Race Broadcast: Relive the 2004 Indianapolis 500

Rahal Letterman Racing driver Buddy Rice started from the pole and led a field-high 91 laps to win a rain-shortened “500.”

After rain delayed the start of the race by two hours, Rice led the 33-car field to the green flag. He led the first 12 laps, but fell to 16th after stalling the car during a pit stop after the race was red-flagged because of rain.

Timing aided Rice in securing the victory when he exchanged the lead with Adrian Fernandez, who ducked into the pits late in the race. Rice had pitted four laps earlier. Rice then pulled to a 1.4237-second lead over Tony Kanaan when moisture was spotted in Turn 1. A downpour soon followed, and the final six laps were run under yellow. Finally, with light rain falling, Rice took the checkered flag on Lap 180, 20 laps short of a complete race.