Scott Dixon needs to only look at the second half of the 2007 IndyCar Series season to make him alternately smile and shudder as it relates to this year's championship race. He was 65 points arrears of leader Dario Franchitti exiting the Richmond race, but rattled off four victories in the final eight to outscore Franchitti 370-331 and set up a season-ending duel for the series title.
The momentum hasn't slowed. The driver of the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing entry has eight top-five finishes in nine races, including three victories, and holds a 43-point advantage over Team Penske's Helio Castroneves at the halfway point of the season. Dixon's teammate, Dan Wheldon, is 52 points behind.
Dixon isn't comfortable with the cushion, especially with six of the final nine races on road/street courses. First up is the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen (July 6) on the 3.4-mile Watkins Glen International circuit.
Dixon's steady results netted the 2003 title when he was a freshman in the series, and similar results have bred confidence throughout the No. 9 car crew. Castroneves hasn't forfeited many points though he's looking for his first victory since April 2007 and his first IndyCar Series title. The No. 3 entry has finished in the top five in eight of the nine events, including runner-up four times.
Tony Kanaan is fourth in the title search (82 points back) and teammate Danica Patrick is fifth (131 behind). AGR driver Hideki Mutoh leads the Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year standings and is sixth overall. Marco Andretti, Ryan Briscoe, Oriol Servia and Ed Carpenter also are in the top 10.
On the tail end of a frustrating first half of the IndyCar Series season, Tony Kanaan found relief on a steamy night at Richmond International Raceway.
"I'm going to enjoy my win for sure," said Kanaan of his 13th victory in the IndyCar Series, which included five in 2007. "I knew that I had to keep fighting. There's nothing else I can do. If you're going to have the season you expect every year, then it's going to be pretty boring I would say."
Team Penske's Helio Castroneves finished in the runner-up spot at a caution-filled Saturday night race at Richmond International Raceway with an impressive on-track performance. Castroneves went from an 18th place starting spot to second in the 300-lap SunTrust Indy Challenge, eventually finishing one position ahead of Scott Dixon, the only driver ahead of Castroneves in the 2008 IndyCar Series championship standings.
"I was driving the wheels off it," Castroneves said about his run in the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda. "I was trying everything I could to make up spots and we were able to have a good showing today."
Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon started fourth and sixth and survived 102 caution laps. Wheldon finished fourth in the 300-lap SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond.
"It was a tough night." Dixon said. "We had a very good car. Once again it was very tough to pass here. Even when the tires got old it was very hard to get close to people. If we were out front, I think we had a car to win. Kanaan definitely looked pretty strong tonight but I think the Target car still had a chance."
"I was trying to be aggressive while trying to finish the race and it was difficult behind the other cars." Wheldon added. " We knew there would be more than a few wrecks tonight, and that proved to be the case. The car shut off on the last lap for some reason and that's not what we need when we're trying to close the point gap."
Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s (TCGR) Dan Wheldon celebrated his birthday in victory lane Sunday by winning his second race of the season at Iowa Speedway in the Iowa Corn Indy 250. Teammate and polesitter Scott Dixon finished fourth in the No.9 Commit Honda Dallara to extend his lead in the IndyCar Series championship race from 35 to 48 over Helio Castroneves.
Wheldon started third on championship points after qualifying was rained out and took the lead out of a caution flag with 60 laps to go after his team made the decision not to pit. The move paid off, as Wheldon held off Andretti Green Racing drivers Hideki Mutoh and Marco Andretti down the stretch.
“What a great day for Target Chip Ganassi Racing," Wheldon said, "and a great birthday present. My wife and I drove from Chicago to Iowa earlier this week and we saw the flooding and it was just heartbreaking. Scott and I are glad we could help out as best we could this weekend. I hope the race today put a smile on the faces of the people of Iowa and took their minds off the challenges and most difficult times they are facing.”
Target Chip Ganassi Racing announced today that drivers Scott Dixon (No. 9 Commit Honda Dallara) and Dan Wheldon (No. 10 Target Honda Dallara) will donate the prize money they earn from this Sunday’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 to the victims of Iowa’s devastating tornados and floods.
“What has happened here in Iowa is an absolute tragedy and my heart goes out to all the victims of the horrific tornados and floods,” said Dixon. “Donating to this cause is the least that we could do and I hope that the race will provide at least a short respite from their struggles.”
“When you see the devastation there you can’t help but feel for all those victims,” said Wheldon. “We as athletes are lucky enough to be in a position to do things like this and I encourage others to do the same."
This is part of why I hate Jr. fans, not Jr. mind you, he is a skilled driver and his integrity far surpasses that of his father making him more admirable in my book. But his fans. Jeez!
They never get tired of tooting their horns. They can't even read each other's blogs and comment on them and have a discussion. No, they all have to toot their own horns.
Jr! Jr! Jr.!
Bring me a barf bag already.
Hell, half of his fans can't even tell you what the COT is.
Even Jr. says he was lucky. His fans won't admit it, but it's true.
Does it take anything away from the win? Hell no.
Fuel mileage is a part of racing and even a bigger part of racing in IRL and F1. So the win is nothing to be ashamed of. Michigan is often a fuel mileage track. That's part of why it is one of my favorites, that and four wide on the front tri-oval. Awesome track!
Look, jon talked enough about it, so comment on his blog.
Hope, sweetie, your welcome here but bring something new when you post, please?
Tyler, your recap is good, so I'll give you a pass. And don't let anyone give you #### regarding cutting and pasting. It is part of the history of blogging that evolved from newsgroups. Stand tall.
Joker. Man, your a good blogger. But this one wasn't necessary.
Rise up Jr,. nation? Please.
Watching from above? Nice sentiment. But there is no theology that indicates that looking down from above is even possible. In fact theology suggests a great gulf that can not be crossed. Dale may be racing with the other lost greats. But he ain't looking down.
Frever? Sunoco fumes through stainless steel lines? Sea of green, hell the sea parted and red and yellow Michigan seat colors were dominating by race end as most peripheral Jr. fans had left the building. But they'll tell all their friends thay stayed till the end and saw him win.
Change the life of Jr.,? I bet he's laughing his #### off at all this stuff. He know he was lucky, that it just worked out for him, and he's taking it all in stride and that's fine. But changing his life? A bit over the top I say.
Sr. passed away several years ago. It's been over five years. When will the opining stop? I miss Tony Roper, but nobody seems to remember him. I miss my dad, but I don't go on and on about it.
Time moves on. Let it go.
Inverted, you get a pass, you added a lot to the discussion with a different angle in your blog. Well done.
Cody gets a pass too. I like to see other drivers get mentions.
Bobdot can have a pass too. His rambles are, well, his rambles.
But bobat? Take the message board posts to a message board.
And what did all of you miss. Well something only us Jamie fans will remember I guess. We damn near stole that one from you. And hell yeah, we would have taken it, luck and all.
On a special Father’s Day afternoon at Michigan International Speedway, Roush Fenway Racing driver Jamie McMurray came close to giving his father, Jim McMurray the ultimate Father’s Day present – a trip to Victory Lane. Late in the race, the No. 26 Crown Royal Cask No. 16 team felt they had enough fuel to run the distance and battle with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for the win but when the caution flew with just two laps remaining, the No. 26 team was forced to pit for fuel, and settle for a top-10 finish in this afternoon’s Lifelock 400.
Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 (unofficially ) and six other occasions (probably if they still did this). Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
Target Chip Ganassi Racing announced today that drivers Scott Dixon (No. 9 Commit Honda Dallara) and Dan Wheldon (No. 10 Target Honda Dallara) will donate the prize money they earn from this Sunday’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 to the victims of Iowa’s devastating tornados and floods.
“When you see the devastation there you can’t help but feel for all those victims,” said Wheldon. “We as athletes are lucky enough to be in a position to do things like this and I encourage others to do the same." 
