Felix Rosenqvist’s Historic Indy 500 Triumph: The Closest Finish in 110 Years

4 min read

A photo‑finish margin of just 0.0233 seconds crowns a dramatic race and a personal milestone for the Swedish driver

Felix Rosenqvist, in his Meyer Shank Racing suit and helmet, triumphantly drinking whole milk after clinching the closest Indianapolis 500 win ever by 0.0233 seconds, standing atop his race car on the Yard of Bricks under bright stadium lights, horizontal landscape, photorealistic

On May 24, 2026, Felix Rosenqvist captured his first Indianapolis 500 victory in the narrowest margin in the race’s 110‑year history, edging out David Malukas by a mere 0.0233 seconds. This article explores the race’s final laps, strategic gambits, emotional backdrop, and what the result means for Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, and the future of IndyCar.

A Finish for the Ages

On May 24, 2026, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Felix Rosenqvist executed a breathtaking outside pass on the final lap to overtake David Malukas and secure victory in the 110th Indianapolis 500. The margin: just 0.0233 seconds—the closest finish in the event’s storied history . This eclipsed the previous record of 0.043 seconds set in 1992 when Al Unser Jr. narrowly beat Scott Goodyear .

The Final Lap Drama

A late-race caution set the stage for a one-lap shootout. Mick Schumacher’s brush with the wall prompted the restart, and on that final dash, Rosenqvist, starting from third, launched an outside move that carried him past Malukas in the closing yards . The result was a photo finish so tight that some reports noted the winning margin as 0.0232 seconds—but timing data confirms 0.0233 seconds as the official figure .