Josef Newgarden made a stunning outside pass on the final lap of Sunday’s Indy 500 to take the checkered flag for the second year in a row. Absolutely gutting heartbreak for runner-up Pato O’Ward, and history for Newgarden, who becomes the first back-to-back Indy 500 champ since Helio Castroneves successfully defended in 2003. It really was one of the better finishes racing fans could’ve asked for — making the four-hour weather delay worth it.
WHAT A FINAL LAP!
Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward battled to the end in the 108th running of the #Indy500. pic.twitter.com/0QqbcbnfYl
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 26, 2024
Sadly for some viewers in Madison, Wisconsin, they didn’t exactly get to see the sensational conclusion in real time. With a hat tip to Awful Announcing, here’s the local-area footage of a jarring advertisement break during the last lap. SMASH CUT TO: A Madison Area Technical College commercial!
Oops. @wmtv15news in Madison cut to a commercial on the final turn, on the final lap of the Indy 500. pic.twitter.com/fB56dvhs6w
— David Petroff (@DavidPetroff) May 26, 2024
No shade to Madison Area Technical College. Not their fault. It’s just that, damn, talk about bad timing. You know what, though? It’s actually a big plus for the school. Nobody who watched the Indy 500 in Madison, Wisconsin, will ever forget about that ad. I want to circle back in the coming months to see if enrollment spikes because of this gaffe.
Just a rough look for the local NBC affiliate. What can you even say? It was bad enough that the announcer feed got cut in the midst of such an enthusiastic play-by-play call of Newgarden’s epic move. That alone would’ve been cause for feelings of dread. But then to get totally sucked out of the spectacle of the Indy 500 to the all-too-real check-in with a local college at the most climactic moment? That really, really stings.
At least they cut back to the action eventually…
The final lap of the Indy 500 as seen in Madison. 😬 pic.twitter.com/8lP6vclGA0
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) May 26, 2024
Flipping on the mic for a boisterous, “LET’S GO!!!” is of some solace.
I feel for the folks in Madison. Not only the race watchers, but the TV producers who were in charge when somebody hit the wrong button or got a little too trigger-happy with the ad break transition. Rather than blasting them, how about we not lose sight of just how great that ending was? And the incredible achievement of Josef Newgarden to win the Indy 500 twice in a row. It’s the crown jewel in open-wheel racing. Even some of the best drivers feel their resumes aren’t complete without cruising down Victory Lane, chugging all that milk, kissing the bricks, and so forth.
A special #Indy500 tradition for Josef Newgarden.
The back-to-back champion celebrates with the fans in the stands. pic.twitter.com/z7ZtYaYuvg
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 27, 2024
Josef Newgarden’s son Kota joined the family to kiss the bricks! #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/FFMNfvhKih
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 27, 2024
PS, salute to Kyle Larson for his Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 Double Duty efforts. The veteran NASCAR driver qualified in fifth for the Indy, and wound up finishing 18th. Sounds like Larson will be in the field again for 2025 if all goes according to plan.
“I would definitely love to be back next year.”
Kyle Larson reflects on his performance in his first INDYCAR race. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/hESHuxMIrl
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 27, 2024
