Franchitti Wins Second Straigt Race
IndyCar Series point leader Dario Franchitti stretched his lead to 61 points with a dominating victory in the SunTrust Indy Challenge presented by XM at the Richmond International Raceway. Franchitti, who started the No. 27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone from pole position, won for the second time in six days and the third time this season. He beat Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon to the line by 0.4194 of a second and led a series-record 242 laps (of the race's 250).
Andretti Green Racing drivers swept the short tracks this season, with Franchitti also winning at Iowa Speedway and Tony Kanaan at The Milwaukee Mile. Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Dan Wheldon finished third, with Kanaan fourth. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's Buddy Rice advanced seven positions to finish fifth, his second consecutive top five. Danica Patrick, the third Andretti Green Racing driver, was sixth, followed by Vision Racing's Tomas Scheckter and Rahal Letterman Racing's Scott Sharp. Delphi Panther Racing's Vitor Meira, who was driving an untested backup car because of a practice crash a day earlier, started and finished ninth. Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter was 10th.
This is Dario Franchitti's third win of the season and the seventh of his IndyCar Series career. He is now in sole possession of sixth place on the IndyCar Series' all-time victory list.
Franchitti's average speed of 133.408 was the fastest at Richmond International Raceway, bettering the 2006 race record set by Sam Hornish Jr. (129.572 mph).
Dario Franchitti led 241 laps tonight, setting an IndyCar Series record for most laps led. The previous record was 224 by Buddy Lazier here at Richmond in 2001.
This is Andretti Green Racing's 28th win in the IndyCar Series, the most by any entrant in the IndyCar Series.
Scott Dixon finished second for the fourth time this season - his seventh top-10 finish of the season. With his finish, Dixon tied Tony Kanaan's record of 25 consecutive race finishes.
Dan Wheldon finished third, his fifth top-five finish of the season.
Buddy Rice finished fifth, his second-consecutive top five finish.
For full results...
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Tristan Gommendy * First Champ Car Pole
Just before the start of the qualifying session at Le Circuit in Mont-Tremblant, rain began to fall and it was Sebastien Bourdais who was one of the first drivers to take to the wet track hoping to post a quick time. Joining Bourdais on the track in the rain was Robert Doornbos, who posted the early lap to beat. After a brief shower the rains relented and teams faced the decision of bolting on the slick Bridgestone Potenzas or staying with grooved Bridgestone rain tires. Team Australia’s Will Power made the decision to go with the slicks and slipped and slid his way to faster times.
Also on the slicks were three-time champion Sebastien Bourdais and Champ Car sophomore Dan Clarke who both moved near the top of the charts. Unfortunately for Bourdais he was having gearbox problems and was unable to hold on to the front row starting spot he earned in provisional qualifying. While Bourdais found struggles Clarke spent most of the drying session as the quickest. The British driver used all 15 of the allotted qualifying laps and set the mark to beat.
First to take aim was RSPORTS driver Justin Wilson who was fast through most of the track but struggled in Turn 4, one of the lowest parts of the track and the slowest area to dry. Wilson was able to put together a fast lap and move to the top of the chart. Clarke responded three laps later and regained the top spot with just over one minute remaining in the session. As the clock wound down the action heated up as six drivers held the top spot in the final 90 seconds of qualifying. Canadian Paul Tracy knocked Clarke off the top spot but then was replaced by Doornbos. Rookie Frenchman Simon Pagenaud was the next driver to cross the line and take over the fastest time. He was quickly displaced by Justin Wilson, who saw his hopes dashed by Pagenaud’s teammate Will Power who turned the fastest lap of the session at 80.943 seconds.
Power will start alongside PKV Racing’s Tristan Gommendy who did not turn a wheel during the qualifying session but based on his time from yesterday, the rookie Frenchman earned his first career Champ Car pole position. The pole is the second in PKV Racing’s history, team co-owner Jimmy Vasser sat on pole at Milwaukee in 2005. Because of the wet conditions, the only change from Friday’s provisional qualifying was Will Power moving to the front row pushing Bourdais to the third starting spot.
For Starting Lineup...
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Richmond USAC Race Postponed
Due to inclement weather, the Lucas Oil USAC National Sprint Car Series race originally scheduled for Friday night, will be run tomorrow, Saturday, June 30 at 11:00 a.m. The grandstand gates will open at 10:30 a.m. and all Friday tickets will be honored. The grandstands will be cleared and closed at the conclusion of the Sprint Car race, and will re-open for Saturday ticket holders at 2:00 p.m. The rest of Saturday’s on-track activities will include the USAC Silver Crown Series 100, where Chilean native Pablo Donoso will battle outside polesitter A.J.Fike when the green flag drops at 5:15 p.m.
IndyCar Qualifying Rained Out
IndyCar Series points leader Dario Franchitti will lead the field for the June 30 SunTrust Indy Challenge presented by XM after rain washed out qualifying at Richmond International Raceway for the second consecutive year. The grid was set on entrant points, which rewarded Franchitti for his consistency through eight races. The IndyCar Series points leader will be joined on the front row by teammate Tony Kanaan, who was quickest in the combined morning/afternoon practice sessions (15.6093 seconds; 172.974 mph).
Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon (third) and Dan Wheldon (fourth) make up Row 2, while Team Penske teammates Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves will start on Row 3. Hornish posted the second-fastest lap (15.6721 seconds, 172 281 mph) during practice while Marco Andretti, who will start 14th, was the third fastest (172.091 mph). Vitor Meira and Milka Duno will start the race in backup machines after being involved in separate accidents in practice.
For Starting Lineup...
(Speed News Now)
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