JR Hildebrand could taste the traditional victory milk as he entered Turn 4 of Lap 200.

Coming out of 4, the view from the rookie’s windshield changed drastically from the checkered flag to the outside wall.

The freshman driver was so close. The final homestretch never looked so long.

ESPNThe National Guard-sponsored car crossed the finish line on three rolling wheels. He finished behind only Dan Wheldon, who was in perfect position to take advantage of the rookie’s mistake.

Wheldon overcame considerable obstacles to win his second Indy 500. He signed a one-race deal to drive the #98 car, winning the race for his mother who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He’d finished in second place the past two years at Indianapolis, when he had a full-time race team, and is sure to receive offers for more rides this season. It was a great story to cap the 100th anniversary of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

But who will be remembered most for the 2011 Indianapolis 500? Wheldon or Hildebrand?

In a race where Ganassi teammates Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti dominated the first 150 laps, fuel strategy quickly became more important than raw speed. The final 30 laps saw several lead changes and new leaders. Danica Patrick, in what may have been her last 500 before she moves to NASCAR, took the lead with 17 laps to go but was forced to pit seven laps later. During Lap 195, Hildebrand passed Franchitti for second place just before the leader, Bertrand Baguette, surrendered to pit road.

Then came the huge mistake that will haunt the 23-year-old rookie for quite some time.

Hildebrand tried to lap fellow rookie driver Charlie Kimball going through the final turn. He moved to pass on the outside, lost control in a rough patch on the track, slammed into the wall, and watched helplessly as Wheldon took the checkered flag just ahead of him.

For the first time in race history, restarts were double file, nearly causing pile-ups every restart. Cars were three and four-wide going into turn one, some drivers were forced into the apron, but thankfully no accidents occurred due to the new format.

The 100th anniversary of the race featured 24 lead changes among ten different drivers. No lead change was as dramatic as Wheldon’s pass of Hildebrand right before the caution lights began flashing.

The two-time 500 winner from England was full of emotion as he celebrated in Victory Lane, thanking his team and family.

Wheldon’s a great story. Hildebrand is a bigger one.

“We should’ve won the race.”