(from SA, 11 June 2011)
----Will Power finally scored his first win on an oval after Dario Franchitti captured the opener in Saturday night's IZOD INDYCAR doubleheader at Texas Motor Speedway in a pair of races that were as clean as they were fast.
Power, who finished third in the opening 114-lap sprint, started third in the second show, led 68 laps and held off Scott Dixon to get that elusive victory on an oval.
Franchitti, who dominated the opener by leading 110 laps, really didn't have a chance to go back-to-back because he started 28th in the nightcap -- where drivers drew for starting positions.
"I don't mind if they invert the whole field because that's fair, but this was a crap shoot that didn't involve any talent and we're running for a championship,'' said Franchitti, who charged through the 30-car pack to take seventh but lost five points to Power in his quest for a third straight title.
"It was the worst case scenario for me because Will drew a good number and I got stuck with 28th. This isn't an all-star race and I hope it doesn't have any serious ramifications down the road.''
Power, whose prowess at road racing nearly earned him the championship in 2010, enjoyed getting that oval monkey off his back and opened up a 21-point advantage but agreed with his rival.
"I think the fans liked it but it wasn't fair to Dario and I understand his frustration,'' said Power, whose average speed of 206.396 mph was the second fastest run in INDYCAR history.
"But we had a good car in both races and I always felt it was just a matter of time because we were close a couple times last year and just didn't have any luck.''
Dixon was nothing short of sensational as he stormed from 18th to second in the second show following his runner-up showing in Race 1.
"Just didn't quite have enough for Dario in the first one or Will in the second,'' he said. "Considering I drew such a bad number, I guess second is pretty good but if we do this again next year we need to invert the field or start how we finished in the first one.''
A track that usually features lots of cautions only had one yellow flag in 228 laps of action around the 1.5-mile oval as Charlie Kimball ran into Wade Cunningham. But both cars were repaired in time for the second race.
"It was still crazy, people changing lanes all the time, but it was fun and I enjoyed stopping, adjusting my car and going back out for a second race,'' said Ryan Briscoe, who came home third in the second race after running sixth in the first one.
Alex Tagliani, who captured the pole position on Friday, finished fourth in the first sprint and 14th in the second after starting 16th.
Helio Castroneves finally got a decent finish with a fourth in the second race.
Results Saturday of the Firestone Twin 275s - Race 2 IZOD IndyCar Series event on the 1.455 mile Texas Motor Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):
1. (3) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
2. (18) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
3. (12) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
4. (6) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
5. (1) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
6. (27) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
7. (28) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
8. (20) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
9. (5) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
10. (29) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
11. (7) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 114, Running
12. (25) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
13. (14) Paul Tracy, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
14. (16) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
15. (17) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
16. (10) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
17. (26) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
18. (21) JR Hildebrand, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
19. (9) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
20. (13) Jay Howard, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
21. (30) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
22. (15) Ana Beatriz, Dallara-Honda, 113, Running
23. (8) Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Honda, 112, Running
24. (19) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 112, Running
25. (24) Davey Hamilton, Dallara-Honda, 112, Running
26. (2) Wade Cunningham, Dallara-Honda, 112, Running
27. (22) Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Honda, 111, Running
28. (23) James Jakes, Dallara-Honda, 111, Running
29. (11) Sebastian Saavedra, Dallara-Honda, 111, Running
30. (4) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 104, Running
Race Statistics
-Winners average speed: 206.693
-Time of Race: 00:48:08.9739
-Margin of victory: .9466 of a second
-Cautions: 0
-Lead changes: 8 among six drivers
-Lap Leaders: Kanaan 1-38, Power 39-50, Kanaan 51, Castroneves 52, Viso 53-54, Power 55-104, Dixon 105, Briscoe 106-108, Power 109-114.