Dempsey takes the Checkered at the Brick

By Rodney Meyering on May 25, 2013

Peter Dempsey celebrates after winning the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (photo: USA TODAY Sports Images / Mark J. Rebilas)

Indianapolis, Ind. — Only eleven cars started the 11^th running of the Indy Lights Freedom 100, which should have been a foreshadow to what was coming.

The small field of cars provided the closest finish of any oval track race ever. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has held races for over 100 years, and provides the playground for the Indy Lights series biggest race of the year. Previous winners of the race include this year’s Indy 500 pole winner, Ed Carpenter and first time 500 starter this year, driving for Sarah Fisher racing, Josef Newgarden.

The eleven car field started the race in picture perfect configuration, Sage Karam on the pole, points leader Carlos Munoz second, Dempsey third.

Sage Karam would lead the first 13 laps, when Munoz would make the move taking first place. Munoz, who drives for Andretti Motorsports, is making his Indy Car debut Sunday in the Indianapolis 500. Starting an amazing second, Munoz would lead at the white flag, followed by Karam, Chavez and Dempsey. Just when it appeared to be a lazy finish, WOW! Coming down the backstretch on the final lap, Karam would make an outside attempt to pass Munoz, at the same time Chavez would make it three wide through turns three and four. Dempsey, who looked to have little chance at victory one lap before, got a run off of turn four to take the outside line to victory.

Dempsey edged out Chavez by .0026 seconds. Karam finished third, and Munoz fourth. All four cars crossed the bricks side by side.

If the name Peter Dempsey sounds familiar To Rocket Sports fans, it is because he made a podium appearance with the Rocket Sports & Entertainment Network team in 2012 at the Media Kart Race.

Dempsey (on right, red shirt), was the professional driver leading the Rocket Sports & Entertainment Network team to a second place finish in the 2012 version of the media kart race to kick off the Honda Grand Prix of St.Petersburg. (RSEN photo)