In a one-lap dash to the chequered flag, the Meyer Shank Racing driver led the field coming to the white flag but was overtaken into the first turn by Team Penske’s David Malukas.
The New Zealander was left to battle over second place with his teammate Felix Rosenqvist, who went around the outside of Armstrong and went on to pip Malukas to the win.
Armstrong, meanwhile, lost out on the front stretch to Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske) and Pato O’Ward (McLaren) and finished fifth.
In the immediate aftermath, a teary Armstrong delivered his assessment of the finish to local broadcaster WISH-TV.
“I was given two options – either I lift or I crash with Felix. I chose to lift,” said Armstrong.
“I can’t believe the situation that I was put in. I don’t know if I would do anything differently right now. It’s just a really bad situation.”
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Speaking nearly two months after that famous finish, Armstrong opened up on the post-race comments.
“I guess I wasn’t exactly happy with the way I behaved after that race,” said Armstrong on MotorSport New Zealand’s Inside Line.
“Whenever you finish a race you’re used to having cameras shoved in your face, and that’s certainly part of it, but for whatever reason after that race I gave interviews that I swear I don’t even remember I did.
“There was one of me in particular of me walking back after the race and it’s an Indiana TV show, Indiana news or whatever, and I basically just blamed Felix for not winning the race, which is ridiculous.
“I don’t even remember giving that interview. I was obviously angry and tired and all that, but that wasn’t the case. Felix drove the perfect last lap and I was in a position where I was not in a good position.
“I was locked down on the inside and I knew I shouldn’t be there but Felix put himself in the right spot – and fair play to him, he drove that last lap the way that you would if you were fighting to the Indy 500.”
Although Armstrong said at the time he wouldn’t have done anything differently, with the benefit of hindsight he would have changed his approach.
“I’m normally quite confident on restarts to just go up high and put the trust on the guy on the inside,” said Armstrong.
“Obviously when you’re starting first it’s not so easy to pick the right lane. I’d probably choose the outside, for a start. That’s usually where I’m the most comfortable and it gives you the most options.
“The last lap of the 500, there’s no more friends left. The engines are turned up to the maximum and next time I’d probably choose the outside.”
Armstrong will continue his IndyCar season at Nashville Superspeedway on July 19-20.
IndyCar begins on Sunday with practice at midnight before qualifying at 4am AEST. High line practice begins at 7am AEST followed by practice two at 8am AEST.
IndyCar pre-show begins on Monday at 6:30am AEST before the race at 7:40am AEST.
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