American Ryan Hunter-Reay passed Brazil’s Helio Castroneves at the start of the final lap to win the 98th Indianapolis 500 in the second-closest finish in race history.

Hunter-Reay edged three-time Indy 500 winner Castroneves by only .06 of a second after 200 laps of the 4km Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for his first Indy 500 triumph.

“It’s a dream come true,” Hunter-Reay said on Sunday.

“I can’t even believe it.”

Hunter-Reay led off a restart with six laps remaining after the race was halted to clear debris off the track.

Castroneves passed for the lead on the inside entering turn one with five laps to go, but Hunter-Reay took the lead back in the third turn of lap 197 with a daring inside move.

Castroneves, trying to become only the fourth man to win a record four Indy 500s, went to the outside to reclaim the lead on the first turn of lap 199.

But Hunter-Reay went outside on the front straightaway as the white flag waved to signal the start of the last lap, passed Castroneves just before the first turn and held off a final pass attempt at the finish line to win.

“It was a fantastic fight to the finish,” Hunter-Reay said.

“We all raced each other clean but really hard. I was just biding my time and waiting for the right opportunities.”

Castroneves could only smile and shake his head.

“They did an outstanding job. It was close. It’s a shame so close but today was Ryan Hunter-Reay’s day,” he said.

“It was a great fight. I was having a great time. Unfortunately, second, it’s good, but second sucks.”

US racer Marco Andretti, the grandson of 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti, could not end the family’s 45-year Indy jinx, settling for third.