The win by a Mazda6, a midsize sedan, in the Grand-Am Brickyard Grand Prix marked the first time that a diesel has won a car race at "the brickyard," as the track is nicknamed. The win is significant because automakers are still trying to sell American motorists as clean and thrifty when it come to gas.
The winner car was the No. 70, the SpeedSource Castrol Edge Mazda 6 SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel. It marked the fifth winning race in a row for Mazda6, and moves it ahead of Porsche after eight of 12 races in the GX manufacturers championship race. Mazda traded first place in Porsche several time during the race.
Cars with diesel engines have tried and failed to win before at Indy, Mazda says. The Cummins Engine Special won the pole for the Indy 500 in 1952, but never captured the checkered flag.
Porsche and Mazda battled for the lead during the entire race.
