INDIANAPOLIS — What a Month of May that this year has been. Josef Newgarden topped Marcus Ericsson for the fourth closest finish in the 107-year history of the Indianapolis 500 to wrap up a record setting Month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The margin of victory was .0974 of a second trails only 1992 – .043 of a second Al Unser Jr. over Scott Goodyear; 2014 – .0600 of a second Ryan Hunter-Reay over Helio Castroneves; 2006 – .0635 of a second Sam Hornish Jr. over Marco Andretti.

This is only the third time the Indianapolis 500 has been decided by a last-lap pass. The other two times: 2006: Sam Hornish (Team Penske) passed Marco Andretti on the front straightaway; 2011: Dan Wheldon passed JR Hildebrand on the front straightaway.

Ironically enough, that 2011 race was the last time a 32-year-old won this race as Newgarden became the ninth different driver to do so at that age.

Newgarden made the most significant position advancement in the field today, 16 positions, to claim his Indianapolis 500 victory.

That was aided by the first multi-time red flag conditions that this race has ever seen that wasn’t related to weather.

Still, this race had it all.

Newgarden started 17th, the lowest starting position for an Indianapolis 500 winner since Ryan Hunter-Reay triumphed from 19th on the starting grid in 2014.

Newgarden as the first American since Alexander Rossi in 2016, led five laps. The only winners to lead fewer laps were Joe Dawson, who led two in 1912, and Dan Wheldon, who led one lap in 2011.

There were 11 lap leaders who finished on the lead lap, beating the event record of nine, set in 2011. Also, fourteen different drivers led at least one lap today, tying with 2013 for the second-highest total in “500” history. The record is 15 drivers in 2017 and 2018.

There were 52 lead changes, the third-highest total in “500” history. The record is 68 in 2013, followed by 54 in 2016.

A record six former winners led the 2023 Indianapolis 500, surpassing the prior race record of five set in 1980, 1981 and 1993. The six former winners to lead today: Marcus Ericsson, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi, Takuma Sato, Will Power and Helio Castroneves.

That’s just race day.

A weekend prior, you have the fastest female qualifier ever in Katherine Legge (231.070 mph) in Indianapolis 500 history. The previous single-lap record was 230.201 by Simona De Silvestro in 2021; the previous four-lap record was 229.439 by Sarah Fisher in 2002.

Agustin Canapino became the first Argentine driver to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 since Raul Riganti in 1940.

We also saw the first Spanish driver to win a pole for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” in Alex Palou. He produced the fastest four-lap average speed in history for an Indianapolis 500 pole winner, 234.217 mph. The previous record was 234.046 set in 2022 by Scott Dixon. Arie Luyendyk set the all-time four-lap qualifying average speed record of 236.986 in 1996, but his run came on the second day of qualifications and wasn’t eligible for the pole.

This is the fastest starting field in Indianapolis 500 history, with an average speed of 232.184 mph. The previous fastest starting field came in 2022, with an average speed of 231.023.This is the third consecutive year the fastest field in history record has been set. This year’s field average speed is 232.184 mph. It was 231.023 in 2022 and 230.294 in 2021. The record before 2021 was 229.382, set in 2014.

This is the fastest front row in Indianapolis 500 history, with an average speed of 234.181 mph. The previous record was 233.643, set in 2022. This is also the closest front row in Indianapolis 500 history in terms of speed, with .103 of a mph separating pole winner Alex Palou from No. 3 starter Felix Rosenqvist. The previous record was .112 between pole sitter James Hinchcliffe and No. 3 starter Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2016.

The time gap between pole sitter Alex Palou and No. 2 qualifier Rinus VeeKay, .0040 of a second, is the closest in Indianapolis 500 history. The previous record was .01 between pole sitter Al Unser and No. 2 qualifier Johnny Rutherford in 1970.

The speed gap between pole sitter Alex Palou and No. 2 qualifier Rinus VeeKay, .006 of a mph, is the second closest in Indianapolis 500 history. The record is .003 between pole sitter Ryan Briscoe and No. 2 qualifier James Hinchcliffe in 2012.

Benjamin Pedersen turned the fastest qualifying lap by a rookie in Indianapolis 500 history, 233.297 mph. The previous record was 233.179 by Tony Stewart in 1996. He also, Pedersen, recorded the second-fastest four-lap qualifying average by a rookie in Indianapolis 500 history, 232.671 mph. The record is 233.100 set by Tony Stewart in 1996.

There were 84 qualifying attempts Saturday, May 21, an all-time record. The previous record was 73 in 2019.

What about the stories? Between Callum Ilott and Juncos Hollinger Racing’s turnaround cars from behind the slowest to being over 231 mph in 24 hours. To Abel Motorsports, as a first time team, making the show. To Graham Rahal being bumped out to back in after Stefan Wilson was injured in a Monday afternoon practice crash.

Indy had it all and gave us a deserving race winner.