[smokingfrog]

Indy 500 throws unprecedented red flag to guarantee green finish.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motor/indycar/2014/05/25/indianapolis-500-red-flag-townsend-bell-crash-hunter-reay-wins/9577895/

[tcrlaf]

“Indy 500 throws unprecedented red flag to guarantee green finish.”

You’ll note how things have changed in the last few years, when ABC is the race broadcaster.

They likely wanted an “exciting finish”.
I was at Las Vegas when Wheldon was killed, and they very well could have run that race, but ABC wouldn’t extend the TV window.