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2018 Indy 500 countdown: 6 years ago – 2012 Indianapolis 500

ByAsher Fair|
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Ryan Briscoe, driver of the #2 IZOD Team Penske Chevrolet, leads the field at the start of the IZOD IndyCar Series 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 27, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Ryan Briscoe, driver of the #2 IZOD Team Penske Chevrolet, leads the field at the start of the IZOD IndyCar Series 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 27, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

With just six days to go until the 2018 Indianapolis 500, let’s take a look back at the 2012 Indy 500, which took place six years ago.

The first Indianapolis 500 of the DW12 chassis era was arguably the most action-packed race in Indy 500 history at the time. That race was the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the four-turn, 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana back in 2012.

Dario Franchitti won the race for the third time in his IndyCar career after starting in 16th place, which was tied for the lowest starting position of an Indy 500 race winner with Dan Wheldon’s starting position in the 89th running of the race in 2005 since Eddie Cheever won the 82nd running of the event back in 1998 after starting in 17th.

He won it after falling all the way back to 29th place early on as a result of his involvement in an accident on pit road as well.

Also for the third time in his IndyCar career, Franchitti won the race under caution. He crossed the finish line just ahead of Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan in second and third place, respectively, after leading only 23 of the race’s 200 laps.

Franchitti won the race under caution after Takuma Sato tried to pass him going into turn one on the final lap of the race and ended up spinning out and wrecking, thus bringing out the caution flag.

Here is a video of this crazy finish.

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Aside of Franchitti, a total of nine other drivers led at least one lap throughout the race. Marco Andretti led a field-high 59 laps, and Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, race polesitter Ryan Briscoe, James Hinchcliffe, Charlie Kimball, Rubens Barrichello, Alex Tagliani and Takuma Sato combined to led the race’s other 118 laps.

The race featured a total of 34 lead changes, which was a new Indy 500 record at the time, among these 10 drivers. It also featured a total of eight caution flag periods for 39 laps. Of the 33 drivers who started the race, 23 finished it. Of the 23 drivers who finished it, 16 finished it on the lead lap.

Oriol Servia advanced a field-high 23 positions throughout the race. After starting all the way back on the outside of the ninth row in 27th place, he ended up finishing all the way up in fourth.

Here is the full broadcast of the 2012 Indianapolis 500.

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Be sure to tune in to Beyond the Flag tomorrow at 10:00 am ET for a recap of the 2013 Indianapolis 500 from five years ago since there will be just five days to go until this year’s running of the event at that time. This year’s Indy 500 is set to take place on on Sunday, May 27, and it is set to be broadcast live on ABC starting at 11:00 am ET on that date.