A week ago, Alex Tagliani didn’t even think he would be in the Indianapolis 500.
On Sunday, after starting from the last spot, No. 33, he finished 11th — the biggest mover of the day.
Tagliani was bumped out of the starting field on the last qualifying run of the month last week and only got back in when team owner Eric Bachelart put him into the No. 36 car Bruno Junqueira qualified.
The 36-year-old Canadian couldn’t have asked for a better result.
“Our day was pretty simple: We just tried to make no mistakes and stay out of trouble and continue to make up ground toward the front,” he said. “We also tried not to make any mistakes in the pits, and that’s exactly what we did.”
Kanaan crash.
Tony Kanaan crashed out of the race, but he wasn’t about to complain.
When Kanaan’s rear suspension broke on lap 98, his car slid through the third turn, slammed into the outside wall at 190 mph, then hit it again, briefly leaving a trail of fire before rolling to a stop.
“I just closed my eyes and said this is going to be a big one,” he said. “It banged me up, but I can’t feel unlucky because I’m standing here.”
Fisher encouraged.
Sarah Fisher broke a record by starting her eighth Indy 500, the most of any woman.
Her fledgling team also produced a career-best effort. Fisher, who started 21st, finished 17th — her best Indy finish.
“It was consistent. We have a lot to learn,” she said. “We showed we can be in the game.”
Dixon denied.
Scott Dixon was positioned to make a run at his second straight Indy win. But he lost the lead to Helio Castroneves on lap 142 and then a poor pit stop ended his chances.
“We had great pit stops all day, but toward the end, that last stop, we fumbled,” Dixon said.
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