Hornish receives Brayton Award.

In addition to a winning purse of $1,744,855, Indy 500 champion Sam Hornish Jr has been named as the 2006 winner of the Scott Brayton Award as the driver who best epitomises the spirit of the late driver.

After dominating the build-up to the 90th running of the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing' Hornish Jr eventually claimed the win in the most dramatic style possible as he out dragged rookie Marco Andretti on the final straight to take the second closest win in Indianapolis 500 history.

Hornish's winnings doesn't quite top those of Buddy Rice's after he won the 2004 Indy 500 but they still come from a race record purse of more than ten and a half million dollars.

This year's event purse broke the record of $10,304,815 set in 2005. This is the fifth consecutive year the overall purse for the field of 33 drivers has exceeded $10 million. The event purse is comprised of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy Racing League and sponsor awards, and other designated awards.

Hornish, a 26-year-old native of Defiance, Ohio, and resident of nearby Napoleon, Ohio, led three times for 19 laps, becoming the 18th driver to win the race from the pole and the first driver in the race to take the lead on the final lap. Hornish closed on Andretti exiting turn four and dramatically passed him on the inside just before the finish line.

The race featured 14 lead changes among seven drivers. 2005 winner Dan Wheldon led the most laps with 148.

Andretti earned $698,505 for finishing an IRL IndyCar Series career-best second. The "500" was only his fourth start in the series, and his result earned him the prestigious Indianapolis 500 Chase Rookie of the Year Award and its $25,000 bonus. Andretti's grandfather, Mario Andretti, won rookie of the year honours in 1965 after finishing third, and his father, Michael, shared the top rookie award with Roberto Guerrero after finishing fifth in 1984.

Michael Andretti followed his son across the line to finish third and earned $480,105. Andretti nearly won the race, his 15th start at the "500," when he led laps 194-197 before his son passed him.

Hornish's contributions to the sport on a personal level also were recognised at the annual Indianapolis 500 Victory Celebration when he was awarded the Scott Brayton Driver's Trophy, presented since 1997 to the driver who best exemplifies the character and racing spirit of the late Scott Brayton.