Target Chip Ganassi drivers Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti finished one-two at the IRL Japan Indy 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi racetrack in Motegi, Japan, on Saturday, September 19, moving the pair into first and second spot in the championship as well.
Penske driver Ryan Briscoe, who came into the race with a thirty-five point lead and hoped to seal the championship with a win at Motegi, crashed leaving the pits under a yellow flag, damaging his suspension and putting himself out of the points. The Epoch Times
“It’s definitely what we needed,” Dixon said. “We needed to have a few problems on the Penske side, and that was definitely true today.”
Dixon earned two bonus points for leading the most laps with 139. He holds a five-point lead over Franchitti and an eight-point advantage over Briscoe heading into the October 10 season-ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“As long as we come out on top—either Dario or myself—for the championship, that’s what we are pushing for,” Dixon added. “If we can pull that out at Homestead, that’s definitely what we want.” MiamiHerald.com
Graham Rahal finished third while Danica Patrick, who won here last year, was sixth.
Briscoe took the lead for the first time on lap 103 when Dixon and Franchitti pitted. Briscoe went into the pit on lap 106 just before a yellow flag came out when Mike Conway hit the wall at Turn 4. When Briscoe was exiting the pit, he ran over the large cone marking the end of pit lane, getting it stuck under his front left wheel.
IndyCar Series: Indy Japan 300 - Race Results
Because he was leading when the yellow flag came out, the field slowed to allow Briscoe to keep the lead. When the pits opened again, Briscoe went in to have the pylon removed, giving the lead to Dixon when the race restarted on lap 118.
“It was frustrating,” Briscoe said. “The accident leaving the pit was huge. I had the opportunity to get the lead and I gassed it too much. The team did a great job getting the car back but my day was pretty much done.” The Associated Press
Marco Andretti, Dan Wheldon, Raphael Matos and Helio Castroneves completed the top-10. Castroneves had to start from the rear of the field after crashing during his qualifying attempt on Friday. The Penske driver finished one lap behind. MiamiHerald.com
| 
|