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Formula 1 and IndyCar: The greatest lie ever told about open-wheel racing

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 29: J.R. Hildebrand driver of the #4 National Guard Panther Racing finishes second after crashing during the IZOD IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Mile Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 29, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 29: J.R. Hildebrand driver of the #4 National Guard Panther Racing finishes second after crashing during the IZOD IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Mile Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 29, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images) /
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SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 02: Felipe Massa of Brazil and Ferrari (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 02: Felipe Massa of Brazil and Ferrari (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) /

Felipe Massa – 2008 Formula One season (continued)

By the time Felipe Massa crossed the finish line to win the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, many people thought he was the 2008 Formula One champion, as Lewis Hamilton was running in sixth place and was extremely desperate at this point with next to no chance of getting into the top five.

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But that’s when Timo Glock slowed on the track, and Hamilton passed him with just a few turns remaining in the race en route to a fifth place finish to secure his first career Formula One championship, robbing it from Massa in the final seconds of the season. Hamilton finished the season with 98 points, while Massa could only come up with 97 despite his dominance in the season finale.

Massa recently retired with zero career Formula One championships, while Hamilton just won the fourth Formula One title of his career. But Massa’s second place finish in the 2008 championship standings will never be forgotten.

Next: Top 10 most unbreakable records across Formula One, NASCAR and IndyCar

The phrase “no one remembers who came in second” could not possibly be more inaccurate in the sports world, particular in the open-wheel racing world. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good to be remembered for finishing in second place. Are there any notable second place finishers in racing who you feel will never be forgotten because they finished in second?

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