Category: Sports Fox

Indianapolis Convention Center (Indianapolis) — David Malukas, who lost the Indianapolis 500 by the smallest margin ever, let the tears flow after the race. The 24-year-old, who still seeks his first INDYCAR win, doesn’t mind that the world saw him at his most vulnerable. “I just care so much,” Malukas told me and other reporters on Monday night. “This is my live or die right here. And let’s just say, when you say you die, you rest in peace. I won’t rest in peace until I get an Indy 500 win.” The Team Penske driver thought he was going to win the Indy 500 when Felix Rosenqvist made a late move, side drafted him and beat him to the finish line by 0.0233 seconds. The only reaction was to cry. “I find it crazy to not show that,” Malukas said prior to the Indy 500 victory celebration ceremony where the drivers get their checks for competing in the race. “To me, it would have been a dream come true, right? To put into words the pain of being that close to a dream come true is very hard.” Malukas is in his first year at Team Penske and has 68 career INDYCAR starts. He sits second in the championship standings. “My whole life has been leading up to the Indy 500 win,” Malukas said. “That’s all I really want in my whole life, is just to have a victory in the Indy 500, Indy 500 championships, all of that stuff. “So my whole life, all the hardships we went through led up to that moment. And to be that close, and not just for an Indy 500 win, but just a win in INDYCAR, I still haven’t gotten it yet. And we’ve just been so damn close. So all my emotions came out. And  I’m proud to show it.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Alex Palou left Indianapolis Motor Speedway without another Borg Warner Trophy but still remains the INDYCAR points leader. His lead could have been more, though, as Palou was docked five points for a postrace technical infraction following Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. It was another punch on a day when the defending race winner wound up in seventh place despite leading a race-high 59 laps. The Chip Ganassi driver, who has four series titles (including the last three) still has a 37-point lead in the standings over David Malukas, who finished second Sunday to winner Felix Rosenqvist by 0.0233 seconds in the closest finish in race history. That lead could have been 42 points but after the race, technical inspectors found Palou’s front wing violated the rule that says it must not measure less than 8.3 inches when set at any angle. The team was fined $10,000. “INDYCAR Officiating has determined that the non-compliance was the result of an assembly error and not an intentional modification,” the INDYCAR Officiating Board said in a statement. Chip Ganassi Racing said it would not appeal the penalty and it had no intention of trying to gain an advantage. “During technical inspection following Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, a part failure was discovered in the front wing assembly of the No. 10 car,” the CGR statement said. “The failure caused the wing to fall out of compliance with INDYCAR’s technical parameters.” It isn’t rare for racing teams to potentially design a part to meet inspection parameters before an event but then it fails in a way to give them a performance advantage. Racing series typically won’t take intent into account if it is a competitive advantage. [INDY 500 TAKEAWAYS: Wild, Historic Final Lap Of Felix Rosenqvist’s Win] Palou told me and other reporters after his seventh-place finish that he didn’t have the track position (based on strategy) nor the speed at the end to make a run at the leaders. “This place, you know the only important lap is lap 200,” Palou said. “I knew that although we were leading so much at the beginning of the race, the race was going to be at the end. “It was a little bit of a shame that we were not on the optimal strategy, but I’m super happy for the month we had.” With 11 races left in the 18-race schedule, there is plenty of time for the championship to be decided. Currently, there are six drivers within 100 points of Palou — Malukas (37 points behind), Kyle Kirkwood (minus-49), Christian Lundgaard (minus-78), Pato O’Ward (minus-85), Scott McLaughlin (minus-92), and Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist (minus-97). Another Shot At Indy 500 Glory? Helio Castroneves (Meyer Shank), Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (Arrow McLaren) all did one-off rides for the 2026 Indy 500 looking for another Borg Warner Trophy to add to their collection. Castroneves already owns four wins, Sato two and Hunter-Reay one. Sato finished 10th Sunday, Castroneves 25th and Hunter-Reay 32nd. The one driver who certainly would want another shot is Hunter-Reay, whose car spun out from underneath him just 17 laps into the race. “I re-evaluate the situation every year,” Hunter-Reay told me and other reporters outside the care center. “I’m only 15 minutes after I got out of the car. I’ll absolutely want another shot at it, but we’ll reassess that at the right time.” Castroneves had a quick reply: “Who knows? We’ll see.” In The News –NASCAR has made its damaged vehicle policy in the O’Reilly and truck series the same as Cup, where teams will have a designated work area in the garage. Once they go back to the track, they get three laps to meet minimum speed. — Dayton International Speedway is replacing its lighting system with new lights that should make the oval much brighter and also the road course brighter. It will be the first time Musco (lighting company) has used these bulbs/technology in the United States; they have used it in Saudi Arabia. It won’t be ready for August but will be done before January. Not Just A Road Course Guy Shane van Gisbergen had an 11th-place finish at Charlotte on Sunday, lifting him to 14th in the Cup standings. He’s currently the only Trackhouse driver in the top 16 of the standings. Big Day On The Big Day Romain Grosjean is outside the top 20 in the INDYCAR standings, but he was top-10 on Sunday with a ninth-place finish in the Indianapolis 500. Social Spotlight They Said It “Kyle Busch, to me, is an American badass” — NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell. In Inside The Garage, Bob Pockrass takes us behind the scenes of the motorsports world the way only he can.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Kylian Mbappé secured a second straight Pichichi Trophy after scoring in Real Madrid’s final-day win over Athletic Club. The French forward has now matched a feat previously achieved only by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi over the last 38 years in La Liga. Mbappé seals another Pichichi crown Mbappé officially secured the 2025-26 Pichichi Trophy after scoring in Real Madrid’s 4-2 victory over Athletic Club on the final day of the season. The goal took the France international to 25 league strikes for the campaign. The striker finished ahead of Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi, who ended the season with 23 goals. Osasuna’s Ante Budimir came third with 17, while Barcelona pair Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal each registered 16 goals. The Los Blancos star also led La Liga in total shots with 63, underlining his attacking influence throughout the campaign. Muriqi finished with 50 efforts, while team-mate Vinicius Jr recorded 46. Mbappé joins elite company in Spain Mbappé’s latest scoring title places him alongside some of the biggest names in La Liga history. The Frenchman won the Pichichi last season with 31 goals before defending the award this year with another prolific campaign. The achievement makes him the first player since Ronaldo (2014 and 2015) to win the award in consecutive seasons for Real Madrid. Over the last 38 years, only a select group of players, including Messi, have managed to retain the honour in successive campaigns. Emotional farewells overshadow difficult season Real Madrid’s final match of the season was also marked by emotional farewells at the Santiago Bernabeu. Dani Carvajal received a standing ovation during his final appearance for the club, while David Alaba also said goodbye after his spell in the Spanish capital. Mbappé’s individual success arrived during what many viewed as a disappointing campaign by Madrid’s standards. The club struggled to consistently reach top form, which made them fail to win any title this season. Even so, the France captain’s back-to-back Pichichi trophies reinforced his status as one of world football’s elite forwards and a central figure in Los Blancos’ long-term plans. Mourinho era set to begin at Madrid Attention will now shift towards a new era at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Jose Mourinho expected to return as Real Madrid manager. The Portuguese coach faces the challenge of rebuilding a side capable of competing for major honours again. A key focus will be finding the right balance between Mbappé and Vinicius after Madrid fell short collectively despite their attacking quality. Having proven he can dominate individually in Liga, Mbappé will now look to translate personal success into team silverware next season.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

While Tampa Bay’s starting pitchers continue to excel, Dodgers relievers have now thrown 38 consecutive scoreless innings. Overall, though, it’s still the Braves who boast the lowest overall ERA in MLB. Has Atlanta done enough to continue holding onto the top spot in this week’s power rankings? Take a look below, along with one stat for each team that helps explain its start to the year. They have the worst run differential in MLB (-63) and haven’t won a series in May (6-16 during the month). One of the biggest problems is a 5.75 rotation ERA, by far the worst mark in baseball. Opponents are hitting nearly .300 against Rockies starters. Their offense has struck out more than any team in MLB, while their pitchers have allowed the second-most walks in MLB. A 5.41 bullpen ERA hasn’t helped matters. They finally snapped an eight-game losing skid, but things are bleak right now in Detroit. Their offense is tied for the worst slugging percentage in the American League, and only three teams have a lower OPS. The Royals rank 29th in OPS with runners in scoring position, which has played a role in the team ranking 25th in runs scored. They’ve scored the fewest runs and hit the second-fewest home runs in MLB and rank 27th in slugging. Their league-best bullpen ERA (and top-five overall ERA) can’t fix those offensive issues. This weekend’s sweep of the Cubs was a step in the right direction, but this is quite the hole they’ve dug themselves. Missing Josh Hader (among many, many others) hurts a lot, but he can’t singlehandedly fix a bullpen that has an MLB-worst 5.60 ERA. The Astros’ diminshed rotation also ranks in the bottom five in ERA, resulting in the worst overall team ERA in the sport (5.17). This past week felt like their chance to really gain ground. Instead, they split their four-game series in Washington and then scored a combined two runs over three games while getting swept in Miami. The Mets rank last in MLB in on-base percentage and slugging (and, clearly, OPS). They’ve scored the fewest runs in the National League, their starters rank 27th in ERA, and they’ve had the least productive outfield by fWAR. Moves are entertaining out there, though. They rank 24th in starters ERA, 25th in bullpen ERA and 26th in overall ERA. The Marlins lead the majors with 62 steals but have also allowed the most steals in MLB, and their defense has committed the second-most errors in baseball. The Twins are riding high after sweeping the Red Sox at Fenway Park for the first time in 32 years. A year ago, they ranked 21st in on-base percentage and 23rd in runs scored. This year, they rank eighth and seventh, respectively. Well, that’s not what you want. The Rangers went just 3-6 on a road trip to Houston, Colorado and Anaheim, including a sweep at the hands of the dismal Angels. They rank 28th in runs scored, but their bullpen has the best ERA in the American League (2.96). Against left-handed pitchers, the Mariners rank last in batting average, on-base percentage and OPS. Overall, they’re tied for the lowest batting average in MLB. Last year, the Blue Jays led MLB in on-base percentage. This year, they rank 26th. The White Sox have the highest whiff rate in MLB but also rank third in home runs, seventh in slugging and 10th in walks. Basically, the team has taken on the identity of new slugger Munetaka Murakami. Their offense ranks fourth in slugging percentage, while their pitching staff has surrendered the fourth-highest slugging percentage in MLB. The result is a .500 record, but that’s (shockingly) good enough for second place in the NL East. By both OPS and wRC+, the A’s have two of the 10 best hitters in baseball this year in Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers. A year ago, the Pirates ranked 28th in batting average and 23rd in on-base percentage. This year, they rank fourth and fifth, respectively. They have the highest year-over-year jump in both categories. Their offense ranks 24th in batting average and 25th in on-base percentage, but their pitchers lead the National League in strikeouts. A year ago, the Reds ranked 21st in home runs and slugging percentage. This year, they rank in the top 10 in both categories. Their offense has the lowest chase rate in MLB and the highest year-over-year jump in expected slugging percentage. The Diamondbacks absolutely pummel left-handed pitching. Their .282 batting average against lefties ranks first in MLB, while their .452 slugging percentage and .792 OPS rank second behind only the Yankees. This is a team that knows how to win tight contests. The Cardinals’ 10-4 record in one-run games — aided by a 7-2 record in extra innings — is the best mark in the National League. The free-fall continues, as the Cubs just got swept by the Astros to lose their eighth straight game. Their depleted rotation ranks 23rd in ERA, but their defense is still elite, and their offense ranks second in on-base percentage. The arrow’s pointing up for a Cleveland team that has won 11 of its last 13 games. Guardians pitchers lead MLB in strikeouts, and their offense is striking at the right time. In late/close situations, the Guardians lead the majors in OPS. The Yankees’ offense leads MLB in homers, and their rotation — which just got Gerrit Cole back Friday — has the third-best ERA in the sport. Padres pitchers have surrendered the lowest hard-hit rate in MLB, while their hitters have the highest year-over-year jump in hard-hit rate. Their pitchers rank first in strikeout rate and have allowed the fewest home runs in MLB, while their offense has more hits with runners in scoring position than any team in the sport. That’s a winning combination. The Rays have the lowest starters ERA in MLB at 2.88. No other team is under 3.00. Over the last 27 games, a Tampa Bay starter has allowed more than three runs in an outing just once. The Dodgers’ bullpen, which has the lowest ERA of any relief unit in MLB despite missing Edwin Díaz for the last month, has set a modern-era franchise record with 38 straight scoreless innings. It’s the longest bullpen scoreless streak since Cleveland (38.2) in 2017. When your pitchers have the lowest ERA in MLB and your hitters have the highest batting average and slugging percentage in the sport, wins tend to follow. That nine-game division lead looks awfully comfortable.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Spain won the Nations League in 2023. They won the European Championship in 2024. They won Olympic gold in Paris. And yet, the last time this team made it past the round of 16 was at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa — the year Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner in Johannesburg gave La Roja its one and only men’s world title. Three World Cup tournaments. Three last-16 exits. At some point, the résumé you build between World Cups must show up at the tournament itself. This summer, with the best squad Luis De la Fuente has had at his disposal, Spain has no excuses. Here are my takeaways. 1. Teenager Lamine Yamal is the Great Hope Yamal has been Spain’s marvel since his breakthrough as a 16-year-old at Euro 2024, adding two La Liga titles with Barcelona in the process. Now he arrives at his first World Cup carrying a hamstring injury into a five-week tournament. He is very much expected to be available for the start of the competition, having already made significant progress in his recovery. The question isn’t whether he’ll get there, it’s whether De la Fuente is disciplined enough to manage him correctly once he does. You cannot play Yamal at 60% through the group stage and expect him to still be at full capacity in the knockouts. If Spain is going deep—and they should be — this team is going to need the real version of him when it actually matters. 2. No Real Madrid Players. For the First Time Ever. For the first time in World Cup history, there will be no Real Madrid players represented in Spain’s men’s national team squad for the tournament. De la Fuente instead leans heavily on La Liga champions Barcelona, who boast eight representatives in the final 26-man list. Dean Huijsen was Real Madrid’s best bet to have a player this summer, but he was snubbed in favor of defenders Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Marc Pubill (Atlético Madrid), and Barça duo Pau Cubarsí and Eric García. Dani Carvajal’s absence was less of a surprise—injuries and a lack of playing time had already ended the right-back’s case before the announcement. But his leadership will be missed, and it’ll be worth watching who steps into that role inside the camp. 3. The Midfield Depth Is Absurd The Spanish midfield is led by 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, aiming to return to full fitness after injury struggles with Manchester City. When healthy, he is the best in the world at anchoring that holding midfielder role. But the most important player in this midfield—and perhaps the most important midfielder in the entire tournament—is Pedri. At 23, with 40 senior caps already, his blend of vision, technique and passing is what makes Spain’s system breathe. Add on talents – such as Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid), Gavi (Barcelona), Fabián Ruiz (PSG), and Arsenal duo Martín Zubimendi and Mikel Merino – and and you have seven midfielders of genuine international quality. No other nation at this tournament can boast this level of quality and depth in this department. 4. The Winger Injury Situation Both Yamal and Nico Williams were included in the squad despite carrying injuries. For Yamal, the path to fitness looks relatively clear. For Williams, the situation is murkier as the Athletic Bilbao star suffered yet another setback against Valencia on May 10, and Spain will be sweating over his availability. Without a fully fit Williams, Spain are still very good, but significantly flatter in wide areas where he and Yamal combining is what makes this attack truly frightening. There were calls for Monaco’s in-form Ansu Fati to make the cut precisely because of this uncertainty. De la Fuente made his choice anyway. He is gambling on both players being fit for the tournament, and now the medical staff has to earn their salary. If both Lamine and Nico reach the knockouts at 100%, Spain are one of the most dangerous teams this summer. The bet is worth making. But it is still a bet.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Both Felix Rosenqvist and Meyer Shank Racing have respect in the INDYCAR garage. Their resumes are not littered with victories. But both are viewed as solid racers, as ones who could win but not ones who will win. Rosenqvist’s victory Sunday in the Indianapolis 500 might change all that. Both Rosenqvist and the team had only one INDYCAR victory in their careers leading into the Indianapolis 500. Rosenqvist won at Road America in July 2020. Meyer Shank won the 2021 Indianapolis 500 with Helio Castroneves. On Sunday, Rosenqvist won the Indy 500 in dramatic fashion with a few daring passes, including one by teammate Marcus Armstrong and then side-drafting to get by David Malukas at the finish line. “What does it really take to really do it? I felt I had more confidence today,” Rosenqvist said in his post-race news conference. “I think that was the difference and the hunger to do it. I think that’s what it takes here to win it. “You need to be ready to risk it all on the last lap. If it ended in the fence, I think I would have been proud of my run. That’s the way you have to approach it.” The 34-year-old Rosenqvist has driven for Chip Ganassi Racing, Arrow McLaren and Meyer Shank over his eight seasons. He had a winning history before coming to INDYCAR as a former Formula 3 champion and having won three Formula E races. “I feel like I’ve grown so much and learned so much,” Rosenqvist said. “I’ve been able to toughen up more mentally and physically.” Meyer Shank, too, has a winning pedigree, just not in INDYCAR. Michael Shank-owned teams have won the IMSA Rolex 24 At Daytona three times. “We’re kind of an upper-to-midpack team, is how I look at it now,” Shank said in his post-race news conference. “But we’re right there at the top and this proves that we can do it when it’s all set up correctly. “It’s just constant improving, constant improving. We want to get to the next level.” Last year, Meyer Shank moved from being a technical partner with Andretti Global to being a technical partner with Chip Ganassi Racing. Both of its drivers, Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong, used to drive at Ganassi. While Rosenqvist had just one win in his first five seasons, his combination of showing some speed and working well with the team put him at the top of Meyer Shank’s list when it was looking for a driver. “We targeted trying to get Felix three years ago,” said team co-owner Jim Meyer. “He was the guy we wanted. I think it’s been really, really rewarding to watch the chemistry he’s built with the team, how the two trust each other, and I think that played a big part in today’s win.” Rosenqvist and Armstrong needed that trust that they wouldn’t wreck each other trying to win. Rosenqvist pretty much forced Armstrong to lift to avoid being wrecked, but on the last lap for the win for the Indianapolis 500, that would most likely be considered fair play. “I was going wheel to wheel with, I think, Marcus for the whole backstraight. So there wasn’t a door open to go in,” Rosenqvist said. “And I was like, ‘Yep, this is going to be it. I’ll stay flat and see what happens.’” What happened was the biggest win of his career — albeit just his second — on the sport’s biggest stage. “There was some wheel banging and some tire marks on the side pods, which is cool, but no one ended in the wall,” Rosenqvist said. “I think that’s why it turned out to be such a great finish and such a show for the fans. “That means a lot to me. Even that was on another track, I still would have been over the moon. And to do it here in Indy in front of 350,000 people — that’s just unreal.” Certainly the entire organization was over the moon. The Meyer Shank organization entered INDYCAR racing in 2017 when it competed in the Indy 500 and was full time by 2020 with Jack Harvey. It hasn’t been smooth, with Simon Pagenaud getting injured in 2023 and then a move of sports-car driver Tom Blomqvist to INDYCAR in 2024 did not show results. Last year, Rosenqvist finished sixth in the season standings; Armstrong was eighth. “I don’t come here to not try to win races,” Shank said. “Our trajectory in INDYCAR … was very, very detailed and scheduled out. What we could afford is all we’re going to do. We’re not going into debt. We’re going to get partners that are going to pay for what we can get done. And I think we’ve stuck to that for the most part. “I think we’re really good. I think we’re not the little team anymore they used to freaking call me all the time.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Update: Tests have confirmed that Lionel Messi suffered only discomfort and avoided a serious injury, according to Fabrizio Romano. Messi is set to be available for Argentina ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Messi — who almost never gets subbed out of matches — left in the 73rd minute, meaning he was long gone before Luis Suarez’s third goal of the night lifted the defending MLS champions past the last-place Philadelphia Union 6-4 on Sunday night. Messi had two assists and German Berterame scored twice during a record-setting first half for Inter Miami. But Messi basically took himself out of play in the 71st minute and reached toward his left hamstring at least once, then didn’t even venture toward the Inter Miami bench when he could be subbed out. Messi was replaced by Mateo Silvetti, then left immediately through the tunnel connecting the field with the team’s locker room. He left the field under his own power, albeit slowly, and without any team medical personnel with him. Rodrigo De Paul, on his birthday, scored in stoppage time to seal the win for Inter Miami. Heavy rain began falling early in the second half, causing some players to seem to slip on the turf. It wasn’t clear if Messi’s departure was precautionary or not, and it didn’t seem like he took any major missteps during the worst of the rain. Messi has said in the past that he would only play in the World Cup if healthy. Argentina starts group stage play on June 16. Milan Iloski had a first-half hat trick — including two penalty kicks — and Bruno Damiani also scored for Union, which was up 2-0 only 10 minutes into the match. That start set the stage for the teams to be tied at 4-4 at the half. The eight goals by halftime was an MLS record, the league said. “It’s beautiful, it’s fun to be a part of the game, it’s fun to sing a national anthem and obviously to see Messi and all these greats so close to me, it’s an honor,” said Grammy-nominated singer and Miami resident Luis Fonsi, who performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” pregame. “I’m a fan and I’m enjoying every bit of it.” He was asked what it’s like to share the field with Messi. “He’s a lot more known than me — times a million,” Fonsi said. Messi has already appeared in five World Cups, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player twice — first in 2014, then again in 2022 when he led Argentina to the title. That award has been given out only since 1982, but he is the lone player to win it twice. Argentina is in Group J for the World Cup. Its group stage matches: Algeria, at Kansas City, on June 16; Austria, at Arlington, Texas, on June 22; and Jordan, back in Arlington, on June 27. If Argentina wins that group — and the defending champions would be heavily favored to do so — then Messi would play a Round of 32 match in Miami Gardens on July 3. The only other way for Messi to play in South Florida during the tournament would be if Argentina is in the third-place match on July 18. Inter Miami (9-2-4, 31 points) enters the break second in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville (10-1-3, 33 points). Inter Miami is also fourth in the Supporters’ Shield standings — a trophy that Philadelphia won last season. The Union won’t be winning that this season. Not even close. They’re at the bottom of the league, a stunning first-to-worst collapse and head into the break with seven points — at 1-10-4. The Associated Press contributed to this report.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Just who is Felix Rosenqvist? The 34-year-old Swede has a variety of racing experiences, but the most enjoyable one came Sunday when he won the Indianapolis 500 by the narrowest margin in race history. He won with a Morgan Wallen paint job on his No. 60 car. His car often has musical bands on it because former SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer is a co-owner of the Meyer Shank Racing team.  He also became a new father on May 4 when his daughter, Stella, was born, the first child for Rosenqvist and his wife, Emille. But what makes him tick? And why is he so relatable? About three hours after his Indianapolis 500 win, he sat down with me to help us understand. Bob Pockrass: Who is Felix Rosenqvist? Rosenqvist: A father and an Indy 500 winner from Sweden that has fought extremely hard for this moment for eight years [in INDYCAR]. How would your wife describe you? Good question. She’d probably say that I’m the kindest person ever. She wouldn’t be the only one who says that. A lot of people say that. Does this mean that nice guys can finish first? I think so. It’s a win for the nice guys today. Why are you so nice like this? Sometimes nice isn’t best in racing? It’s probably been my biggest enemy, one of my biggest enemies in my career. But it’s also probably a reason why I have a career as well. So, I’ve always kind of seen it as you are who you are, can’t really change it. I’m comfortable being who I am, and as you saw today, I’m not going to race [rough] — a lot of these guys from my buddies. I raced them hard wheel to wheel. You are who you are. Was fellow INDYCAR driver Pato O’Ward the best man at your wedding? He was, yeah. So is he your closest friend? I have obviously my like core friend group from Sweden, but I haven’t lived in Sweden since I was 25 and I’m [close to] 35 now, so it’s 10 years. But we still stay really tight, and Pato is definitely my best friend here in my sort of second chapter of my life in the United States. He’s a nice guy too, or what is it about Pato? I just love Pato. He’s just very straight-up. He’s a no bulls**** guy, which I like to surround myself with — no bull**** people. He just tells you how it is, and he’s very open, and we’ve had a lot of fun. Having him as a teammate was a blast. I definitely miss those days. How many Morgan Wallen songs do you know? Whiskey Glasses. I think that’s going to go on repeat tonight. How many of the bands on your car do you know and how many do you have to go to iTunes and listen? I’d say 85 percent I know pretty well because I think the team tries to line me up with musicians that I really like. Having Creed, and Ozzy [Osbourne] that kind of genre. Creed was great. We had them here last year, and they were here for the whole month. They had brought their families. I’ve always loved Creed. It was actually one of the first songs I’ve downloaded. My sister showed it to me when I was like 10. And then to meet those guys, and they’re as chill as you, like we just sat like this, talking about amps and trips to Sweden and stuff like that. It’s quite the joy to be able to represent all these artists with SiriusXM, and I feel like we just keep knocking out of the park with all these partners. The fans love it. They always come up to me. It’s very smart marketing. So what’s more stressful being in the hospital room for childbirth, or going into the final lap of the Indy 500 in fourth as you did Sunday? Believe it or not, but being in the hospital. You can’t describe that feeling. It’s just something to have such an extreme emotional response two times in the same month with completely different emotions. Because when you have a child, you’re obviously crying because you’re happy, and now you’re also sad because this little thing like needs you to survive. And you love your wife 10 times more now because it’s just so much love and emotions. And then this is just like a badass manly like we did it kind of emotion. It’s hard to describe. Can you tell me how you picked the name Stella? It was actually the only name. We downloaded an app, and we went through maybe 100 names, and Stella, we both were like, “Oh, that’s cool.” And then we had dinner with some friends. We asked her daughter what we should name the kid, or the child, whatever you call it, and she said “Stella. And we’re like, Ok, cool, and we were pretty much after that, that’s it, So we kind of knew it for months that we’re going to name her Stella. Your bio lists your hobbies as skiing, skateboarding, and hiking. Which one will you miss the most now that you have to take care of a baby? Not sure who put hiking on there, but it’s definitely not one of my hobbies. Skiing, I used to compete in skiing, but I haven’t skied in like 10 years here. So I don’t really have any hobbies. I just love hanging out with my wife — and now my daughter. Were you a professional skier? Not, I didn’t get paid to ski. But I was competing at a high level until go-karting became more fun. And why was the go-karting more fun than the skiing? I was a big car guy. I just loved cars. Me and my dad, all I talked about was cars. But skiing is very similar, downhill skiing — it’s pretty much the same thing with the lines and the speed and the apex and all that. The two of them kind of merged perfectly together. So if you were a car guy, was racing for two years in Formula E fun, or did you need the roar of the engine? It’s weird because I really enjoyed driving it. I probably didn’t enjoy watching it as much. That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I think the noise is something you miss. But just like this, it was super competitive, and when you’re a driver, you don’t really care too much about it. You’re so in your bubble, you’re trying to perform. But there was a reason I came over here, because I kind of missed the adrenaline. Those cars are way quicker now. Is there anything that you will miss doing now that you’re a dad? No, because I’m a homie guy, and my wife is, too. We don’t party. We go on trips. But you can do that with your baby. They always say you’re not ready to have a kid, but I feel actually we were. We were very ready. This kid was extremely wanted. Were you worried before the 500 that, oh, that baby’s going to come on the day of the 500? This is funny because before you have a kid, you don’t know what it’s like. And I was like, if I miss it, I’ll still have a baby, cool. Like I had no idea. And then after we got her, and actually got to spend the four days there, and do all the things, and my wife did a C-section, so I had to pretty much be a mom for four days. I was just so happy I got to do that. And if we have another kid, I can assure you, it’s not going to be during May.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There is no tradition in motorsports quite like the victor’s toast at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Following a grueling, rain-delayed afternoon that culminated in the closest finish in event history, Felix Rosenqvist hoisted the legendary bottle of milk in Winner’s Circle at the Indy 500. For Rosenqvist, the traditional cold beverage tasted sweeter than ever after surviving 70 lead changes and a dramatic, last-lap shootout with David Malukas. Drenched in sweat and donning the BorgWarner Victory Wreath, the newly crowned Indy 500 champion gleefully poured the bottle over his head, a symbolic baptism for the newest member of the elite club. “I felt like we were in all situations, we kind of had it under control. That last yellow (flag) didn’t help us,” a beaming Rosenqvist said. “It kind of worked out the right way when I got back to third and then I had to flat-out lap on the high line and it stuck. “The coolest way you can win an Indy 500.” The iconic ritual, which dates back to Louis Meyer’s requests for buttermilk in the 1930s, remains the ultimate crowning moment in motorsports. Rosenqvist, along with the other 32 drivers in the field, were polled to find out which type of milk they’d like waiting for them at the finish line. They could choose between whole, 2% or skim. Rosenqvist chose whole milk. For Rosenqvist, the celebration capped off a wild day, that featured weather anxiety, a late-race red flag and a historic margin of victory. Photos: Drenched In History Here are images of Felix Rosenqvist celebrating his sweet Indy 500 victory with milk. What’s Next? The NTT INDYCAR SERIES now packs up for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on May 31, but the image of Rosenqvist covered in milk at the Brickyard will define the 2026 racing season.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — What a final lap. Thanks to a late-race wreck of Mick Schumacher, there was a one-lap dash to the finish of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. Felix Rosenqvist started in fourth. So sure he had a chance, but a real chance? Apparently so. Rosenqvist quickly passed Pato O’Ward for third and then battled side-by-side with teammate Marcus Armstrong for second. After clearing Armstrong on the high side, Rosenqvist was able to side drift David Malukas to the finish line, winning by the slimmest margin in Indy 500 victory, a mere 0.0233 seconds. “I would definitely say the balls arrived,” Rosenqvist said in his postrace news conference. “I’ve never been flat around … To do the whole lap on the outside, that was pretty cool. It’s kind of unheard of at Indy.” Here are my takeaways: 1. Rosenqvist’s Bold Moves The Meyer Shank Racing No. 60 driver, in earning just his second career win and first since 2020 (and first on an oval), made three solid moves in one lap for the victory. The first one, to pass O’Ward, did get some quick scrutiny by INDYCAR on whether he made it in compliance with restart rules and it determined no violation (and O’Ward agreed with that ruling). The second one dared his teammate Armstrong to pinch him closer to the wall (he didn’t). And the final one was perfect timing to execute the side draft, which makes the car beside you lose a little momentum. “It’s still kind of a blur, … You can’t dream that up. It’s so cool,” Rosenqvist said about the final lap, later adding, “That’s just how much you want. It’s hard to explain that feeling that you want it so much, you have so much adrenaline that you literally don’t care if you’re going to crash. “You’re just going all in. It was cool that that’s what it took to win it as well.” 2. Malukas Devastated David Malukas cried following the race after the Team Penske driver saw a potential win slip away. Malukas hasn’t won an INDYCAR race and nearly won for the first time on the sport’s biggest stage. “I don’t know what else we could have done. We were the fastest car the whole race,” Malukas said in his FOX Sports interview on the telecast. “I gave it 150 percent. I almost crashed this damn car every lap. and we still ended up with a P2. I don’t know what else I can give.” 3. Armstrong Frustrated A devastated, frustrated Marcus Armstrong still had a look of disbelief probably 20 minutes after the race ended. He indicated he would do it differently. He wound up fifth as Scott McLaughlin finished third and Pato O’Ward finished fourth. “I’m obviously disappointed because I felt like the last corner, I was given two options — was either to crash with my teammate or I have to lift,” Armstrong told FOX Sports reporter Kevin Lee after the race. “I chose to lift a bit and that was the situation. We were in the position to win it. That could have been us that towed past Malukas. I can’t believe it honestly. Just so close and I just felt like I made the wrong call at the most pivotal time.” 4. O’Ward Matter-Of-Fact Pato O’Ward, the Arrow McLaren driver who has lost Indy 500s on the final lap so can relate to Malukas’ heartbreak, didn’t think he had much of the chance at the start of that final lap as his car lacked the speed he needed. “I had the front-row seats on the restart and I just felt helpless just not being able to catch the cars in front of me and obviously, here that’s not enough,” he told me and other reporters. O’Ward is good friends with Rosenqvist, so while it wasn’t a successful May for O’Ward, he was happy for his friend. “Congratulations to Felix on a crazy finish,” O’Ward said. “Maybe one day for us. … I feel for David for sure. Unbelievable finish. I’m sure the fans are going crazy.” 4 ½. What’s Next Rosenqvist will have another day of media in Indianapolis, the awards banquet Monday night and then go on a winner’s tour in New York City before getting to Detroit for the Detroit Grand Prix, with practice starting the weekend Friday. He knows that Detroit doesn’t often treat the Indy 500 winner all that well. “Honestly, I don’t care,” Rosenqvist said. “I’m not thinking about Detroit right now.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports