The Greatest Day in Motorsports: Monaco GP, Indy 500, and the Coca-Cola 600
One day unites three legendary races, each with its own history and notable moments in motorsports.
Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix, IndyCar’s Indianapolis 500, and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600—all in one day, Memorial Day Sunday. It’s what fans call the “Greatest Day in Motorsports,” with three iconic races happening around the world on the same day. From unexpected moves to close finishes, no race fell short of excitement, giving fans plenty to talk about long after the final lap.
This year’s “Greatest Day in Motorsports” began with the Monaco Grand Prix on the streets of Monte Carlo, where fans and celebrities gathered to experience one of the most glamorous settings in motorsport. Then, the historic Indianapolis 500 took center stage, drawing over 350,000 fans in attendance. Later in the day, the Coca-Cola 600 kicked off at Charlotte Motor Speedway, wrapping up one of the most anticipated days in racing.
Navigating Pit Stops on the Streets of Monaco
There were plenty of storylines to kick off the day. Formula 1’s new two-stop rule added extra drama for fans. When they say you have to win in qualifying on Saturday and get it done on Sunday, it proved true at the famed circuit.
Many fans were excited to see seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton drive a Ferrari for the first time in Monaco, but it was his teammate Charles Leclerc who stood on the podium as the runner-up. Despite coming close, the Monegasque was unable to repeat his historic 2024 home win. All was not lost, though. Racing in front of his home crowd, he was voted “Driver of the Day” by fans.
Lando Norris won the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the first McLaren driver to do so since Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton, now at Ferrari, finished fifth. Teammate Oscar Piastri joined Norris on the podium, while Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen finished fourth. While Norris and McLaren mastered their pit strategy, Red Bull’s gamble on timing ultimately cost Verstappen a shot at victory. Although Verstappen led most laps, the two pit stop rule forced him to make a second stop. Red Bull “rolled the dice,” as Christian Horner put it, hoping for a Safety Car or red flag before ultimately complying with the rule. The race began and ended with Norris in P1, Leclerc in P2, Piastri in P3, and Verstappen in P4.
Seeing his team’s pit strategy pay off, Lando Norris reflected on Monaco’s challenges by saying, “Overtaking has never been good in Monaco, ever. So, I don’t know why people have such high expectations. But I also think Formula 1 should not turn into just a show to entertain people. It’s a sport. It’s who can race the best, who can qualify the best.” Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton added that while the new rule “didn’t make a big difference necessarily for me,” F1 bosses “need to keep on trying with this one.”
Indy 500 Storylines: Surprises, Setbacks, and Pit Road Heartbreaks
While the rich and famous celebrated the Monaco GP from the comfort of yachts anchored in Port Hercule, more than a few GOATs were in attendance at the Indy 500, The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Can you say Tom Brady, Alex Rodriguez, Michael Strahan, Derek Jeter, Keanu Reeves, Terry Crews, David Letterman, Kathy Ireland, and Gronk, as in Rob Gronkowski? Their presence brought star power and energy, highlighting how the Indy 500’s atmosphere is truly unmatched.
At Indy, Robert Shwartzman became the first rookie since 1983 to start on pole. His fairytale day ended on pit road when the brakes on his No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet locked, sending him sliding into four crew members.
And when it looked like Penske driver Josef Newgarden, who had to start from P32, might make history by climbing back to run as high as P5 for a three-peat, his day ended early due to a fuel issue. Thanks to a penalty for violating IndyCar rules, Newgarden and his Team Penske teammate, Will Power, had an illegal modification to the rear attenuator.
NASCAR’s Kyle Larson, who attempted “The Double” for the second year in a row, racing both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 day did not get any better. A multi-car crash on Lap 91 ended his day early.
For Alex Palou, the day turned out to be historic on several fronts. After strategically passing Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps to go, the three-time IndyCar champ secured his first Indy 500 victory, becoming the first Spanish driver to win the coveted race. Winning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also marked the first oval win of his IndyCar career. David Malukas and Pato O’Ward completed the podium in P2 and P3. Ericsson crossed the line in second place, but his car didn’t pass the post-race tech inspection.
NASCAR’s Crown-Jewel Races
Once the checkered flag waved at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, attention shifted to Charlotte for the grueling Coca-Cola 600. Not to be outdone, NASCAR delivered some exciting racing and storylines. There were celebrations with watermelons, a Coke, and a smile. Among the highlights, one of NASCAR’s own GOATs, Mr. 7x Jimmie Johnson, took center stage with his 700th career Cup Series start at the Coca-Cola 600. His milestone added to the excitement of an already memorable day.
After crashing out early at the Indy 500, Kyle Larson, who started on the front row, hopped on a plane and headed to Charlotte Motor Speedway to try his luck at the grueling 600 miles of the Coca-Cola 600. His efforts were cut short by a multi-car crash in Stage 3 involving Daniel Suárez, Justin Haley, and Ryan Blaney, ending the race early for several drivers. “I hate the way the day went,” Larson said. “I wish I could hit the reset button. I feel terrible for everybody… I guess it just wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”
The day didn’t go as Denny Hamlin expected either. Hamlin battled back and forth with Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron for the lead in Stage 3, setting up what looked like a preview of the fight for the win. After a fuel miscalculation, Hamlin went from running at the front to finishing P16 due to a late pit stop to refuel. “I feel good about our performance. I feel crappy about how we finished,” Hamlin said.
With Hamlin out of the way, Byron — who swept the first three stages of the Cup race and won the Xfinity race the night before — went on to lead a race-high 283 laps. But with six laps to go, Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain, who had come from the back of the field, ultimately made a decisive pass on lap 394 of 400 to take the checkered flag, overtaking Byron. In Chastain’s words: “I got by the 11 [Hamlin] relatively easy before he pitted for his fuel issue, so I don’t know what his balance was or story is, but then the 24 [Byron] made three really key blocks with about 15 to go and I thought that’s it…” Worth noting, Chastain delivered his history-making win driving a backup car after a crash in practice and started P40.
Yachts, Milk, and Watermelon – Racing’s Greatest Day!
From open-wheel to stock car racing, this year’s Greatest Day in Racing delivered intense competition and memorable moments across three very different racing worlds. Whether watching from the fabulous yachts in Monaco, the grandstands at Indy, or the infield at Charlotte, fans saw drama and excitement at every turn.
The day was filled with standout performances and signature celebrations, with each race adding a unique chapter to motorsports history. From Lando Norris’s strategic victory in Monaco to Alex Palou’s milk-soaked moment and brick-kissing celebration at Indy, to Ross Chastain standing atop his backup car in victory lane and smashing a watermelon in Charlotte.
There’s no doubt that this year saw history made on one unforgettable day that connected three racing worlds, each with its own stories, traditions, and winners.
