After losing two places on the start, Franchitti took fifteen laps to get back into second. When he took the lead on pit strategy, he held it for 51 of the 67 green-flag laps. Using a pair of lucky breaks (twice he pitted just before a yellow flag) to his advantage, he showed that once in front he had the talent to stay there.
Dario Franchitti drove a masterful race, conserving fuel when it mattered and charging hard when he could, bringing the Target Chip Ganassi car home a comfortable 3.3 seconds ahead of Will Power in the Penske. Franchitti was untouchable through the final 25 laps; even when conserving fuel, he was able to stay clear of the pack.
Will Power took second after struggling all race with radio troubles. Power, hired by Team Penske to replace Helio Castroneves until Helio’s tax trial was over, practiced all weekend in Helio’s car; when Helio showed up, Power had to step into a brand new car, but he still put it on the pole.
Penske is currently only budgeted for two cars, but after Power’s performance, it seems likely that Roger Penske will be looking for more sponsorship.
Andretti-Green Racing had a fantastic weekend. After qualifying in eleventh and twenty-second, Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick came back to finish third and fourth.
Marco Andretti finished sixth after qualifying nineteenth, the third AGR car in the top ten, despite nearly colliding with fifth-place finisher Dan Wheldon in the final laps.
Defending series champion Scott Dixon had a depressing day. On lap 18, Will Power slowed unaccountably (possibly he thought the course was going yellow after Conway hit the tire barrier—Power had no in-car communication) forcing EJ Viso to slow, and Dixon rammed Viso.
Then, after the full-course caution on lap 54, Ryan Briscoe hit the gas to clean his tires after coming around the hairpin, and accidentally rammed Dixon from behind. Dixon eventually finished 15th.
The win gives Dario Franchitti a solid lead in the Championship points, with 84 points, leading second-place Will Power, who has 69.
The stories of the race? Andretti-Green Racing seems to have finally found its way; as the series moves onto the ovals, traditionally AGR’s strength, who knows how far they might go?
IndyCar moves on to the ovals, with the next race at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. For more information visit http://www.kansasspeedway.com/
Top Five Finishers | Points Standing | |||
1 | Dario Franchitti | 1 | Dario Franchitti | 84 |
2 | Will Power | 2 | Will Power | 69 |
3 | Tony Kanaan | 3 | Ryan Briscoe | 67 |
4 | Danica Patrick | 4 | Tony Kanaan | 65 |
5 | Dan Wheldon | 5 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | 59 |