Pole Day At IMS's Centnnial Era

The main straitaway Pagoda of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway located at 16th and Georgetown in Speedway, Indiana. The Pagoda is decorated to commerate the first 100 years of the race facility's existance. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

Pole Day At IMS's Centnnial Era

The first full day of qualifications for the 93rd running of the INDY 500 begins today as Justin Wilson takes to the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in his Dale Coyne Racing prepared, Z-Line HD furniture sponsored Dallara.

On this first day, only the first 11 places of the grid will be filled based upon the average speed attained over four laps of this 100 year old 2 and a half mile four-cornered oval. The field for the race on race day will have 11 rows of three cars per row making 33 cars, but on this first day only 11 cars are assured of a position in the grid of "The World's Greatest Race Course".

Each driver will have a maximum of three attempts to get into the field in the allotted time of the six and a half our qualification period.

Once the fastest 11 places are filled, the slowest car to qualify will be on the "Bubble" for the balance of the day. The driver who ends up in the 11th position will be a position that will be in jeopardy of being bumped until the six and a half hour session ends.

Winds swirl around the Speedway and set the flags mounted on the Pagoda straight. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

This excerpted and edited from indycar.com -

Handicapping qualifying
By Dave Lewandowski - indycar.com - Friday, May 8, 2009

Helio Castroneves has started from the pole twice in his eight Indianapolis 500-Mile Races. Scott Dixon, attempting to qualifying for his 100th IndyCar Series race, was the 2008 pole sitter. Tony Kanaan is the only other full-time IndyCar Series driver with 10 career pole starts, including 2005 at Indianapolis.

Does that make them favorites to win the PEAK Performance Pole Award presented by AutoZone on May 9?
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The point is there are more contenders than pretenders to fill the 11 positions on Pole Day. There's a two-hour practice window (first hour split between two groups) preceding commencement of four-lap cumulative time qualifications.
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Once positions 1-11 are filled, bumping will occur for the remainder of the noon-6 p.m. (EDT) session to determine the pole winner and 10 other qualifiers for the day. Each car has three attempts per day to qualify and, if bumped, that entrant can re-enter the qualification line. Entrants also can withdraw a qualified car and re-enter the line.

"Today was an important day," said Meira, driver of the No. 14 ABC Supply car for A.J. Foyt Racing. "The main thing is that the car is solid. We might not be the fastest car out there but it's very, very solid. It's really grippy and definitely a good race car."

Four consistent qualifying laps - on the largest stage in auto racing - is all that's needed to claim one of the 11 spots available for the May 24 race. Maybe even the pole.

"I would be surprised if one of the Penske's wasn't on the pole," Patrick said. "They seem to really be quick right now. But anything can happen around here. You can be one small change or two or three small changes away from having a really great car or a really bad car -- or at least a car that's not in the ballpark for the front spot. Anything can happen."
Reference Here>>

Click it: Qualification procedure Qualification order

One impression of a long time motorsports legend of the 100 year old Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex came in from Richard Petty on his first year as a car owner at the track ...

the500Petty's initial IMS impression ... not so great. Re: garage area -- "Looked like a bunch of barns for horses and cows and stuff." --pd

Ryan Briscoe (224.131), Helio Castroneves, Graham Rahal, Will Power, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Hideki Mutoh, Mario Moraes, Raphael Matos, Ed Carpenter, & Justin Wilson fill the top 11 places - Let the bumping begin!

UPDATE: It's 4:00 PM ET at the track, two hours to go and drivers are beginning to take runs for the pole position.

Tweets - From Twitter:

IndyTalkDanica 7th 222.882. Faster than first run. Climbs from 10th to 7th. #indy500

IndyCarPRCastroneves takes the pole from Ryan Briscoe with a four-lap average of 224.864.

kvracingMario & Paul going out for practice for maybe attempting to qualify again for MM and first time for PT

FuriousWedgeHelio's run should be the lighting of the fire for everyone, those wanting poll, and those just wanting in the Top 11

1:30 PT - 4:30 at the track and 90 minutes left to make it into the first 11 spots ... or grab the pole away from Helio Castroneves.

Stack ranking at 90 minutes out: 1-Helio Castroneves (224.864), 2-Ryan Briscoe, 3-Dario Franchitti, 4-Scott Dixon, 5-Graham Rahal, 6-Will Power, 7-Danica Patrick, 8-Marco Andretti, 9-Tony Kanaan, 10-Mario Moraes, 11-Hideki Mutoh

With the action warming up on the track, Danica Patrick wonders if her position in the field is assured [CONTROL-CLICK PHOTO - 1st Qualifying Run Video]. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

IndyTalkWe're back to practice at Indy. #indy500

IndyTalkTranscript of press conference today at Indy with The King, Richard Petty: http://twurl.nl/t457dp #indy500

VisionRacingEd & the 20 Menards car heading out to get in some practice laps & see where we can do... no decision on a qualifying attempt yet #Indy500

SarahFisher67Off to tech....we shall see- Klint

VisionRacing21 Vision car will wait until tomorrow to qualify. Ed however in the 20 Menards car... we'll see! OH the drama #Indy500

5:00PM ET at the track and one hour to make it into the top 11!

17:03:09 GMT-0400 The track is green. Tony Kanaan is out to make a qualifying attempt. He thinks he has a shot to move up ... maybe take the pole.

17:04:44 GMT-0400 Tony Kanaan has a 223.619 mph second lap.

17:06:21 GMT-0400 Tony Kanaan takes the checkered flag and qualifies in P5 with a 4-lap average speed of 223.612 mph. Moves up four places.

17:07:34 GMT-0400 Paul Tracy is on the track for a qualifying attempt.

PlanetIrlPT talking to his favorite person in the world there. I expect a good run here. #indy500

17:09:16 GMT-0400 Paul Tracy has a 222.076 mph first lap.

17:10:38 GMT-0400 Paul Tracy has a 221.893 mph third lap.

17:11:25 GMT-0400 Paul Tracy takes the checkered flag and qualifies in P11 with a 4-lap average speed of 221.915 mph. He is presently "On The Bubble" ready to get bumped.

IndyCarPRTracy qualifies 11th, bumping Hideki Mutoh from the field.

IndyTalkTracy 11th at 221.915. Bumps Mutoh. Tracy heads right back into qualifying line.

Penske Racing's Will Power makes it into the field at P9 making three cars operated by the Penske stable in the top 9 positions. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

17:18:20 GMT-0400 Hideki Mutoh is at the track pad for a qualifying attempt.

Talk has it that Graham Rahal may pull his time and head to technical inspection in order to improve his position at P4??? This does not make sense, but it is not official.

17:22:22 GMT-0400 Hideki Mutoh takes the green flag for his qualifying attempt.

17:23:05 GMT-0400 Hideki Mutoh has a 223.245 mph first lap.

17:25:17 GMT-0400 Hideki Mutoh takes the checkered flag and qualifies in P10 with a 4-lap average speed of 222.581 mph. Bumps PT (Paul Tracy) to the curb.

Shock of the day - NHLR's Graham Rahal removes himself from the second row for a shot at the pole!

17:30:08 GMT-0400 Graham Rahal has a 224.230 mph first lap. Fastest lap for him in the month.

Graham Rahal moves up from the outside of the second row to the inside of the second row - What Is The Point?

Marco Andretti on the track - 17:35:46 GMT-0400 Marco Andretti has a 223.143 mph second lap.

Four lap average 223.114 puts him on the inside of row 3.

Scott Dixon now out challenging for the pole. Finishes the four laps with 223.867 and does not move his position on the grid.

IndyCarPRDixon fifth. Moraes out for a second attempt.

17:42:27 GMT-0400 Mario Moraes is on the track for a qualifying attempt.

17:44:08 GMT-0400 Mario Moraes has a 223.785 mph first lap.

17:46:08 GMT-0400 Mario Moraes takes the checkered flag and qualifies P7 with a 4-lap average speed of 223.331 mph.

Paul Tracy is the only driver to be bumped each time these qualified drivers remove their times and post better or equal times.

17:47:42 GMT-0400 Raphael Matos takes the green flag on the qualifying attempt.

17:50:28 GMT-0400 Raphael Matos takes the checkered flag with a 4-lap average speed of 222.466 mph. Does not qualify for the field today. Hideki Mutoh on the bubble.

Ryan Briscoe had already placed his car next to his teammate Helio Castroneves, was thinking of giving it another try at the pole position [CONTROL-CLICK PHOTO - 1st Qualifying Run Video]. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

Ryan Briscoe removes his P2 time to challenge for the pole.

17:52:05 GMT-0400 Ryan Briscoe takes the green flag on the qualifying attempt.

17:52:48 GMT-0400 Ryan Briscoe has a 224.377 mph first lap. This is faster and looks good.

17:54:09 GMT-0400 Ryan Briscoe has a 223.930 mph third lap. Not faster. May lose a spot!?

17:54:49 GMT-0400 Ryan Briscoe takes the checkered flag with a 4-lap average speed of 224.083 mph. Struggles with wind on the track - inconsistant. Keeps P2 on the grid.

17:55:19 GMT-0400 the driver for Ganassi/SamSchmidt, Alex Lloyd is on the track for a qualifying attempt.

17:57:08 GMT-0400 Alex Lloyd has a 222.989 mph first lap.

17:58:28 GMT-0400 Alex Lloyd has a 222.427 mph third lap. Four lap average of 222.622 and bumps Hideki Mutoh and places the HER energy drink sponsored ride into 11th and last place for the day.

17:59:53 GMT-0400 Justin Wilson is on the track for a qualifying attempt. Seconds from the final gun and out for four laps.

17:59:53 GMT-0400 Justin Wilson is on the track for a qualifying attempt.

Justin Wilson does not make the field on this day.

18:04:05 GMT-0400 Justin Wilson takes the checkered flag with a 4-lap average speed of 222.476 mph.

IndyTalkWilson too slow. 222.476. But he should be a solid Day 2 qualifier. Way to go Dale Coyne for taking a shot. #indy500

Helio Castroneves captures his third pole position for the Indy 500 [CONTROL-CLICK PHOTO - Qualifying Run Video]. The Brazilian, who won the race in 2001 and 2002 as well as taking pole in both 2003 and 2007, beat his Penske team-mate Ryan Briscoe to the top spot, with Dario Franchitti completing the front row for Ganassi. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

IndyTalkHelio in tears on pit lane, overcome with emotion after winning third career Indianapolis 500 pole. #indy500

A great story for Helio, from facing a prison term jus a couple of weeks ago to Pole Position at the INDY 500 - May has been very, very good for Helio Castroneves!

Pos --- Driver --- Team --- Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 224.864mph
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske 224.083mph
3. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 224.010mph
4. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 223.954mph
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 223.867mph
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 223.612mph
7. Mario Moraes KV 223.331mph
8. Marco Andretti Andretti Green 223.114mph
9. Will Power Penske 223.028mph
10. Danica Patrick Andretti Green 222.882mph
11. Alex Lloyd Ganassi/Sam Schmidt 222.622mph

Story description of the day's events HERE >>

... notes from The EDJE

Heads In The Game - An INDY Long Beach 2009 Retrospective

Penske Racing's driver, Ryan Briscoe, working through chassis set-ups with team owner, Roger Penske during Practice session #3 of the 35th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Ryan Briscoe had trouble handling the demands thrown up by the streets around Shoreline Drive, failing to make it into the Firestone Fast Six in "Knockout" qualifying and eventually finishing the race out of the top ten at P13 - while setting the fastest lap in the race at 1:11.2582 (on lap 82 of 85). Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Heads In The Game - An INDY Long Beach 2009 Retrospective

A Photo/Video compilation of the event from the pits. Photos taken during the three days of practice, qualification, and competition at the 35th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and the first ever IndyCar Series event in Long Beach under full unification of open wheel racing competition in North America.

The video uses close-up images of the drivers as they sit in their Dallara race cars while engineers tweak the chassis in order to gain faster lap times. Red Wall tires Vs Black Wall tires, umbrellas, cockpit fans to keep drivers comfortable, pit in, pit out, add fuel, and discuss the set up with team owners are postures expressed by the players who drive here and have their heads in the game.

Video music overlay performed by the Kings of Leon - "Sex On Fire" - launch 

and play while watching video below.

Players in order of appearance are (some are repeated with photos taken in time sequence) Graham Rahal, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dario Franchitti, Justin Wilson, Ed Carpenter, Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, EJ Viso, Mike Conway, Stanton Barrett, Robert Doornbos, Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves, Vitor Meira, Jimmy Vasser, Paul Tracy, and Will Power.

Dallara platforms at full song from the sounds of Honda engines overlay this version - mute volume and play music from video above as this content is timed to coincide.

Pole Position

Driver Will Power (Penske Racing)

Time 1:09.7107

PODIUM

First         Dario Franchitti (Chip Ganassi Racing)

Second Will Power (Penske Racing)

Third Tony Kanaan (Andretti Green Racing)

Last Note: Danica Patrick (Andretti Green Racing) qualified at P22 in a field of 23 cars and finished P4 just behind her teammate Tony Kanaan.

Enjoy.

... notes from The EDJE 

TAGS: Kings Of Leon, Doornbos, IRL, Long Beach Grand Prix, Viso, Wilson, Conway, Hunter-Reay, Andretti, Meira, Tracy, Patrick, Castroneves, Rahal, Vasser, Franchitti, Barrett, Briscoe, Power, Carpenter, The EDJE

For T-Teams, Rookie Of The Year Slips A Notch In Iowa

These "boots" are made for winning, and that is what they did - Brit, Dan Weldon wins the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer at Iowa Speedway on direction from Chip Ganassi team's strategist, Barry Wanser. Happy 30th birthday Dan. Image credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

For T-Teams, Rookie Of The Year Slips A Notch In Iowa

A good and competitive race was held near the corn fields and flooding of Iowa. The race was won through pit stop timing and fuel strategy. Dan Weldon in the Target Chip Ganassi Dallara took the checkered flag on the day he turned 30 in front of an appreciative crowd looking for an escape from the acts of God tumult this region of the United States has suffered from in recent weeks.

Andretti Green's Hideki Mutoh as he enters the pits at Iowa Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

After 8 of 18 races, Andretti Green Racing’s Hideki Mutoh begins to lock down rookie of the year honors in the IndyCar Series championship by holding on to second place next to his teammate in third, son of the owner of the Andretti Green Racing team, Marco Andretti. To a fan of the former ChampCar, this is a very disappointing trend. The rookies are almost all drivers who drive for teams that made their calling card carrying on for a racing series that raced on a different type and configuration of race track every weekend.

Transistion team driver Will Power of KV Racing Technology, finishes the highest position of the "Elite Eight" that qualified for the race. Here, he sits in the cockpit, control wheel on the deck, getting ready to get plugged in and go. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

This was the fifth straight oval race in six weeks for the unified IRL drivers and, to be honest, the races are beginning to blend together. Cars try to run three (and maybe four) wide, tires in the open wheel cars almost touch (and sometimes do causing wrecks), suspension parts fail due to stresses of overloading the technology on tight lefthand corners sending cars into the outside wall, and at the end, the race will be won by one of three teams that have all the parts, back-up equipment, and teammates that will, hopefully, protect and keep them out of trouble.

Next week is the track at Richmond, Virginia … which is just a slightly shorter version of this track here in Iowa … but with a little less banking, will see more of the same. The twist for Richmond (just like they did in Texas) is that the race will be run at night in the glow of specialized lighting.

Unless the former ChampCar teams get an equalizing road course soon, and have five in a row to make things a little more even, this unification thing may begin to turn fans away, after all, there is still trouble getting all of the cars with sponsorship. Outside of the tradition a few oval tracks hold, the races play out pretty much the same no matter where one goes. There is not enough variation to really hold a rabid fans interest through the course of a whole season if every race has as its hallmark, higher banks, or shorter track, or the race will be held at night, or … this used to be a cornfield but now its an oval racetrack!

Helmet art of Dan Weldon. Depicts a knight slaying the competition ... as he did today on his 30th birthday at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer at Iowa Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

More about the “Corn Fed 250” (Iowa Corn Indy 250) excerpted and edited from Autosport.com –

Wheldon uses pit gamble to win Iowa
By Jeff Olson and Matt Beer Sunday, June 22nd 2008, 19:14 GMT

Dan Wheldon gambled on stretching his final fuel load for 90 laps and took an unlikely victory for Ganassi at Iowa Speedway, ahead of Andretti Green's Hideki Mutoh and Marco Andretti.

The Ganassi cars had not been a factor in the lead battle for most of the race, but the decision to leave Wheldon on track as most of the leaders pitted under a late yellow allowed the Briton to vault to the head of the field.

He then had to conserve fuel to make it to the finish - running 90 laps rather than the usual 75 on his last stint - but two further cautions in the closing stages allowed Wheldon and fellow fuel gamblers Mutoh and Danica Patrick to stretch their fuel mileage to the end.
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Wheldon was running back in the pack when he and strategist Barry Wanser chose to keep the car out on the track while the leaders came to the pits on the 187th lap.

It appeared at the time as if Wheldon wouldn't be able to make it to the finish, but he received two huge assists - a yellow flag when Mario Moraes brushed the wall on a restart on the 197th lap and another when Tony Kanaan spun and hit the wall on the 211th lap.
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Wheldon donated his winnings to relief programmes for victims of flooding in Iowa. Coupled with Scott Dixon's $15,000 for finishing fifth, Ganassi's drivers donated a total of $50,000 to disaster relief efforts.
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Andretti was the highest finisher amongst those who made the extra pitstop, having jumped past Patrick and Dixon in a single move at the final restart before hunting down Wheldon and Mutoh.

He was unable to get around his rookie teammate, though, and had to settle for third, as Mutoh successfully managed to fend off Andretti while also trying to keep the pressure on Wheldon.

"I almost got by Wheldon at the end, but I didn't have the speed to overtake him," Mutoh said. This is the highest finish by a Japanese driver (in the IndyCar Series), so it's good news for Japan and for myself, too."
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Despite these incidents, the race was a far cry from last year's crash-filled and processional inaugural Iowa event.
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This time, the race featured six cautions for 57 laps, but 17 of the 24 starters were running at the end. The other significant yellow came when Ed Carpenter spun in Turn 2 on the 39th lap, then blamed Patrick for his accident.

"Danica did her normal supreme block job," Carpenter said. "She is the new Scott Sharp of the series, as far as I'm concerned. That is two races in a row. I'm over her."
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KV Racing's Will Power and Newman/Haas/Lanigan's Graham Rahal completed the top ten.

John Andretti showed encouraging pace for the small Roth Racing team to run as high as seventh, while Justin Wilson (Newman/Haas/Lanigan) also occupied that position in the middle of the race, before both lost ground in the last stint.
Reference Here>>

How did the surviving eight drivers (of ten registered to compete) from teams that have transitioned from the CCWS?

POS./Qual./Car# - Driver - Hometown - Car - Name - Entrant

9/11/8 - Will Power - Toowoomba, Australia - Aussie Vineyards-Team Australia - KV Racing Technology

10/16/06 - Graham Rahal - Columbus, Ohio - Hole in the Wall Camps - Newman Haas Lanigan Racing

12/20/02 - Justin Wilson - Sheffield, England - McDonald's - Newman Haas Lanigan Racing

13/13/33 - EJ Viso - Caracas, Venezuela - PDVSA - HVM Racing

16/10/5 - Oriol Servia - Pals, Spain - KV Racing Technology - KV Racing Technology

17/17/36 - Enrique Bernoldi - Curitiba, Brazil - Sangari - Conquest Racing

19/24/19 - Mario Moraes - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Sonny's Bar-B-Q - Dale Coyne Racing

20/21/34 - Jaime Camara - Goiania, Brazil – Sangari - Conquest Racing

Bruno Junqueira of Dale Coyne Racing and Mario Moraes’s teammate hopes to have his damaged car ready for Richmond. No word at the time of this post if Pacific Coast Racing’s Mario Dominguez will make the show in Virginia.

If I were in the business of speculating, I’d say the chances are better than 50/50 that PCM may wait until Watkins Glen to rejoin the frey for the balance of the 2008 season, the week after the short oval at Richmond.

... notes from The EDJE

Dario Franchitti Survives To Land A Championship

Scotland's Dario Franchitti during practice for the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 08 Sept at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. Franchitti, locked in a battle for the IndyCar Series crown, earned pole position Saturday for the season-ending race. Today, he won the race and the championship on the last lap. Image Credit: AFP/Getty Images/Gavin Lawrence

Dario Franchitti Survives To Land A Championship

In what has to be one of the tightest races in a points championship battled out over 17 races, Dario Franchitti outlasts Scott Dixon on the final lap with enough fuel to scoot past for the outright win and the points championship at Chicagoland Speedway.

Starting the race with only a three point lead over Dixon, Franchitti had to be at least in front of Scott Dixon in order to grab the Indy Racing League championship for 2007 but that was not to be. The whole race Dario not only trailed Scott Dixon of the Target/Chip Ganassi Team, but Dixon's teammate Dan Weldon, along with Helio Castorneves, and Sam Hornish Jr. of Team Penske.

AGR teammates Dario Franchitti and Danica Patrick chat prior to driver introductions. - Image Credit: Chris Jones

In the final laps, Dario Franchitti's Andretti/Green Racing teammate, Danica Patrick entered the pit lane for a final splash of fuel and spun, stalling her car. This brought out a yellow caution flag and slowed the field down allowing the race cars to save fuel. Before the caution flag came out, both Dixon and Franchitti were probably going to have to come in for fuel as well but with the cars slowed ... they used alot less fuel setting up a shootout run to the end with two laps to go.

Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti battle for the lead at Chicagoland. - Image Credit: Jim Haines

Both Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti rolled the dice (by staying out on the track). The green flag drops and on the next to the last turn before the finish line, the checkered flag that would end the race and the season ... Dixon's car sputtered and ran out of fuel. Franchitti poped to the right to miss rear-ending Dixon's car and sped forward to the wave of the checkered flag.

In a season that that featured Dario's car going airborne and flipping in racing accidents with Dario going uninjured through two consecutive races, this year's Indy 500 winner, Dario Franchitti and Andretti/Green Racing proved to be the most deserving of champions for 2007 by earning the championship through the air and on the track.

What a great season and a great racing series.

Dario Franchitti 2007 Championship Photo with team oner Michael Andretti, and Dario's wife, Ashley Judd - Image Credit: Jim Haines

Final ten laps excerpted from the “Commentary” section of the Live Timing & Scoring at the Indy Racing League website –

Dario Franchitti wins the race and championship as Scott Dixon runs out of fuel!
2007-09-09 17:51:50
Lap 199: White flag. #9 Scott Dixon leads #27 Dario Franchitti by 0.0605 sec.
2007-09-09 17:51:17
Lap 198: Dario makes it two wide for the lead.
2007-09-09 17:50:52
Lap 198: A two lap shoot-out for the championship!
2007-09-09 17:50:29
Lap 197: One lap until back to green.
2007-09-09 17:48:49
Lap 196: Dan Wheldon may have lost his gearbox.
2007-09-09 17:48:37
Lap 195: Pits are open.
2007-09-09 17:47:58
Lap 194: Yellow for #7 Danica Patrick spun at pit-in.
2007-09-09 17:47:13
Lap 193: Wheldon is slow in T2. He may be out of fuel.
2007-09-09 17:46:40
Lap 193: #10 Dan Wheldon leads #9 Scott Dixon by 0.1337 sec.
2007-09-09 17:46:25
Lap 192: Marty Roth is slow on the backstretch.
2007-09-09 17:46:11
Lap 192: #10 Dan Wheldon leads #9 Scott Dixon by 0.1896 sec.
2007-09-09 17:46:00
Lap 190: Dan Wheldon takes back the lead.
2007-09-09 17:45:23
Lap 190: Top 5: #9 Dixon, #10 Wheldon, #27 Franchitti, #7 Patrick, #8 Sharp.
2007-09-09 17:45:12
Reference Here (Commentary is live only - direct reference may not be available)>>

Dario celebrating the Chicagoland victory and 2007 Indy Car Championship - Click cursor on photo to send Dario and AGR a message of congratulations! - Image and Link Credit: Indy Racing League

NOTES:

Dario Franchitti finishes the season with 637 points to Scott Dixon's 624 points to capture the title.

Dario's 637 total points this season is a record for the series. The previous high was 628 by Dan Wheldon in the 2007 season. This is Dario's first IndyCar Series Championship. He becomes the third consecutive Indianapolis 500 winner to go on to win the IndyCar Series Championship in the same season.

This is the third IndyCar Series Championship for Andretti Green Racing. The team won the title in 2004 with Tony Kanaan, 2005 with Dan Wheldon. Andretti Green Racing becomes the first team to win three IndyCar Series Championships.

Team Menard, A.J. Foyt Racing and Panther Racing have each won two championships.

The margin for the championship was 13 points. It's the seventh time in 12 seasons that the IndyCar Series Championship point margin has been 20 points or less ...


… notes from The EDJE.

(ht: MAXINE)