About this episode
The hosts kick off by having their guest walk through the past 48 hours and whether the result matched expectations. After the Indy 500, the conversation shifts to the media circus—paparazzi, press moments, and the milk victory tradition—plus the grind of interviews and race-day logistics. The driver then gets tactical on fuel strategy, caution timing, clean air, and drafting (“toe”) to explain how the late race unfolded. They wrap with championship-point pressure, Detroit expectations, and the emotional toll of May travel and family sacrifice.
Hinch and Rossi chat with the very tired winner of the 110th Indianapolis 500, Felix Rosenqvist. He takes us through his race, the whirlwind that he's been going through since, and what he's looking forward to most this next year.
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red flag
"thrilled with the way that it ended because before that red flag, the race was yours anyways. So why don't you walk us through up until that red flag?"
A “red flag” means the race is stopped because something dangerous happened on the track. When it happens, teams often have to rethink strategy—especially how much fuel they have left and when they can go full speed again.
A “red flag” is a race stoppage caused by a serious on-track incident, where cars must slow/stop and teams may get a reset in strategy. In endurance-style racing, a red flag can dramatically change fuel calculations and the timing of when drivers can push.
fuel safe strategy
"Obviously, you know, you Pado and a couple of other cars went on the, you know, fuel safe strategy to the end sort of thing, stretching those last two stints."
In racing, a “fuel safe strategy” means you drive in a way that uses less gas so you can finish the race without needing another pit stop. The team times it so you can stay out longer, then go harder when it’s the right moment.
A “fuel safe strategy” is a race plan focused on using less fuel per lap so the car can make it to the end without an extra stop. Drivers manage throttle and pace to stretch stints, then push harder only when the timing and track position make it safe.
stints
"Obviously, you know, you Pado and a couple of other cars went on the, you know, fuel safe strategy to the end sort of thing, stretching those last two stints."
A “stint” is just the time you stay on the track before you pit again. If they “stretch” stints, they’re trying to go longer on the same fuel (and sometimes tires) to gain strategy advantage.
A “stint” is the period a car runs between pit stops (or between tire/fuel changes, depending on the series). Stretching the last stints means going longer than usual before the next scheduled stop, usually by managing fuel consumption.
lap cars
"Pado didn't have any more kind of lap cars to help him and you kind of went by at that point, were you good on fuel?"
“Lap cars” are other cars that aren’t on the same lap as the front runners. They can slow or disrupt the leaders, so they matter a lot for who can attack or defend during a race.
“Lap cars” are cars that are on a different lap count than the leaders (typically backmarkers being lapped or leaders lapping others). They can influence race strategy because they affect how easily a driver can maintain pace and when they can pass the leader.
yellow
"And then it right before the second last yellow came, I was sitting just in his gearbox and we were, I was just waiting for them to tell me, okay, go."
A “yellow” is a caution—drivers have to slow down because there’s a problem on the track. It changes the race rhythm, and teams can use it to adjust fuel and timing.
A “yellow” refers to a caution period where the pace is reduced and passing is restricted due to a hazard on track. Yellow flags affect fuel burn and tire temperature, and they can create opportunities to gain position or change who pits when.
gearbox
"And then it right before the second last yellow came, I was sitting just in his gearbox and we were, I was just waiting for them to tell me, okay, go."
When they say they were “in his gearbox,” they mean they were very close behind the other car. That closeness matters because it changes how the cars handle and how easy it is to pull out and pass.
In racing talk, “in his gearbox” usually means you’re right behind the car in the slipstream/dirty-air zone close enough to affect aerodynamics and engine/traction behavior. Being that close can help you stay on the leader’s pace while waiting for a safe moment to pass.
fuel mileage
"But from our point of view, it was actually like the only strategy because we had that fuel mileage the whole race. We were just able to sit so close and it may, it makes a big difference man."
“Fuel mileage” here means how efficiently the car uses fuel over distance, which determines how long it can run between stops. If one driver has better fuel mileage, they can stay out longer, close gaps, and choose when to push.
lift
"my run a little bit and we came together and I lifted a little bit and that kind of ruined all my momentum"
“Lift” means you briefly take your foot off the gas. It can make the car slow down or change how it handles in the turn.
In racing driving, “lift” means easing off the throttle briefly. That reduces engine torque and can upset the car’s balance, often costing momentum through the corner.
momentum
"I lifted a little bit and that kind of ruined all my momentum, which was actually the best thing in the world."
“Momentum” is basically how much speed the car keeps going with. Drivers try to avoid losing speed when they’re turning through multiple corners.
“Momentum” here refers to the car’s speed and kinetic energy carrying through a sequence of corners. In racing, preserving momentum is often more important than making a single perfect move.
tow
"hopefully I'll start picking up the tow from David because he was pretty far ahead at the time."
“Tow” means the car in front helps the car behind by pushing it through the air more easily. It can make you faster when you’re following closely.
“Tow” is the aerodynamic slipstream effect: the trailing car benefits from reduced air resistance behind the lead car. That can help the driver gain speed on straights or exits.
downshifting
"You weren't downshifting though. No, I wish I had a,"
Downshifting means selecting a lower gear. It helps the car slow down more effectively and can also set you up to accelerate better when you exit the turn.
“Downshifting” is changing to a lower gear to increase engine braking and restore the engine’s RPM for better acceleration out of a corner. Whether you downshift depends on grip, corner speed, and how the car is set up.
full throttle
"You didn't downshift and go full throttle and hit the notch."
“Full throttle” means you’re pressing the gas all the way. Drivers use it to get maximum acceleration, but it only works well if the tires have grip.
“Full throttle” means the driver is commanding maximum engine power by fully opening the throttle. In racing, it’s often used after a corner to maximize acceleration, but it can be counterproductive if traction is limited.
clutch
"No, hit the clutch. No, it was."
The clutch is what lets the driver change gears by temporarily disconnecting the engine from the gearbox. It’s used to make shifting possible and controlled.
The “clutch” is the mechanical connection between the engine and the transmission (in a manual or sequential setup). Drivers use it to interrupt drive torque for gear changes or to manage traction during aggressive maneuvers.
three flat
"once we got into three and I was like, okay, I gotta do three flat that this is a very essential."
“Three flat” means staying in third gear and keeping the throttle steady through that part. It’s a driving strategy for keeping speed up.
“Three flat” is shorthand for going through a section in third gear without lifting—“flat” meaning steady throttle with no lift. It’s a way to describe a specific cornering/gear strategy and the target speed/engine load.
short shoot
"once I did that and got into the short shoot, cause then David basically slid in front of me."
A “short shoot” is a short straight after a turn where you can build speed. Drivers use it to carry momentum into the next part of the track.
“Short shoot” is racing slang for a short straight or fast run-out section after a corner. Drivers often use it to set up the next braking zone or to maximize exit speed before the next turn.
pilot
"And also, you know, when you do the pilot, you kind of get that good exit that you have your wheel straighter"
“Pilot” in this context sounds like the driver in front setting the pace and line. The idea is that the car behind benefits from how the leader exits.
“Pilot” here likely refers to the lead driver’s line/positioning—how the car ahead sets up the airflow and exit. In racing talk, it can also mean the driver’s “job” of setting up the run for the car behind.
front wing
"So I was like, I kind of want to make sure I get over his front wing and I don't want to, yeah, it was like, I was worried if I went too far down, I was going to push"
The front wing is a part on the front of a race car that acts like a spoiler. It helps press the tires onto the track so the car can turn harder, especially when you’re running close to other cars.
In open-wheel racing, the front wing is the aerodynamic device at the nose that generates downforce. More downforce helps the car stick in corners, but it also affects how the car behaves when you’re close to another car in traffic.
clean air
"Cause I came from such an outside angle, but it was, there was enough clean air to just kind of like go in front of Marcus."
Clean air means the airflow around your car isn’t being messed up by another car. When you’re in clean air, the aero parts work better, so the car grips and handles more predictably.
“Clean air” is air that hasn’t been disturbed by another car’s wake. In racing, clean air improves aerodynamic efficiency and downforce, which is why drivers try to position themselves to run in it rather than in turbulent air.
grip limited
"The car is like sliding when you do it. You're like grip limited."
Grip limited means the tires are basically maxed out. If you ask for more steering or throttle, the car starts to slide instead of going faster or turning more.
“Grip limited” means the tires are at the edge of traction, so the car can’t accelerate or turn any harder without sliding. When a driver is grip-limited, small inputs or turbulence (like following someone weaving) can quickly trigger oversteer/understeer.
RPM
"for a brief moment, I managed to have like a perfect, like my car was just fully behind his car and my RPM was like, I was on the last shift light at that moment."
RPM tells you how fast the engine is spinning. In racing, drivers use it to decide when to accelerate and when to shift so the car keeps pulling strongly.
RPM (revolutions per minute) is how fast the engine is spinning. Drivers watch RPM to time gear changes and throttle application so the car accelerates efficiently without bogging down or losing traction.
10% burst
"And I think I deployed a little, I haven't, I can't confirm this yet, but I think I deployed like at a 10% burst from that little lift previously."
A “10% burst” means a small, quick push on the throttle. Instead of flooring it, the driver adds just a little power to see how much traction the tires have.
A “10% burst” describes a small, controlled throttle application—here, likely a brief increase in power. Drivers use small bursts to probe traction and avoid upsetting the car when grip is limited, especially during restarts or close racing.
restarts
"Is when you, you go through one and two and Alex and I were talking about this, right? Like you, you can roll one and two on the outside on restarts."
Restarts are when the race restarts after a caution. Everyone is trying to get going again quickly, but traction can be tricky, so drivers choose careful lines to avoid sliding or crashing.
“Restarts” are the moments after a caution period when the race resumes and cars accelerate back into racing speed. They’re high-risk because traction and tire temperatures can be different, and drivers often use specific lines to maximize grip and avoid contact.
dirty air
"And if the guy on the inside hasn't been like checked up by a big line of cars and is in a bunch of dirty air and is lifting,"
When a car drives, it messes up the air behind it. If another car follows too closely, that “messy air” can make the following car feel less planted and harder to drive fast.
“Dirty air” is the disturbed airflow a car creates behind it. When another car follows closely, it gets less aerodynamic downforce and more instability, which makes cornering and passing harder.
Indy 500
"Like you just want it and nothing, nothing can bring out that feeling like Indy 500."
The Indy 500 is a huge race at Indianapolis where cars run in tight groups. Because of that, air effects and drafting can make a big difference in who can pass.
The Indianapolis 500 is a marquee oval race where drafting, traffic, and corner-by-corner positioning heavily shape strategy. It’s especially famous for pack racing and the way aerodynamic effects like dirty air and toe influence who can pass.
toe
"But the toe is like, I mean, it's worth hundreds of horsepower."
“Toe” in racing usually means drafting: the car in front helps pull you along. That can make it easier to stay fast and close to the leader.
Here “toe” refers to aerodynamic drafting—being pulled along by the car in front. In open-wheel racing, the follower can gain speed and stability because the lead car’s airflow helps reduce drag and can improve how the rear of the trailing car sits.
scrub
"So yes, he might be getting a bit of toe in the middle of the corner, but he's also having to probably add more lock and scrub a bit more."
“Scrub” means the car is slowing down because the tires are slipping and scrubbing off speed. It often happens when grip isn’t as good as the driver wants.
“Scrub” (as used here) means losing speed/energy through tire slip and friction rather than carrying momentum cleanly. When a car is in worse airflow (“dirty air”), the driver may need to scrub more speed to keep the car rotating and stable.
lock
"So yes, he might be getting a bit of toe in the middle of the corner, but he's also having to probably add more lock and scrub a bit more."
“Lock” means how much the steering wheel is turned. If the car doesn’t grip as well, drivers often have to turn the wheel more to make it follow the corner.
“Lock” refers to steering angle—how much the driver turns the wheel. More lock is often needed when the car has less effective grip or less aerodynamic support, especially when airflow is disturbed.
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