Luyendyk completed the 500 miles at an average speed of 185.981 mph (299.307 km/h), a record that stood for 23 years until 2013. The 1990 race had often been referred to as "The Fastest 500". Fans roared for Luyendyk as he displayed a victory fist in turn 2 following the race.
The race was won by Dan Wheldon, as rookie J. R. Hildebrand, who took the lead with two laps to go, went high on the final turn of the final lap and he hit the outside wall. As his wrecked car was coasting down the frontstretch, Dan Wheldon slipped by in the final meters to take the victory.
Sam Hornish, Jr. won the race by passing rookie Marco Andretti on the final lap. It was the first time a driver made a pass for the lead on the final lap for victory in the history of the event. The margin of victory was 0.063 seconds.
