On a day when no caution flags came out, Dario Franchitti reigned supreme over the IndyCar series again.
Franchitti emerged victorious from one of the closest points races in series history Saturday, winning the season-ending Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida in the first caution-free IRL race ever. He used a significantly different fuel strategy than did the other two title contenders, Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe, and was rewarded with his second championship in three years. Los Angeles Times
He used a significantly different fuel strategy than the other two title contenders, Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe, and was rewarded with his second championship in three years.
“I still can’t believe it,” said Franchitti, the scent of champagne obvious on his soaked racing suit an hour after the checkered flag came out in his honor. “Really, I can’t.” Seattle Times
Dixon, Franchitti’s teammate in the Ganassi garage, was second in the points standings. Franchitti finished with 616 points, Dixon had 605 and Briscoe — who led 103 of the 200 laps for Penske Racing — finished with 604. Akron Beacon Journal
Results Saturday of the Firestone Indy 300 IndyCar Series event at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):
1. (1) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
2. (3) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
3. (2) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
4. (15) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
5. (11) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
6. (19) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 198, Running
7. (10) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 198, Running
8. (5) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 198, Running
9. (12) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 197, Running
10. (13) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 197, Running
11. (6) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 197, Running
12. (4) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 197, Running
13. (21) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 196, Running
14. (9) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 196, Running
15. (20) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 195, Running
16. (18) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 194, Running
17. (17) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 194, Running
18. (16) Sarah Fisher, Dallara-Honda, 187, Running
19. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 185, Running
20. (22) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 166, Mechanical
21. (14) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 150, Contact
22. (8) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 58, Mechanical
23. (23) Jaques Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 23, Mechanical
Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 201.420 mph
Time of race: 1:28:28.3117
Margin of victory: 4.7888 seconds
Cautions: No caution flags
Lead changes: 12 among 4 drivers
Lap leaders: Franchitti 1-5, Dixon 6-47, Franchitti 48-50,Castroneves 51-52, Dixon 53-62, Briscoe 63-95, Franchitti 96- 100, Briscoe 101-105, Dixon 106-123, Briscoe 124-144, Franchitti 145-150, Briscoe 151-194, Franchitti 195-200.
Point standings:
Franchitti 616, Dixon 605, Briscoe 604, Castroneves 433, Patrick 393, Kanaan 386, Rahal 385, Andretti 380, Wilson 354, Wheldon 354
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