2009 IRL Rd. 12--Meijer Indy 300

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:08 am

With the Canadian Swing now in the rear-views, the season heats up for the remaining 6 rounds of the 2009 IndyCar Series season, and it begins in bluegrass country; Sparta, Kentucky and the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway. With its' wide track width and low banking, Kentucky offers multiple racing grooves and chances are drivers will use all of them during the race.

Past Pole/Race Winners.....................
~~2000: Scott Goodyear, Buddy Lazier
~~2001: Scott Sharp, Buddy Lazier
~~2002: Sarah Fisher, Felipe Giaffone
~~2003: Sam Hornish, Jr., Sam Hornish, Jr.
~~2004: Buddy Rice, Adrian Fernandez
~~2005: Danica Patrick, Scott Sharp
~~2006: Helio Castroneves, Sam Hornish, Jr.
~~2007: Tony Kanaan, Tony Kanaan
~~2008: Scott Dixon, Scott Dixon

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:17 am

Meijer Indy 300 Entry List....................

(R)Raphael Matos, #2 United States Air Force
Helio Castroneves, #3 Team Penske
Dan Wheldon, #4 National Guard
Mario Moraes, #5 Azul Tequila/Votorantim
Ryan Briscoe, #6 Team Penske
Danica Patrick, #7 Boost Mobile
Scott Dixon, #9 Target
Dario Franchitti, #10 Target
Tony Kanaan, #11 Team 7-11
Will Power, #12 Penske Truck Rental
E.J. Viso, #13 PDVSA
Ryan Hunter-Reay, #14 ABC Supply Co.
Justin Wilson, #18 Z-Line Designs
Ed Carpenter, #20 Menards/WilliamRast
Milka Duno, #23 CITGO
(R)Mike Conway, #24 Dad's Root Beer
Marco Andretti, #26 Meijer
Hideki Mutoh, #27 Formula Dream
Tomas Scheckter, #43 MonaVie Energy
Sarah Fisher, #67 Dollar General
Jaques Lazier, #98 Novicomm LED
Graham Rahal, #02 McDonald's
(R)Robert Doornbos, #06 NHLR/Muermans

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:19 am

Will Power is looking forward to stretching his legs this weekend at Kentucky Speedway as the IndyCar Series temporarily ventures off road/street circuits for a 1.5-mile oval. "It's a totally different style than a road course," said Power, whose return to the series after a two-month absence included a dominating victory in Edmonton and third place at Toronto in the No. 12 Penske Truck Rental entry. "It will take a little bit of time to get to up to speed. We don't want to go out straight hard, but I'm in a pretty good car so it will make things a lot easier and hopefully I can qualify and run at the front."

It will be the first competition on a 1.5-mile oval for Power since Chicagoland Speedway in September 2008. He started ninth and finished fifth in his only other oval start -- the Indianapolis 500 on May 24 - this season. Power will join rookies and others outside the top 10 in points for a 30-minute practice session (1:15 p.m. EDT) preceding the initial two-hour all-car practice July 31. Four-lap qualifications for the Meijer Indy 300 Presented by Red Baron and Edy's commence at 5:45.

"It's all experience," said Power, who had two top-10 finishes on 10 ovals in his first IndyCar Series season in '08 including fifth at Chicagoland. "It's like the road courses I've had so much experience on that after six months I could jump in and still be pretty quick. Last year on ovals was my first year. You just continue to gain experience, and that's what the Month of May is really good for. I did a lot of laps, had a really good race that gave me confidence. I'm looking forward to joining the team on the mile-and-a-half ovals."

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:53 am

Tony Kanaan's sense of humor wasn't singed following the pit lane fire in the Rexall Edmonton Indy on July 26. On a Twitter update, Kanaan bestowed the nickname Tiki Torch on himself.

Kaanan has been cleared by Indy Racing League medical officials to compete Aug. 1 in the Meijer Indy 300 Presented by Red Barron and Edy's at Kentucky Speedway.

The scary situation developed during what was supposed to be a routine Lap 34 pit stop when the fueling hose remained open after the service, splashing 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol onto the side of the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car and on Kanaan. The fuel ignited as the car left the pit stall and a second later Kanaan scrambled to extricate himself as Team Penske, Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Panther Racing crew members rushed to douse the car and driver with water to retard the flames.

Kanaan's hands didn't sustain any burns, though they were bandaged as a precaution after the incident. He has a small mark on his chin and left nostril. "I need to thank the crews of Ganassi and Penske and Panther. It was amazing how quickly they responded and I am glad I'm OK," Kanaan said. "It looked a lot worse on TV than if you saw me right now. We have great people working for us, the firesuit, helmet and gloves worked fine and I'm glad nobody was hurt. We just have to move on."

Two Andretti Green Racing crew members in the center of the incident also were evaluated by the Indy Racing League medical staff and cleared to resume activities.

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:20 am

Meijer Indy 300 Event Schedule

~~Practice Session 1: 1:15-3:45pm, 31 July 2009
*note.....first 30 minutes are for rookie competitors and those outside the top-10 in points
~~PEAK Pole Qualifying: 5:45-7pm, 31 July 2009
~~Practice Session 2: 9-9:45pm, 31 July 2009
~~Meijer Indy 300: 8:45pm, 1 August 2009
*note.....Versus coverage begins at 8pm; green flag expected to fall around 8:45pm

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:29 am

*PRESS RELEASE*

INDYCAR SERIES ADJUSTS KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY FRIDAY SCHEDULE

SPARTA, Ky. -- The IndyCar Series adjusted today's Kentucky Speedway schedule as efforts continue to help the 1.5-mile tri-oval track rebound from the effects of yesterday's heavy rains.

The new schedule will feature Firestone Indy Lights practice at 4:55 p.m., IndyCar Series "Meijer Indy 300 Presented by Red Baron and Edy's" qualifying at 5:50 p.m., a second Firestone Indy Lights practice at 7:15 p.m., an IndyCar Series autograph session at 7:30 p.m., IndyCar Series final practice at 9:00 p.m., and Firestone Indy Lights final practice at 10:00 p.m.

Kentucky Speedway gates will open at 5:00 p.m. All tickets are $20 and include infield and limited grandstand access.

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:30 am

*PRESS RELEASE*

INDYCAR SERIES OFFICIALS TO ATTEMPT TO STAGE PRACTICE SESSION TONIGHT

SPARTA, Ky. - IndyCar Series officials will attempt to stage a one-hour, 45-minute practice session tonight at Kentucky Speedway.

A final decision will be made at 8:45 p.m. Should the planned session be cancelled, the IndyCar Series would practice tomorrow, Aug. 1, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Schedule changes were made throughout the day as effects of yesterday's heavy rains continue to linger on the track surface.

IndyCar Series practice is a priority for officials as they wish to provide drivers track time to become acclimated to rule changes that provide new options for increasing a car's downforce.

"With the changes available in terms of options, we really want to give the drivers time to get familiar with them," IndyCar Series President, Competition and Racing Operations Brian Barnhart said.

Tonight's schedule changes will not affect tomorrow's activity at the track. Gates will open at 2:00 p.m., the Firestone Indy Lights "Kentucky Indy Lights 100" will take the green flag at 5:00 p.m., modern rock group Carolina Liar will be in concert at 6:15 p.m., and the "Meijer Indy 300 Presented by Red Baron and Edy's" field will take the green flag at 8:45 p.m.

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:38 am

Weepers kept the 1.5-mile Kentucky oval quiet on Friday, leading the IndyCar Series to line cars up by points for their races on Saturday.

Meijer Indy 300 Starting Lineup
1. (9) Scott Dixon, entrant points
2. (10) Dario Franchitti, entrant points
3. (6) Ryan Briscoe, entrant points
4. (3) Helio Castroneves, entrant points
5. (7) Danica Patrick, entrant points
6. (26) Marco Andretti, entrant points
7. (4) Dan Wheldon, entrant points
8. [18] Justin Wilson, entrant points
9. (11) Tony Kanaan, entrant points
10. (02) Graham Rahal, entrant points
11. (27) Hideki Mutoh, entrant points
12. (06) Robert Doornbos, entrant points
13. (2) Raphael Matos, entrant points
14. (20) Ed Carpenter, entrant points
15. (23) Milka Duno, entrant points
16. (5) Mario Moraes, entrant points
17. (14) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Entrant points
18. (13) E.J. Viso, entrant points
19. (24) Mike Conway, entrant points
20. (12) Will Power, entrant points
21. [98] Jaques Lazier, entrant points
22. (67) Sarah Fisher, entrant points
23. (43) Tomas Scheckter, entrant points

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:06 am

Kentucky Practice Session Times....................
1. 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 24.281 219.434
2. 3 Helio Castroneves Team Penske 24.296 0.015 0.015 219.299
3. 5 Mario Moraes KV Racing Technology 24.302 0.006 0.021 219.244
4. 4 Dan Wheldon Panther Racing 24.304 0.002 0.023 219.227
5. 6 Ryan Briscoe Team Penske 24.334 0.030 0.053 218.951
6. 11 Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing 24.376 0.042 0.095 218.576
7. 10 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 24.395 0.019 0.114 218.403
8. 20 Ed Carpenter Vision Racing 24.397 0.002 0.116 218.384
9. 7 Danica Patrick Andretti Green Racing 24.403 0.006 0.122 218.331
10. 26 Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing 24.448 0.045 0.167 217.932
11. 67 Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher Racing 24.465 0.017 0.184 217.784
12. 12 Will Power Team Penske 24.488 0.023 0.207 217.574
13. 02 Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 24.517 0.029 0.236 217.316
14. 14 Ryan Hunter-Reay AJ Foyt Enterprises 24.532 0.015 0.251 217.187
15. 27 Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green Racing 24.549 0.017 0.268 217.034
16. 06 Robert Doornbos* Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 24.631 0.082 0.350 216.314
17. 43 Tomas Scheckter Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 24.649 0.018 0.368 216.158
18. 24 Mike Conway* Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 24.680 0.031 0.399 215.887
19. 18 Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing 24.694 0.014 0.413 215.760
20. 23 Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 24.710 0.016 0.429 215.619
21. 13 EJ Viso HVM Racing 24.733 0.023 0.452 215.425
22. 2 Raphael Matos* Luczo Dragon Racing 24.816 0.083 0.535 214.702
23. 98 Jaques Lazier CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G 25.064 0.248 0.783 212.572
* Series rookie
0.080

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:26 am

Pre-race festivities concluding early as series and track officials have bumped up the schedule due to fears of inclement weather............awaiting the command to start the engines!

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:28 am

......and the command has been given to start the engines!

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:29 am

All cars away; green flag will be displayed after three pace laps

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:31 am

GREEN FLAG! GREEN FLAG!
We are racing in Kentucky!

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:32 am

.......and the start has been waved off!
Race control reporting the #9 of Scott Dixon jumped the start..............

Field forming up a second time.......and the green flag sticks!
Dixon leads them into turn 1

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:33 am

Patrick and Castroneves side-by-side through 1 and 2

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Qualifying Cancelled; Field Set by Entrant Points