Slumped on a counter in his garage, Andretti reflected on a finishing order that was like a dagger through the heart. Penske was racing in the 500 for the first time since 1994.
Timing is everything.
Andretti, who missed Indy the past five years because of the CART-Indy Racing League feud, started from the 21st position and kept charging toward the front, even as he met adversity along the way. He led 16 laps, giving him 398 for his Indy career. But he's now 0 for 12 in the world's richest race, saddled with the burden of being the guy who's led the most laps without actually winning. We did the best we could. We just came up short.