2009 IRL Rd. 15--PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300

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Who will take over the points lead at Chicagoland?

Poll ended at Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:47 am

Dario Franchitti
1
50%
Scott Dixon
0
No votes
Ryan Briscoe
1
50%
 
Total votes: 2

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2009 IRL Rd. 15--PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300

Post by mlittle » Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:47 am

Three races remain in the 2009 IndyCar Series season and the championship fight returns to the ovals, beginning at the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway, a track which has seen some of the closest racing in recent memory. Three drivers...........Ryan Briscoe, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, all have an opportunity to grab the reins of the series points lead, a lead which has changed 13 times in 14 races so far this year. With it being under the lights this year, expect plenty of fireworks this weekend!




Past pole/race winners at Chicagoland.................
2001: Jaques Lazier, Jaques Lazier
2002: Sam Hornish, Jr., Sam Hornish, Jr.
2003: Richie Hearn, Sam Hornish, Jr.
2004: Helio Castroneves, Adrian Fernandez
2005: Danica Patrick, Dan Wheldon
2006: Sam Hornish, Jr., Dan Wheldon
2007: Dario Franchitti, Dario Franchitti
2008: Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves
Last edited by mlittle on Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Chicagoland Notebook

Post by mlittle » Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:15 pm

~~~Building Up Chicagoland Amongst the Chicago Sports Scene
Everywhere he turned, Craig Rust was either saying hello or goodbye during the IndyCar Series race weekend at Watkins Glen International in early July.

A month earlier, International Speedway Corporation announced that Rust would move from Watkins Glen International, where he had been president since 2002, to be president of Chicagoland Speedway.

"I'm leaving a facility that recently celebrated its 60th anniversary in racing to one that hasn't even celebrated its 10th," Rust said. "One of my goals is guiding that facility in its infancy and trying to get the brand solidified within the Greater Chicago sports scene, and that's not easy. You're taking racing at Chicagoland in a stick and ball town with history oozing out of every one of those teams. The good news it's a strong sports market.

"Getting people to include Chicagoland when they talk about Chicago sports would be a goal of mine; when you're thinking of what there's to see and do in the sports scene Chicagoland would pop up and get them to come to the IndyCar race."

The 1.5-mile oval, which has played host to exciting IndyCar Series races since it opened in 2001, will be the scene Aug. 29 of the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300. The track has been a perennial factor in the IndyCar Series championship chase, and each of the contenders will look to score maximum points under the lights for the first time.

"Saturday night racing under the lights I think will be awesome," Rust said. "It allows people to come out, enjoy Saturday night and still have your whole Sunday. Things are a lot busier in today's world than they were 15-20 years ago and I think racing Saturday night have become more popular. There's something about seeing IndyCar under the lights flying around on a mile and a half."

Rust has short-term goals and a long-term vision for the spacious and fan-friendly venue. "The goal is to work with the staff and what we want the place to be. That's going to take time, patience and dedication," Rust said. "We need to work with the series and partners and guide it through that transition. Chicagoland is different atmosphere. It's a stadium feel. The facility should not mandate the experience, the facility should let the fans dictate how they interact with it and then accommodate the fans' expectations and how they want to interact with it. It's a different market and fans."

Rust has been involved in motorsports since 1996, holding a number of positions including director of sales and marketing for California (now Auto Club) Speedway and president of the former Nazareth Speedway. "I was fortunate enough when they were building California Speedway to hook up with Roger Penske and that is how I got into motorsports," he said. "I've been fortunate that since I got into this business that I've had an open-wheel race at the facility I've been at - California, Nazareth, Watkins Glen and now Chicagoland."

~~~Hometown Hero
Image
Sgt. Jae Russell of Springfield, Ill., is Panther Racing's "Hometown Hero" for the Chicagoland Speedway race weekend.

For each IndyCar Series domestic race, a National Guard member is selected as the Hometown Hero. Russell will join Panther Racing's Dan Wheldon at the driver autograph session [6 p.m. local time Aug. 28] at the speedway and will be recognized during the pre-race activities for the PEAK Antifreeze & Moto Oil Indy 300 on Aug. 29.

Russell, who joined the Army Reserves in September 2001, has been deployed to Iraq with the 724th Transportation Company to provide security to convoys. From June 2007 until June 2008, Russell was instrumental in training the 33rd BCT for their mission in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal for his service to the United States and the U.S. Army during his deployment. He Russell is currently a full-time training non-commissioned officer for JFHQ.

~~~Panther Racing Looks to Return to Victory Lane
Wheldon and Panther Racing have spent plenty of time in Victory Circle at Chicagoland Speedway, just never together. Both have scored two wins at the track (Wheldon won in 2006 with Target Chip Ganassi Racing and in '05 with Andretti Green Racing. Panther Racing won twice with driver Sam Hornish Jr.).

Wheldon has led more laps at Chicagoland than any active IndyCar Series driver. He will feature a colorful helmet paint scheme this weekend designed by a 6-year-old patient at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent in Indianapolis.

"It's fun but it's more the meaning behind it," said Wheldon, who has a son who turns 1 year old in February. "I was raised in a big family that is incredibly close and I'm very blessed. I do a hospital visit every year before the Month of May (at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) starts and we wanted to come up with something that would be a little different and a little special.

"It's very hard to pick a design because they put so much effort into them. This young girl, Jama, is very special."
Last edited by mlittle on Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by mlittle » Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:20 pm

Image


Each of the past three years, Chicagoland Speedway has hosted the deciding race in the IndyCar Series driver championship. The ninth race on the action-packed 1.5-mile oval again will be a factor in determining the 2009 titleholder. The PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 this weekend is the 15th of 17 events on the schedule, with Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe entering the 200-lap race with a four-point advantage over Dario Franchitti. His Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Scott Dixon, is 20 points back.

It's the 12th time in 14 races that the margin between first and second has been 10 points or fewer, and the difference between first and third is the third-closest with three races remaining.

"The points championship looks like it's going to go down to the wire again, which we've been fortunate to have the championship do that for the last several years," Indy Racing League president of competition and operations Brian Barnhart said. "The contenders all have had issues to contend with early in the season, missed out on opportunities to score some important points. That's clearly something they have to avoid in the final races. You can't have any missteps from here on out; there just isn't any time to make that up."

The top three in points all have had success on the circuit. Dixon has been involved in the past two years that decided the title - 2008 fell in his favor. In '07, pole sitter Franchitti's pass of Dixon in Turn 4 of the final lap gave him the championship in the winner-take-all race.

"I think between the two of us we've got cars in the Target team that can win all those last three races," said Dixon, who has four second-place finishes (including the past three years in a row). "That's the attitude. We have to go out there and try and dominate and hopefully I'll win another championship."

Briscoe was the pole sitter last year and finished third behind Dixon and teammate Helio Castroneves.

"Looking at how this championship's gone so far, no one can hang on to the lead," said Briscoe, who has been the points leader five different times following the 14 races. "I think we're seeing that wins reward greatly, and I think whoever's going to win this championship needs to go out and win races. Obviously you need to finish and collect points. But getting those 50 points is always really important."

~~~Looking back, each of the past three seasons have seen Chicagoland play a role in the series championship fight.................
--2008: Helio Castroneves entered the 200-lap race trailing Dixon by 43 points. Worse, he was starting from the rear of the 28-car field because of a post-qualifying technical inspection infraction. But the Team Penske driver blazed a path to the front to beat Dixon to the checkered flag by 0.0033 of a second - the second-closest finish in IndyCar Series history. The runner-up finish enabled Dixon to win the title by 17 points.

--2007: It was more final-lap drama when Dixon and Franchitti - on rival teams at the time - were wheel to wheel through Turn 2 with the championship going to the car that crossed the finish line first. Franchitti, who had trailed the past six laps, overtook Dixon's fuel-starved car in Turn 4 and went on to the race victory by 1.8 seconds and championship by 13 points.

--2006: Four drivers entered the season finale with a shot at winning the title, which wasn't decided until after the checkered flag fell. Castroneves led Team Penske teammate Sam Hornish Jr. by one point, while '05 series champion Dan Wheldon was 18 points back and Dixon was 21 behind. Wheldon finished 0.1897 of a second ahead of Dixon, followed by Hornish and Castroneves. Wheldon and Hornish tied in points, with Castroneves two back and Dixon 13 off the pace. Hornish claimed his third series title based on the first tiebreaker (four wins to Wheldon's two).
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Post by mlittle » Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:29 pm

PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300 Entrant 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 LifeLock
Tony Kanaan, #11 Team 7-11
E.J. Viso, #13 PDVSA
Ryan Hunter-Reay, #14 ABC Supply Co.
Justin Wilson, #18 Z-Line Designs
Ed Carpenter, #20 Menards
Milka Duno, #23 CITGO
(R)Mike Conway, #24 Dad's Root Beer
Marco Andretti, #26 Venom Energy
Hideki Mutoh, 27 Formula Dream
(R)Robert Doornbos, #33 HVM/Trust
Tomas Scheckter, #43 MonaVie Energy
Sarah Fisher, #67 Dollar General
Jaques Lazier, #98 CURB Records
Graham Rahal, #02 McDonald's
Oriol Servia, #06 NHLR
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Briscoe takes the pole at Chicagoland.................

Post by mlittle » Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:08 pm

Image
Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe celebrates winning the pole at Chicagoland for Saturday night's PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300


Ryan Briscoe had one of the best vantage points during the race at Chicagoland Speedway last year, running third as Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves and Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon were engaged in a duel to the checkered flag that produced the second-closest finish in IndyCar Series history. In all deference to those championship contenders, Briscoe says: "Been there, done that."

Briscoe, who earned his fourth PEAK Performance Pole Award of the season, would prefer to be running out front late in PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 under the lights Aug. 29 at Chicagoland Speedway. Driving the No. 6 Team Penske entry (the 20th of 23 qualifiers), Briscoe had a four-lap average of 215.364 mph on the 1.5-mile oval to slip past Castroneves.

The pole start also gave Briscoe a bonus point to increase his lead over Dario Franchitti to five and Dixon to 21 entering the 200-lap race - the 15th of 17 on the schedule.

"It's important for the point," said Briscoe, who enters the battle with two victories and seven runner-up finishes among his 11 top fives. "As far as what's going to happen in the race, it doesn't matter where you start. Helio won the race from the last (28th) position last year. It's exciting. A Team Penske front row means the team is working well. We have strong cars and hopefully we can carry that into the race. I've had a few firsts this year, so hopefully I can have my first win from the pole."

Briscoe, who started from the pole at Chicagoland last year, gave Team Penske its third 1-2 start of the season -- which they've turned into one victory (Castroneves in the Indianapolis 500) and a second place (Briscoe at Iowa Speedway).

"There are probably 10 or 12 cars that can win, so it should be a pretty exciting race for the fans," he said. "I think we're going to see a lot of pack racing, running two- or three-wide all night long. Hopefully we can stay out of trouble, stay in the front and bring it home in front."
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Post by mlittle » Sun Aug 30, 2009 1:10 am

Chicagoland Combined Practice Times
(from FR, 27 August)


1. 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 25.163 217.460
2. 6 Ryan Briscoe Team Penske 25.207 0.044 0.044 217.080
3. 3 Helio Castroneves Team Penske 25.290 0.083 0.127 216.371
4. 7 Danica Patrick Andretti Green Racing 25.300 0.010 0.137 216.284
5. 26 Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing 25.307 0.007 0.144 216.226
6. 02 Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 25.317 0.010 0.154 216.139
7. 10 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 25.319 0.002 0.156 216.122
8. 11 Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing 25.340 0.021 0.177 215.941
9. 5 Mario Moraes KV Racing Technology 25.362 0.022 0.199 215.759
10. 06 Oriol Servia Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 25.379 0.017 0.216 215.612
11. 18 Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing 25.387 0.008 0.224 215.544
12. 20 Ed Carpenter Vision Racing 25.387 0.000 0.224 215.540
13. 4 Dan Wheldon Panther Racing 25.404 0.017 0.241 215.402
14. 2 Raphael Matos* Luczo Dragon Racing 25.435 0.031 0.272 215.137
15. 27 Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green Racing 25.451 0.016 0.288 215.006
16. 43 Tomas Scheckter Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 25.481 0.030 0.318 214.750
17. 67 Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher Racing 25.482 0.001 0.319 214.736
18. 14 Ryan Hunter-Reay AJ Foyt Enterprises 25.512 0.030 0.349 214.491
19. 13 EJ Viso HVM Racing 25.637 0.125 0.474 213.439
20. 24 Mike Conway* Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 25.664 0.027 0.501 213.215
21. 23 Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 25.715 0.051 0.552 212.795
22. 33 Robert Doornbos* HVM Racing 25.739 0.024 0.576 212.594
23. 98 Jaques Lazier CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G 25.881 0.142 0.718 211.433
* Series rookie
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Post by mlittle » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:59 am

PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300 Starting Grid............


1. 6 Ryan Briscoe Team Penske 1:41.6327 215.364
2. 3 Helio Castroneves Team Penske 1:41.7090 215.202

3. 10 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 1:41.8174 214.973
4. 11 Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing 1:41.9652 214.661

5. 02 Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 1:42.0151 214.556
6. 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 1:42.0447 214.494

7. 26 Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing 1:42.0560 214.470
8. 5 Mario Moraes KV Racing Technology 1:42.1224 214.331

9. 06 Oriol Servia Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 1:42.2204 214.126
10. 7 Danica Patrick Andretti Green Racing 1:42.2305 214.104

11. 4 Dan Wheldon Panther Racing 1:42.3724 213.808
12. 20 Ed Carpenter Vision Racing 1:42.6009 213.331

13. 27 Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green Racing 1:42.6373 213.256
14. 43 Tomas Scheckter Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 1:42.6556 213.218

15. 18 Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing 1:42.7553 213.011
16. 24 Mike Conway* Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 1:42.9194 212.671

17. 2 Raphael Matos* Luczo Dragon Racing 1:43.0571 212.387
18. 14 Ryan Hunter-Reay AJ Foyt Enterprises 1:43.0814 212.337

19. 67 Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher Racing 1:43.1846 212.125
20. 13 EJ Viso HVM Racing 1:43.4472 211.586

21. 23 Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 1:43.5066 211.465
22. 33 Robert Doornbos* HVM Racing 1:43.6514 211.169

23. 98 Jaques Lazier CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G 1:45.0626 208.333
*-series rookie
times are 4-lap times; speeds are avg. from each qual. lap
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Post by mlittle » Sun Aug 30, 2009 3:56 pm

PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300 Results..............
note.......news reports to follow in the A.M.


1. 6 Ryan Briscoe Team Penske 200
2. 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 200
3. 5 Mario Moraes KV Racing Technology 200
4. 10 Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 200
5. 02 Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 200
6. 20 Ed Carpenter Vision Racing 200
7. 06 Oriol Servia Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing 200
8. 43 Tomas Scheckter Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 200
9. 2 Raphael Matos* Luczo Dragon Racing 200
10. 18 Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing 200
11. 26 Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing 200
12. 7 Danica Patrick Andretti Green Racing 200
13. 11 Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing 200^
14. 67 Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher Racing 199
15. 14 Ryan Hunter-Reay AJ Foyt Enterprises 199
16. 24 Mike Conway* Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 199
17. 13 EJ Viso HVM Racing 198
18. 33 Robert Doornbos* HVM Racing 197
19. 98 Jaques Lazier CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G 195
20. 3 Helio Castroneves Team Penske 184 Contact
21. 23 Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 155 Mechanical
22. 4 Dan Wheldon Panther Racing 95 Mechanical
23. 27 Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green Racing 90 Contact
* Series rookie
^--top-13 were separated at the checkered flag by .8269 seconds
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