The Willpower Of Will Power Vaults Driver To Championship Lead At Motegi

Verizon Penske Racing's Will Power as he accepts his second consecutive Mario Andretti "King Of The Road" trophy for racking up the most championship points on a road/street circuit during the course of an IZOD IndyCar Series season. Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar Series

The Willpower Of Will Power Vaults Driver To Championship Lead At Motegi

It was just a few short races ago when all looked as if the IZOD IndyCar Series championship was coming down to a one-man race to re-crown Dario Franchitti as its best driver for a fourth time ... third time in a row.

Penske Racing's Will Power lost the title on the last race of the season last year after leading the points race most of the year ... but was unable to maintain the lead when ever he had to race on an oval track.

Nearly out of reach of a surging series points leader Dario Franchitti a little over a month ago, Power not only has erased a 62-point deficit in only four races (New Hampshire - oval, Sonoma - road, Baltimore - street, and Motegi - road/normally oval), he used his focus and will power to vault to the top spot by 11 points with two oval races to go (Kentucky and the season closer at Las Vegas).

Say what one will, but the season for Will Power comes down to one thing, has he learned to win on an oval enough to out pace his chief nemesis, Dario Franchitti?

Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon as he leads Will Power through the track overpass section on the road course at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan. Image Credit: IZOD IndyCar Series

This excerpted and edited from Sports Illustrated -

Not so fast: Dixon makes it 3-way race for title
(AP)

Just when it looked like Dario Franchitti and Will Power would run away from the field in the race for the IndyCar championship, Scott Dixon got back in the mix with a win at the Indy Japan 300.

Dixon's victory in the last IndyCar event to be held in Japan moved the Target Chip Ganassi driver to within 59 points of Power with two races to go.
----
Power and Franchitti (48 points ahead) still have a large advantage, but Dixon, who won the championship in 2003 and 2008, isn't about to concede anything just yet.

"Dario and Will have both had strong seasons, but we have been creeping up and staying within striking distance,'' Dixon said. "I think sometimes that gets overlooked. We want this to be a three-horse race for sure.''

It wouldn't be the first time a driver came from third place to win the championship with two races to go. Sam Hornish Jr. was third with two races left in 2002 and went on to win the championship, winning the last two events.

Dixon is hoping for a similar scenario this year.

"Hopefully everyone will continue to focus on those other two and we can sneak in under the radar and get to the front in these final two races,'' Dixon said. "The Target cars have been strong on ovals this season and we're looking forward to finishing 2011 on a high note."
----
While Dixon's win in Japan kept his title hopes alive, it was who finished second and eighth at Motegi that threw the championship race wide open.

Franchitti went into the race with a slim five-point lead over Power. But a poor qualifying effort put the No. 10 Ganassi Racing Dallara on the fifth row. The Scotsman's chances of holding onto the points lead took a major hit when he made contact with the right-rear of Ryan Briscoe's Team Penske car entering Turn 1 on the 26th lap.

Race officials levied an avoidable contact penalty on the reigning series champion, sending him to the rear of the field before he worked his way back to finish eighth.

"It was a stupid move on my part," said Franchitti. "I did a lot of hard work to get from ninth to fifth, and I'd been saving fuel the whole first stint. I thought there was a gap and Ryan was going wide on the entry and that was that."

Power, who started from the front row, couldn't catch Dixon but was able to do the next best thing by finishing ahead of Franchitti.

"I just need to keep finishing in front of (Franchitti) the rest of the way and we'll be fine," Power said. "We'll keep chipping away like we have been."

The last two races of the season are on 1.5-mile ovals. Franchitti has two wins on ovals this season compared to one for Power. But the Australian driver, who is bidding for his first championship, is confident about his chances at the last two tracks.

"Ovals, that's what I enjoy the most racing, mile-and-a-half racing, Chicagoland last year, Texas this year," Power said. "Even Kentucky last year we were really strong, just didn't end up with the result. We're pretty focused on that this year."

Franchitti held a 47-point advantage before Power won the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on Aug. 28, and the gap narrowed further at the Baltimore Grand Prix on Sept. 4, where Power captured the pole and led for 70 of 75 laps in a runaway victory.

Whatever happens at Kentucky Speedway on Oct. 2, Dixon figures the championship will come down to the last race in Las Vegas on Oct. 16.

"The championship, I think going back to every year since 2006, has been decided in the last race so I don't think it's fair to count anyone out until the last lap of the season," Dixon said.
[Reference Here]

Ok, fine ... for fan interest, we'll just say it's a three-man race - RIGHT! It becomes a three-man race when Franchitti and Power take each other out ... of BOTH races.

Just as it was in 2010 for the Verizon Penske Racing driver, does Will Power have the willpower to stick it to Dario Franchitti and finish ahead in the points on oval tracks? The ChampCar World Series faithful believe this is the year he can.

Motegi By The Numbers - highlights:

6 – Finishing position for Sebastien Bourdais, who finished sixth for the fourth time in the past six races.

7 – Consecutive races led by Will Power, who led the only one lap not led by Scott Dixon at Motegi.

12 - Positions gained by JR Hildebrand, Danica Patrick and Simona De Silversto, who finished seventh, 11th and 14, respectively, most of any driver in the field.

14 – Points separating Sunoco Rookie of the Year point leader JR Hildebrand (284) and James Hinchcliffe (270) with two races remaining.

49 -- Consecutive races running at the finish for Danica Patrick, extending her series record.

147 -- Consecutive starts for Tony Kanaan.

1,903 – Laps completed (of 1,911) by fifth-place finisher Oriol Servia, most of any driver this season.

Uncountable -- Autograph requests of Takuma Sato over the race weekend.

... notes from The EDJE


[Article first published as The Willpower Of Will Power Vaults Driver To Championship Lead At Motegi on Technorati]

IndyCar: On The 10th Day, 10th Month ... #10 Car Wins It All

Dario Franchitti on the stage with the 2009 IndyCar Series championship trophy. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

IndyCar: On The 10th Day, 10th Month ... #10 Car Wins It All

After securing the pole position for the Firestone Indy 300, Dario Franchitti wins his second overall championship in the IndyCar Series (ICS) in the Indy Racing League's final race of the 2009 season at Homestead-Maimi Speedway.

In a race that turned out to be the first caution-free race in IndyCar Series history leading to the second-fastest in IndyCar history resulted into an oxymoron, of sorts ... a win result due to excellent fuel management by the Tatget Chip Ganassi team and it's driver Dario Franchitti who entered the race third in the points behind Ryan Briscoe (Team Penske) and Target teammate Scott Dixon.

Eventual 2009 ICS Rookie-Of-The-Year, Raphael Matos (Luzco Dragon Racing), sits on the wall before first practice session at Homestead-Maimi Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

This excerpted and edited from Autosport.com -

Franchitti surprised to win 2009 title
By Matt Beer - Autosport.com, Sunday, October 11th 2009, 11:23 GMT

Dario Franchitti said he never expected to come straight back in and win the 2009 championship when he agreed to return to the IndyCar Series this year.

The Scot had left the championship for NASCAR after winning the 2007 title, but when Ganassi had to close Franchitti's Sprint Cup operation due to a lack of finance, he accepted an invitation to switch to the team's IndyCar arm instead.

Last night at Homestead Franchitti clinched his second championship by winning a three-way fight with his team-mate Scott Dixon and Penske's Ryan Briscoe, who he beat to victory in the deciding race by stretching his fuel mileage to avoid a fourth stop while his rivals battled flat-out and had to pit again late on.

"I didn't think I'd win five races and a championship in my first year back," said Franchitti. "I knew driving for team Target [Ganassi], I'd have good equipment, just a question of could I get back into it and compete at a level that I had already.

"Scott is a better driver than he was in '07, and Ryan came in [at the front] every single week, as well as other people who made appearances and won races, but it just seemed that Scott and Ryan every week were tough competition.

"From winning in the second race at Long Beach, I knew we could get it done."

He said the second title was more satisfying than the first as there had still been separate Champ Car and IndyCar championships in 2007.

"In '07 there was a lot of satisfaction in getting that one done," said Franchitti. "I think what makes it sweeter [in '09] is we've got everybody together, and you've got a more balanced schedule, as well.
----
He added that he was now thoroughly settled in the IndyCar Series, but still thinks he gained from his abortive NASCAR move.
----
"I learned things as a driver. To drive in stock car, I got out of my comfort zone, and I learned a lot of new things, and there are things that I can apply to IndyCar. That's made me a better driver, I think.

"I'm absolutely where I should be. I should be in IndyCars. That is what I grew up to do, race in the IndyCar Series."
Reference Here>>

It is common knowledge that racing drivers are a superstitious lot, and heading into the Firestone Indy 300 one number was particularly convergent for the 2009 ICS contender Dario Franchitti: He would be racing his No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Dallara Honda on Oct. 10th in search of Target Chip Ganassi’s 10th win of the season.

And in Miami, he performed to a Perfect 10.

Graham Rahal: Top 2009 season placing Transition Player (former CCWS team and/or driver) in the Indy Racing League

Overall ICS 2009 Championship Standings (** denotes a CCWS Transition Player)

Pos - Driver - Points
1. Dario Franchitti 616
2. Scott Dixon 605
3. Ryan Briscoe 604
4. Helio Castroneves 433
5. Danica Patrick 393
6. Tony Kanaan 386
7. Graham Rahal 385**
8. Marco Andretti 380
9. Justin Wilson 354**
10. Dan Wheldon 354
11. Hideki Mutoh 353
12. Ed Carpenter 321
13. Raphael Matos 312
14. Mario Moraes 304**
15. Ryan Hunter-Reay 98
16. Robert Doornbos 283**
17. Mike Conway 261
18. E.J. Viso 248**
19. Will Power 215**
20. Tomas Scheckter 195
21. Oriol Servia 115**
22. Alex Tagliani 114**
23. Paul Tracy 113**
24. Milka Duno 113
25. Sarah Fisher 89
26. Jaques Lazier 77
27. Richard Antinucci 63
28. Vitor Meira 62
29. Stanton Barrett 62
30. Alex Lloyd 41
31. Darren Manning 38
32. Townsend Bell 32**
33. A.J. Foyt IV 26
34. Scott Sharp 16
35. Nelson Philippe 16**
36. Kosuke Matsuura 13
37. John Andretti 12
38. Franck Montagny 12**
39. Roger Yasukawa 12
40. Davey Hamilton 10
(ht: Motorsport.com)

... notes from The EDJE

Sears Point INDY - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

Pit lane and the grid at the start of the INDY Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway, Sears Point. Image Credit: Vision Racing

Sears Point INDY - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

The Indy Grand Prix Sonoma represents the last road/street course on the IndyCar Series schedule for the 2009 season, so if any of the Transition Players (drivers and/or teams merged into the IRL from the ChampCar World Series in 2008) wish to make a mark in their specialty ... this is the place.

Nelson Philippe as he sits stalled on the track in his Conquest Dallara before EJ Viso (HVM) and Will Power (Penske Racing) crest the hill. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Unfortunately, the biggest star who transitioned from the ChampCar World Series last year got seriously hurt in a crash yesterday with Nelson Philippe after Nelson's car had stalled in the middle of the track just over a blind rise. Philippe was first brushed by EJ Viso, then "T-Boned" by Power (all three drivers are Transition Players). Without the accident, Transition Players would have fielded their largest contingent of drivers in the grid this year (save the INDY 500 with 10) with a total of 9 of 24 total cars.

The initial 24-car field is now down to 22 entrants as both Will Power (Penske) and Nelson Philippe (Conquest) have been sidelined by the practice accident that left them with broken vertebrae and a fractured leg respectively.

Will Power's Penske on the hook with Will Power, himself, on a stretcher with injuries inside the ambulance after his collision with the Conquest Dallara of Nelson Philippe. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Starting Grid (** denotes Transition Player)

Pos  Driver             Team                 Time
1.  Dario Franchitti   Ganassi              1m16.7987s
2.  Ryan Briscoe       Penske               1m16.8485s
3.  Helio Castroneves  Penske               1m16.8702s
4.  Marco Andretti     Andretti Green       1m17.0524s
5.  Hideki Mutoh       Andretti Green       1m17.2055s
6.  Graham Rahal       Newman/Haas/Lanigan  1m17.3885s**
7.  Tony Kanaan        Andretti Green       1m16.9900s
8.  Franck Montagny    Andretti Green       1m17.0840s**
9.  Mike Conway        Dreyer & Reinbold    1m17.0895s
10.  Scott Dixon        Ganassi              1m17.2247s
11.  Danica Patrick     Andretti Green       1m17.6145s
12.  Dan Wheldon        Panther              1m17.6782s
13.  EJ Viso            HVM                  1m17.9180s**
14.  Mario Moraes       KV                   1m17.4730s**
15.  Robert Doornbos    HVM                  1m18.1095s**
16.  Ryan Hunter-Reay   Foyt                 1m17.6401s
17.  Oriol Servia       Newman/Haas/Lanigan  1m18.1409s**
18.  Raphael Matos      Luczo Dragon         1m17.6552s
19.  Justin Wilson      Coyne                1m18.3353s**
20.  Richard Antinucci  3G                   1m17.7500s
21.  Ed Carpenter       Vision               1m18.2413s
22.  Milka Duno         Dreyer & Reinbold    1m23.6185s

Infineon Raceway - Located just 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the 1,600-acre facility serves as the gateway to the beautiful Sonoma Wine Country. Photo Image Credit: Infineon Raceway (2005)

This excerpted and edited from Twitter, IndyCar Live Timing & Scoring, and various digital resources -

VisionRacingRT @VersusIndyCar: The six on boards cameras are going to be Helio, Servia, Franchitti, Kanaan, Hunter-Reay, and Justin Wilson #indycar

VisionRacing#IndyCar drivers are doing a lap @InfineonRaceway in a trolley car. No joke. Not letting them actually drive it though. That's a good thing.

MyNameIsIRLAs a former resident of The City I have to inform Robbie Floyd that those are not "trolleys". Those are "cable cars". Google it if you must.

14:38:41 GMT-0700 Lap 0: Drivers to their cars.

IndyCarSeriesThe Silent Pagoda*: The Pagoda Society’s Live Colloquium: Aye aye, Lindy. We’re a go. .. http://bit.ly/19JpMi

kvracingRace is about to start in 15 mins. Watch all 75laps live on Versus.

pressdogJon keeps saying "passing zone" in connection to this track. Drug tests may be in order.

kvracinghttp://twitpic.com/f1f33 - Moraes talking to Jack Arute from Versus before the race

VisionRacingNew photos from the weekend up at www.facebook.com/visionracing.

pressdogLive timing and scoring. Recliner. HD wonder. Anchor Liberty Ale. Twitter stream. Maxoderm commercials. Let's light this candle.

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN!

kvracingGreen flag racing here at Sonoma. Dixon spun on turn 2 and caused all the cars behind to via off into dirt to avoid

Full Course YELLOW!

Major crash on turn #2 started with Graham Rahal ... everyone checks up and many cars collect each other. EJ Viso flys over Tony Kanaan.

kvracingMoraes had to avoid accident by running off into dirt but no damage to car

14:55:03 GMT-0700 Lap 1: Danica Patrick may have some suspension damage.

luczodragonCrazy crash at start, we move up 6 spots to 12, as it collected several cars. Could get more when they open pits

TeamIndyChatExciting beginning to the race. Looks like a demolition derby @InfineonRaceway #IndyCar

14:58:36 GMT-0700 Lap 3: Tony Kanaan is getting a new nose cone.

PlanetIrldotcomI blame @paultracy3 for that ;)

MyNameIsIRLAs messed up as that start was, there was some amazing driving buy Servia and Hunter-Reay. Just noting that in case we don't see them again.

Pat Caporali- Media & Public Relations Director, Tweeting - "Nice of them to put a big screen in view of our pit." Image Credit: Vision Racing (2009)

GREEN! GREEN! GREEN!

Franchitti takes the lead with a pair of Penske's behind him, Briscoe, Castroneves, Mutoh, Weldon, and Doornbos round out the top six.

MyNameIsIRL5 laps in and Milka is in 14th. Shoulda picked her int the TrackSide Online fantasy league.

luczodragonDixon was in middle of the opening lap wreck. Some big names impacteð

Justin Wilson ducks into the pits and employs an alternate strategy ... takes on REDS.

FuriousWedgeput a camera on Wilson please he's devouring the field!

VisionRacingCrAZY start to #Indycar race. Ed drove smart and is now P11!

15:05:49 GMT-0700 Lap 8: Dario Franchitti is maintaing a nice lead, but Briscoe isn't letting him get away yet.

Transition Players EJ Viso (HVM), Graham Rahal (NHLR), and Frank Montagny (AGR) are currently shown as being out of competition - AGR is working top place Frank's car back into the race.

VisionRacingNice of them to put a big screen in view of our pit. http://flic.kr/p/6SeK33

IndyCarNationSome specifics for everyone...The race is 75 laps/175 miles..,The overtake assist button may be used 15 times for a duration of 15 seconds

pressdoglock step in this race is like a glacier ... you cannot stop it from showing up.

IndyCarPRLap 10: #10 Franchitti leads #6 Briscoe by .6896 of a second.

15:12:14 GMT-0700 Lap 13: Mario Moraes got by Dan Wheldon for P5.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is tight on Bobby-D's #33 NHLR machine.

VisionRacing#indycar race is 75 laps/175 miles under beautiful blue skies. Overtake assist (push to pass) button will work 15x for 15 seconds each.

MyNameIsIRLRT @HVMracing: "13 car cannot be repaired in time to return to the race." Who else wants EJ to grab a snake and terrorize Arute some more?

indy44Why can't the others drive smart like Wheldon,too many Banzai moves lately

IndyCar101Looks like Briscoe is closing the gap on Franchitti.

15:15:22 GMT-0700 Lap 15: Dario Franchitti is looking good in the lead, but Briscoe is hanging close.

VisionRacingAlmost just like watching at home. http://flic.kr/p/6SeVq7

Of the eight cars that were involved in the first lap crash ... only Viso and Rahal are sidelined.

VisionRacingEd reports roll bar adjustment not making a difference. Team will try to help with tire pressure adjustments. Pitting in 5 laps.

Carpenter in the Vision pits on first stop - Stop complete...Go Ed, Go! Image Credit: Vision Racing (2009)

15:21:34 GMT-0700 Lap 20: Mario Moraes is looking strong as he slowly closes on Hideki Mutoh.

15:25:17 GMT-0700 Lap 22: Ryan Hunter-Reay is closing on Robert Doornbos.
END OF UPDATES

Normally, in this type of weblog posting activity, the entries from Twitter and other digital reference resources would continue to be read, reviewed for content, copied, then added to the Blogspot weblog account portal (... notes from The EDJE).

Unfortunately, this particular race was being written about, and information was being gathered, while traveling in a pristine, white '95 Ford F-250XLT, with a matching, form-fitting white shell, with passengers riding high above the traffic, from Coachella Valley to a conference on the economy and planning for the upcoming economic trend of Government induced inflation. The problem arose where the laptop (outfitted with a Verizon USB port cellphone technology internet access device) ran out of battery power and the realtime information gathering had to stop - "END OF UPDATES".

This weblog posting was a New Media experiment that was working beautifully until the power became depleted. Inside the extended cab of this Ford truck was a fully charged DieHard Portable Power 950 Jump-starter/DC and USB Power Source and that would have been useful, probably to the end of the race, and thus allowing the experiment to come to a successful completion ... IF we had a power inverter with a cigarette-lighter plug port for power, or had purchased the DieHard Portable Power 1150 instead.
DieHard Portable Power 1150 Jump-Starter/AC-DC Power Source - Emergency power at home or on the road! Portable Power's 1150 Peak Amps jump starts 12V vehicles and powers 12V DC lights, and other devices. Includes: Two 12 Volt DC power outlets to provide up to 50 hours of DC power for accessories and two, built-in lights. Inflate/deflate air mattresses, with the built-in air inflator/deflator. Pump up car tires and sports balls with built-in 150 PSI air compressor. Two AC outlets power up to 400 watts of household power for small electronic appliances/devices. With the use of the fast 1000mA wall charger, the internal circuitry recharges the internal 22Ah DieHard® AGM battery then switches to float-mode monitoring so full power is available when you need it! Includes battery cables, pressure gauge, hoses and adapters, male-to-male accessory plug, door for battery replacement. 5V USB port. Caption & Image Credit: SEARS

We, at The EDJE, are buying one of these bad puppies today! In the immortal words of Tim Allen, as he expressed his joy of power tools in the TV series, Home Improvement ... Arrr, Arrr, Arrrrrrrrrrrr!

This excerpted and edited from Motorsport.com -

Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) with Ryan Briscoe (Penske Racing) in tow at Infineon Raceway, Sears Point. Image Credit: autosport.com (2009)

Franchitti leads flag-to-flag for Sonoma win
By Tony DiZinno - Motorsport.com - Date: 2009-08-23

The points lead changed once again as Dario Franchitti led flag-to-flag from pole position en route to his fourth victory of the IndyCar Series season. The Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver avenged his prior struggles on the road courses and led home Ryan Briscoe of Team Penske in Sunday's race at Sonoma, Calif.'s Infineon Raceway.

"Track position was critical today," Franchitti said. "I did what I had to do to get out front. We stuck to our pit strategy. There were a couple hairy moments out there but this is critical and crucial for the championship."

Speaking of said championship chase between Franchitti, Briscoe, and Scott Dixon, Franchitti gained 13 points to within four markers of Briscoe for the series lead. If a coin had three sides it would be an appropriate description of this year's title chase, the championship lead changing hands for the 13th time in 14 races.

Briscoe, for his part, admitted frustration at his seventh runner-up finish of the season and said winning at least one of the final three races is crucial to capturing the crown.

"If we're going to win this championship, I'm going to have to win one of the last three," he said. "Dario got maximum points today, he's right there and Dixon stumbled. Coming in second gets old a little bit, but I know we're up there."

Dixon was a non-factor in today's race after a poor starting position and being involved in accidents at both the start and finish of the race. He was credited with a 13th-place finish.

From 12th on the grid Dixon was among those bottled up in a first lap fracas, and after recovering to eighth by the final lap he was punted by Marco Andretti and fell to 14th. He now drops 20 points behind Briscoe, third in the title chase. Andretti was penalized shortly after the checkered flag to behind Dixon for causing avoidable contact.

"We made a few passes on quite a few people, and he got into the back of me and spun me around," Dixon described the afternoon. "He came up after and apologized though, he said he didn't mean to do it. As far as our strategy, we tried to catch a yellow to vault up, but we ended up in the same position."
----
The chaos also vaulted a number of drivers with poor starting positions forward, chief among them the returning Mario Moraes of KV Racing, as well as Dan Wheldon, Mike Conway, Hideki Mutoh.
----
The British rookie restarted fifth but passed both the fading Mutoh and Moraes to get onto the podium. Conway eclipsed his personal best result of sixth set earlier this year at Watkins Glen to earn Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's first podium finish since Briscoe achieved the feat at "The Glen" in 2006.
----
For his part, Moraes was finally able to turn his blistering speed this season into a result. The best career finish for the 20-year-old Brazilian came after he missed Mid-Ohio because his father passed away. Moraes' previous best result was seventh at Watkins Glen last year, and his best this season was ninth at Milwaukee.
----
Mutoh completed the top five, tops in the Andretti Green Racing five-car camp. His fifth place was his second consecutive, as he also achieved the result last race at Mid-Ohio.

The rest of the top ten was Oriol Servia in his second start for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, Wilson, Kanaan, Matos and Robert Doornbos, in his second go this year for HVM Racing.

Wilson had an eventful race, starting 22nd and last in the field after a last-minute switch to start on Firestone's primary tire, the blacks. He had three sets of new alternates, the reds, available for use and worked them to his advantage. Passing cars on the notoriously difficult to pass circuit was Wilson's M.O. all day.

It almost didn't end as well as it did. Wilson dived down to Servia's inside at turn 11 only to lock up and spin out. He narrowly missed hitting Mutoh in the process, but he didn't stall and recovered as he lit up the tires.
----
Others of note -- Andretti came home 11th but was penalized for his role in the Dixon accident, Antinucci ran tantalizingly close to the top ten for the underfunded Curb/Agajanian Team 3G effort but finished 15th, and last car running was unsurprisingly Milka Duno in 17th, who added only to the race as a moving chicane, nothing more.

Montagny, making his IndyCar Series debut in the fifth AGR car, struggled despite an eighth place starting position. He collided with Antinucci at one point and that set him off the road with suspension damage.
----
Overall it was a landmark day for Franchitti. He ended a string of poor results, by his and the team's lofty standards, on permanent road courses. He hadn't finished better than third on such a circuit this season.

By leading all 75 laps, Franchitti accomplished the feat for the first time since his teammate Scott Dixon did in a rain-shortened, 206-lap race at Richmond in 2003. It is his 22nd win in his open-wheel (CART and IndyCar combined) career, tying him with Castroneves and Emerson Fittipaldi for 14th all-time.

Only the top four have a mathematical shot at the title but it is realistically three. There is no rest for the weary as the final stretch of ovals begins Saturday night at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. [September 19, 2009 at Motegi, Japan and the season finale on October 10, 2009 at Homestead, Florida]
Reference Here>>

Dario Franchitti capped a perfect weekend at Infineon Raceway on Sunday with a wire-to-wire victory in the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing), who qualified on the pole, took the lead at the drop of the green flag and never looked back to post his first-ever win at Infineon Raceway. It was the first wire-to-wire win in the IndyCar® Series since Richmond in 2003. Image Credit: Infineon Raceway (2009)

How they fared (** denotes Transition Player)

Pos  Driver             Team                      Time/Gap
1.  Dario Franchitti   Ganassi              1h49m23.0073s
2.  Ryan Briscoe       Penske                  +  0.2488s
3.  Mike Conway        Dreyer & Reinbold       +  0.8293s
4.  Mario Moraes       KV                      +  3.6171s**
5.  Hideki Mutoh       Andretti Green          +  5.4536s
6.  Oriol Servia       Newman/Haas/Lanigan     +  6.3801s**
7.  Justin Wilson      Coyne                   +  6.6997s**
8.  Tony Kanaan        Andretti Green          +  7.1808s
9.  Raphael Matos      Luczo Dragon            +  8.5936s
10.  Robert Doornbos    HVM                     + 10.8175s**
11.  Ed Carpenter       Vision                  + 11.3688s
12.  Dan Wheldon        Panther                 + 12.4000s
13.  Scott Dixon        Ganassi                 + 13.8968s
14.  Marco Andretti     Andretti Green          + 14.8978s
15.  Richard Antinucci  3G                      + 19.0650s
16.  Danica Patrick     Andretti Green          +    1 lap
17.  Milka Duno         Dreyer & Reinbold       +   4 laps

Retirements:

Helio Castroneves  Penske                  66 laps
Ryan Hunter-Reay   Foyt                    65 laps
Franck Montagny    Andretti Green          57 laps**
Graham Rahal       Newman/Haas/Lanigan     30 laps**
Ernesto Viso       HVM                     0 laps**

NOTE: Transition Players Will Power driving for Penske Racing and Nelson Philippe driving for Conquest Racing were not able to fill the grid due to injuries from a crash during the warm-up session on Saturday.

Photo Album From Infineon Raceway at Sears Point>>

... notes from The EDJE

Mid-Ohio 2009, IRL Race #13 - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

Mid-Ohio track map adorns the center of the steering wheel of Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter. The push to pass button on Ed's steering wheel is the yellow button to the right, just above the radio button. Image Credit: Vision Racing

Mid-Ohio 2009, IRL Race #13 - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

Mid-Ohio is one of the crown jewels of American open-wheel racing road courses and it is good to see this venue to continue to be on the schedule. After an exciting race on the oval in Kentucky, last week - that featured an element of driver performance control adapted from ChampCar known as "push-to-pass" - Mid-Ohio will have the element of the option Red tires (another ChampCar innovation) added to the mix.

Justin Wilson, Dale Coyne Racing, seems poised to deliver another milestone win for team owner, Dale Coyne, as he did at Watkins Glen four weeks ago (boy, was it that long ago?). In the Firestone Fast Six - top six positions decided during qualifications, Justin will be lining up along side Peak Performance Pole winner, Penske Racing'sRyan Briscoe, just as he had at Watkins Glen.

Justin Wilson, Dale Coyne Racing goes for win #2 for the season starting P@ in row #1. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

The rest of the starting grid is as follows (** denotes Transition Player):

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Ryan Briscoe Penske 1m06.6814s
2. Justin Wilson Coyne 1m06.7007s**
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi 1m07.0238s
4. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1m07.0640s**
5. Helio Castroneves Penske 1m07.1809s
6. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1m07.3791s
7. Ryan Hunter-Reay Foyt 1m07.2364s
8. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 1m07.5083s
9. EJ Viso HVM 1m07.5712s**
10. Paul Tracy KV 1m07.6129s**
11. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green 1m07.6699s
12. Danica Patrick Andretti Green 1m07.7440s
13. Marco Andretti Andretti Green 1m08.1779s
14. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas/Lanigan 1m08.4314s**
15. Raphael Matos Luczo Dragon 1m08.2311s
16. Mike Conway Dreyer & Reinbold 1m08.5495s
17. Dan Wheldon Panther 1m08.8176s
18. Robert Doornbos HVM 1m08.5734s**
19. Richard Antinucci 3G 1m08.8516s
20. Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold 1m14.5371s
21. Ed Carpenter Vision 1m09.7141s
(ht: autosport.com)

This race will have only 21 competitors, five of which are drivers/teams from the former ChampCar World Series that merged into the IRL to compete for the IndyCar Series championship last year.

Robert Doornbos, HVM Racing - Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

Oriol Servia returns to open-wheel racing, replacing Robert Doornbos at NHLR - Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

A couple of seat and team changes have happened since the last race - Dutchman Robert Doornbos has left Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing to take a seat with his former CCWS team, joining EJ Viso at HVM Racing, and to be replaced by Spainaird Oriol Servia. Mario Moraes is attending to a family tragedy with the passing of his father in Brazil, so he will be replaced by Paul Tracy in the KV Racing Technology Dallara for this weekend road course event.

View from the Mid-Ohio media center tower just above the Vision Racing pits, flag tower and Start/Finish line. Image Credit: Vision Racing

This excerpted and edited from Twitter, IndyCat.Com Timing & Scoring, and various resources-

VisionRacing@pressdog Words of the late, great Alan B. Shepard, American's first in space. Nice. And indeed, let's light this candle!

13:05:47 GMT-0400 Next up: Honda Indy 200 from Mid-Ohio at 1:45 p.m. (ET).

93wibc'Push to Pass' Unlikely to Make Impact at Mid-Ohio: IndyCar drivers think it will probably take more than the pu.. http://bit.ly/JU9Rk

Justin Wilson will see about that (push-to-pass)!

pressdogizod commercial number 1 of an estimated 8393.

MyNameIsIRLAnd by my count that is the 10,000th airing of the IZOD commercial. * blows kazoo *

FuriousWedgeesses are freakin packed for ICS. gotta love that the track blowers are just tractors with blowers strapped on
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13:20:15 GMT-0400 Driver Introductions have started.
13:29:16 GMT-0400 Driver Introductions are done. Invocation is up next at 1:36 p.m. (ET).

MyNameIsIRLWas that footage of Graham as an infant? If so, why was he dressed like a girl? Should we start calling him Grahamica?

TheEDJE@MyNameIsIRL - Come on, Grammy is kinda' cute! #irl #ics #indycar
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13:36:42 GMT-0400 Invocation and the National Anthem is happening now.

pressdogI LOVE the VS "flip the script" spots. Give me goose bumps every single time.

13:40:13 GMT-0400 The command for Drivers to their cars has been given.

chunter16Versus is off limits for me now, I'm on the IMS feed.

13:44:12 GMT-0400 Lap 0: All drivers are in their cars and awaiting the command to start engines.

IndyCarNationWelcome to the Tweetcast of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

TeamIndyChatAloha to all IndyCar race fans!

RacingNationWelcome to Mid-Ohio-can Rahal overcome the 'red' cars? Will Milka make herself part of the story? Is RHR a fluke in the top-10? Stay tuned.
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TeamIndyChatDrivers, start your engines! #IndyCar

VisionRacingWe've kicked the tires and have lit the fires. Time to go #IndyCar racing. Good race all!

13:50:12 GMT-0400 Lap 0: All cars have fired and the field is away for the Hondy Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio

We might not be at an oval track where they are mandatory but spotters are always handy even at a road course. Our Aaron "Dude" Nelson stands with other spotters in turn 4 overlooking "the esses". Image Credit: Vision Racing

IndyCarNation#27 Mutoh and #23 Duno are using scuffed reds.

13:53:03 GMT-0400 Lap 0: The Green Flag will be waved next time by.

VisionRacingRT @IndyCarNation: Today’s race is 85 laps/191.93 miles. • The green flag will be shown the third-time by the flag stand on the backstretch.

RacingNationFor you newer IndyCar fans, Teo Fabi's win at Mid-Ohio in 1989 was Porsche's lone win in IndyCar, loved that car. #IndyCar

Green Green Green!

indy44Nice start

13:57:25 GMT-0400 Lap 1: TK has went of course in T2 but comes back on track at the end of the field.

indy44Tk playing in the sandbox doh

13:58:46 GMT-0400 Lap 2: Wilson just used the over take button to try and get a run on Briscoe but the attempt failed.

TheSpeedgeekOh, and for the recird, Milka is listed as 8.6 seconds behind the leader after 1 lap.

luczodragonCars are finding track slippery
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IndyCarPRLap 5: #6 Briscoe leads #18 Wilson by .4498 of a second.

VisionRacingJuston Wilson gets people on their feet and takes the lead form a red car. #Indycar

pressdogwilson. CLEAR

pressdogbuh bye, field. Wilson super sonic

luczodragonRafa gets by Marco to 14

RacingNationKanaan must really be looking forward to Homestead this year. Wow, what an ugly year. Could it be the APEXBRASIL curse? #Indycar

14:04:15 GMT-0400 Lap 7: After making the pass for the lead Wilson has taken off and leads Briscose by almost 2 seconds.

MyNameIsIRLJustin Wilson decides to "flip the script", takes the lead.

VisionRacingEd moves into P17 as some cars come in for wing adjustments. Ed is faster than three cars ahead of him. He's working on them.

IndyCarPRLap 7: #24 Conway, #98 Antinucci and #11 Kanaan on pit road for four tires and fuel. #24 Conway and #98 Antinucci take red tires.

14:07:50 GMT-0400 Lap 10: Wilson has extended his lead to over 4 seconds now. He is using the Alternate Firestones to his advantage.

VisionRacingTop 10 is Justin Wilson (who seems to be checking out!) Briscoe Dixon FRanchitti Rahal Helio RHR Viso PT Mutoh
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luczodragonCar getting some great air time. Marines! FRS

14:11:04 GMT-0400 Lap 13: Wilson is catching to up Milka and getting ready to lap her.

chunter16Classic Danica to Milka: "It's not my fault you're slow!"

luczodragonJust passed Danica now at 12

14:15:03 GMT-0400 Lap 16: Milka has just pitted. This is her first.

VisionRacing10 laps until @edcarpenter20 brings the no.20 Menards car in to the pits for fuel and tires. #Indycar

IndyCarPRLap 15: #18 Wilson leads #6 Briscoe by 5.3373 seconds.

VisionRacingwe hear that Milka Dunno left pits with a tire gun still attached to the wheel.... #Indycar

14:17:13 GMT-0400 Lap 18: Justin Wilson has extended his lead to over 5.25 seconds.

VisionRacingP2P for the newbies out there is the push to pass button that gives drivers a little more "get up and go". #indycar

FuriousWedgenot sure if its on tv but Ed is all over Doornbos back that seems backwards

TheEDJE@FuriousWedge - No they are just going through the field ... they are up to Tracy #irl #ics #indycar

VisionRacing6.5 second lead for Justin Wilson at Mid-Ohio. Always fun rooting for an underdog isn't it? #Indycar

14:20:34 GMT-0400 Lap 21: The teams are starting to set out for the first pit stops.
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14:24:46 GMT-0400 Lap 24: Danica pits for her first stop and put in 22 gallons of Ethanol and a new set of Firestone Primaries. Servia put on alternates - Reds!

IndyCarPRLap 24: #18 Wilson leads #6 Briscoe by 7.3964 seconds. #7 Patrick on pit lane for four black tires and fuel.

IndyCarNationLap 25: #18 Wilson leads #6 Briscoe by 7.5698 seconds

VisionRacingPitting this lap. I LOVE pit stops! such a rush to watch. #Indycar

14:27:18 GMT-0400 Lap 27: The window to pit for the leaders has opened. We should be seeing him pit in the new few laps.

Justin Wilson IN - Fuel and out on Blacks! 14:28:53 GMT-0400 Lap 28: Wilson pits for his first stop. He is taking on 22 gallons of Ethanol and new Firestone Primaries tires.

MyNameIsIRLPaul Tracy is all up on Viso for 8th. This is gonna be awesome...and we cut away???

VisionRacingGood pitstop by the no.20 Menards crew. We'll have to wait for everyone to cycle through to see how that helps us. Good out laps Ed.

14:30:36 GMT-0400 Lap 29: PT leaves a nice burn out when he exits the pits.

14:31:40 GMT-0400 Lap 30: Dixon stays out due to getting great fuel milage by staying behind Briscoe for the first stint.

Marco26WebEJ pits, giving Marco a little more clean air. MA pits a lap later from P6

Changes behind Wilson on the pitstops - 14:33:11 GMT-0400 Lap 31: Wilson regains the lead from Dixon but Dixon comes out ahead of Brisoce and takes over P2.

luczodragonDixon was only car to beat us (Matos) on fuel

FuriousWedgePT just squeezed past Matos in esses

RacingNationMilka's best lap was 1:14.2, nxt was Wheldon 1:11.3, then Doornbos 1:10.7, Wilson's fastest lap, 1:09.8, best lap overall, Briscoe 1:09.4

luczodragonCar feels loose, getting tires up to temp

14:35:37 GMT-0400 Lap 33: Wilson is trying to regain his 7 second lead that he had on Briscoe but this time on Dixon. Wilson leads by a little over one second.

IndyCarNationLap 35: Green flag stops complete, #18 Wilson leads #9 Dixon by .3317 seconds.

14:38:51 GMT-0400 Lap 36: The leaders are coming up on the lappd machines of Milka Dunno.

14:39:21 GMT-0400 Lap 36: With Milka's help Dixon takes the lead from Wilson.

VisionRacingOn next stop Vision crew will put red Firestone tires on the no.20 Menards car. Thanks to Milka, Dixon takes lead from Wilson.

luczodragonEngineers like the times we're posting on the blacks
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14:41:38 GMT-0400 Lap 38: Dixon is taking off. His car is currently working better on the Firestone Primaries than Wilson's car is.

Marco26WebLap 38 - MA P8. The #26 struggling on speed on laps 36/37. Tracy and Matos right in the mirrors. Gap to RHR 13.8. Gap to lead 30.6

Full Course YELLOW - Helio Castroneves off ... then back off.

14:43:30 GMT-0400 Lap 40: Yellow for Helio Castroneves off course in T9.

VisionRacing@Ryanhunterreay picks up a spot and is P6 after Helio goes off course for a sec.

pressdogThe IRL really needs to work on their full-course local yellow. Need to be more F1-ish -- full course is very rare.

chunter16@pressdog All I see now is the bottom of a helicopter. I'm guessing it was a little "off" with no debris.

MyNameIsIRLRobbie keeps talking about a "rhythm section". Is there a VERSUS band I don't know about?

14:45:45 GMT-0400 Lap 41: Pits are open.

luczodragonRafa up to 8th with Marco and Helio pitting

14:48:10 GMT-0400 Lap 42: Green flag this time by.

Green, Green, Green!

TheSpeedgeekHow many restarts have we missed this year because of the crutch of "side-by-side"?

Graham Rahal passes Dario Franchitti for P4!

TheEDJEDanica Patrick goes off course with the help of Mike Conway - off of the main straight in turn 4. #irl #ics #indycar

Full Course YELLOW!

indy44Graham does a magically delicious move on Dario,Danica with a mouthful of sand,Conway prepare for postrace headslap!
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FollowMidOhioDixon (1), Wilson (2), Briscoe (3) with 38 laps to go....Under Caution

Vision Racing's team owner, Tony George watches timing and scoring and calculates the strategy. Vision Racing

14:58:17 GMT-0400 Lap 48: Green Flag!

IndyCarPRLap 43: GREEN. #9 Dixon leads the field into Turn 1. #02 Rahal passes #10 Franchitti for fourth in Turn 4.

pressdogconway got a drive through penalty. milka -7 seconds off the leader's pace. dude.

14:59:00 GMT-0400 Lap 48: Mike Conway gets a drive thru penalty for avoidable contact with Danica Patrick.

VisionRacingWe'll need a few more yellows to help with our fuel strategy and make it the rest of the way to the checkered.
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pressdogI tell ya, it's all about the Benjamen's [money] with the IHJ re: who gets parked. At least Benjamen's have a lot to do with it.

15:03:22 GMT-0400 Lap 52: Dixon is in control of the this race now and looks to be the one to beat.

IndyCarNationLap 53: #9 Dixon leads #18 Wilson by 2.5584 seconds

chunter16Looks like Dixon's lap is about half second faster than Wilson's.

IndyCarPRLap 55: #9 Dixon leads #18 Wilson by 3.8459 seconds.

MyNameIsIRLSuddenly everyone on twitter is now unabashedly calling Conway "Conweasel". He's only marginally more popular than Milka right now.

TheSpeedgeek@mynameisirl Hey, people could go with "Con-weezie", in a Sanford and Son shout-out.

15:10:12 GMT-0400 Lap 58: Dixon and Wilson have both just set their best laps of the race.
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MyNameIsIRLMutoh is in 7th? When...how.. did this happen?

VisionRacingThat's it for Vision Racing pitstops as long as there is a caution before the checkered flag. #IndyCar

TheSpeedgeekI have been hyp-mo-tized by EJ's radio antenna on his on-board.

VisionRacingThe crew did NOT change tires. Ed is still on Firestone Reds and will try to make it to the checkered on them. #Indycar

15:14:04 GMT-0400 Lap 61: Milka Duno has come into the pits and called it again.

IndyCarPRLap 62: #18 Wilson on pit lane for four red tires and fuel. Car was very slow on pit entry and stalls on exit.

Justin Wilson STALLS in the pits - Lost a bunch of time - 30 plus seconds, may have run out of fuel! A little more than 20 laps to go.

chunter16Pits for everybody, Ganassi make it look easy. #irl

15:16:06 GMT-0400 Lap 63: With Wilsons problems in the pit's it's now Dixons race to lose.

chunter16Wilson disappeared from T&S and was not shown in race control. So much for Dale Coyne repeat.

VisionRacingThe boss watches timing and scoring and calculates the strategy. http://flic.kr/p/6NfF4Q

VisionRacing20 laps left at Mid-Ohio. How about a caution to help mix things up a but? It's about that time, right?

RacingNationWell, with Wilson's 30 sec plus pit stop, the Iceman Dixon is in control, only a Honda engineer with a self-destruct button can stop Dixon.
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MyNameIsIRLHunter-Reay and Mutoh appear to be a few 10ths of a second apart, battling for 6th. That might be kinda nice to watch Mr Broadcast Director.

IndyCarNationLap 68: #9 Dixon leads #26 Andretti by 10.3302 seconds.

pressdogBig Two ... viewing not enhanced ... wake me when it's over

Graham Rahal running in P5 goes off course - too much rear brake bias - back on course local YELLOW only - Rahal to P8.

RacingNationNice run for RHR and the Foyt crew, they're in 5th, been running strong all weekend. They needed it. #Indycar

luczodragonRahal went off track, Tracy got by but Rafa couldnt. Still 9th

MyNameIsIRLLet's cut away from Tracy passing Rahal so we can show something that was taped. They are bound and determined to not show any passes today.

15:27:45 GMT-0400 Lap 73: Dixon is up over 12 seconds over Marco Andretti. Wilson rides along in P13 just behind Helio Castroneves in P12.

IndyCarNationLap 73: #9 Dixon leads #26 Andretti by 12.9744 seconds. #13 Viso pitted for four tires and fuel.

VisionRacing@RyanHunterReay is now in the Top 5 at Mid-Ohio. @BeccyGordon can't twitter here at Mid-Ohio. Mobile twitter dead zone. #Indycar

Marco26WebAs the stops take at least 20 secs we're looking at a drop to at least P10

15:30:55 GMT-0400 Lap 75: With Marco Andretti pitting Dixon's lead is now almost 20 seconds. He can put on the cruise control.

chunter16RT @indy44: Would love to see post race foot in Conway's ass cam

FuriousWedgehaven't seen Conway in a while. has he dropped out?

luczodragon7 laps left and Rafa has 3 of 20 PTP overtakes left

MyNameIsIRLVitor sighting! That's probably the best thing I've seen all day.

FuriousWedgeIts this kind of dominance that makes me wonder what Scott could do racing for Gil.

VisionRacing5 laps left. Not quite as interesting an #Indycar race as last week. Can I get a "Understatement of the race" award for that tweet?

TheEDJE@VisionRacing - Duhhh - After Wilson's miscue, not much fun. #irl #ics #indycar

15:35:56 GMT-0400 Lap 80: With 5 laps to go Dixon's lead is now 23.8 seconds head of P2.

luczodragonBriscoe and Dario in battle for 2nd

15:39:56 GMT-0400 Lap 83: White flag for Scott Dixon in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

Marco26WebWith Danica (12pts) and Dan W (14pts) both scoring low today MA's 28pts halves the gap to DP.

15:41:06 GMT-0400 Lap 84: Scott Dixon Wins the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio!

Congratulations to Scott Dixon in becoming the winningest driver in IRL history, eclipsing Sam Hornish Jr. This is Scott's first win on a road course in over a year!

luczodragonDixon the winner, Briscoe holds of Dario, Hunter-Reay 4th

luczodragonRafa: "great job guys, I drove so hard today."

pressdoggripping

VisionRacingCongrats to Scott Dixon and the Ganassi crew. Thanks for following our twittercast from Mid-Ohio. Safe travels home. #Indycar

MyNameIsIRLAnother exciting Scott Dixon victory is in the books. *rolls eyes *

VisionRacingShout out to @RyanHunterReay for a strong 4th place finish at Mid-Ohio. #Indycar

TheEDJEThe highest placed Transition Driver, Paul Tracy P7, Rahal P8, Servia P11 - Wilson, Bobby D, Viso 13-15 #irl #ics #indycar

... notes from The EDJE