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.”
"Infineon is a track that I enjoy going to. We had a good car here last year finishing second behind Marco. This race is going to be very important for us in the championship with only three races left.
Dario Franchitti Facts
· Franchitti finished second in the 2006 event at Infineon Raceway behind teammate Marco Andretti.
· This will be Franchitti's third start at Infineon Raceway. He has top-10 finishes in both of his starts.
· Franchitti led 52 laps on his way to his 13th top-10 finish of the season at Kentucky Speedway.
· He leads the IndyCar Series championship by eight points over Scott Dixon and 52 over teammate Tony Kanaan.
· Franchitti recorded back-to-back wins at Iowa Speedway and Richmond International Raceway.
"As Danica Patrick and Sam Hornish Jr. lay crashed in front of me in Turn 1 at Iowa Speedway, I didn't even think about having Hornish in the tri-fecta. I was too pissed at Vitor Meira for not keeping his pace on the restart, bunching the cars up and creating the crash that I didn't think about the board. I had yelled "This is ####!" audibly over the sound of the engines as they came toward us to take the green because I could see an accident was likely imminent before it happened.
There were some great IRL fans sitting next to me in "standing room only" seating (oxymoron). We discussed 1) my theory that the poor restart by Meira created the situation, 2) others (including the announcers) perceptions that Danica failed to come up to speed while running third, and 3) another fan's perception that Carpenter crowded Danica and she swerved back at him on purpose to create space but accidentally hit him starting the wreck . It was pure racing discussion and speculation there for a several minutes during the caution among racing fans at the track. It was awesome! "
"It is at least partially her fault. I initially chalked this incident up to her notoriously poor restarts, but after hearing Sam Hornish, it sounds like that part of it was Vitor (Meira) break checking Marco which forced Danica to pull up slightly and allowed the other three cars to get around her. So that part is not her fault. However, once she was in that position, she was very indecisive and was wobbling back and forth before finally making contact with Carpenter."
This is the inaugural event for the IndyCar Series at the newly-constructed Iowa Speedway.
What: Iowa Corn Indy 250, Round 8 of the 2007 IndyCar® Series Where: Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa When: Sunday, June 24, 2007 Television: ABC, 1 p.m. (EDT)
Who: #27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone driver Dario Franchitti
"After the weekend off, I am looking forward to heading to Iowa. I always enjoy going to new tracks. Iowa is a track similar to Pikes Peak and Richmond, which are both tracks that I enjoy, so it should be an exciting weekend. We are heading into a stretch of five consecutive races so it will be important to get off to a good start in order for us to fight for the championship."
Who wants to go with me damn it? And oh yeah, by the way, I need a ride. I'll tell you about the Jasper County Jail in Newton on the way. You do not want the tour I got.
Warning! Do not act up at the track! The jail is right next to it. They will put you in it. And the judge is a hanging judge.
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