The finish at Saturday’s IndyCar Peak 300 hardly could have been closer.
Ryan Briscoe held off a final charge by rival Scott Dixon to win by an unofficial 0.0077 seconds — or 28 1/2 inches for the fourth closest margin Indy Racing League history — in a thrilling finish at Chicagoland Speedway.
Briscoe, who was seriously injured in a 2005 accident at the same track, claimed his first victory here and third of the season. Chicago Breaking News - Tribune
“I didn’t know I had won it,” Briscoe said. “I didn’t think I had enough for Scott, but once I got beside him, the side draft just pulled me right there.”
“I’ve seen this movie several times,” Dixon said. “Unfortunately at Chicago, I just keep finishing second.”
With the victory, Briscoe holds a 25-point lead over fourth-place finisher Dario Franchitti, as two races remain in the season.
“To win the championship, we’re going to have to win races,” Briscoe said. “I was doing all I could to get to Scott tonight, because I don’t want him getting wins. He’s had enough this year.” MiamiHerald.com
Results Saturday of the PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 IndyCar Series event at the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):
1. (1) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
2. (6) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
3. (8) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
4. (3) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
5. (5) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
6. (12) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
7. (9) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
8. (14) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
9. (17) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
10. (15) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
11. (7) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
12. (10) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
13. (4) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
14. (19) Sarah Fisher, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
15. (18) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
16. (16) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
17. (20) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 198, Running
18. (22) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 197, Running
19. (23) Jaques Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 195, Running
20. (2) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 184, Contact
21. (21) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 155, Mechanical
22. (11) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 95, Mechanical
23. (13) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 90, Contact
Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 177.826 mph
Time of race: 1:42:34.3051
Margin of victory: 0.0077 of a second
Cautions: 3 caution flags for 23 laps
Lead changes: 18 among 6 drivers
Lap leaders: Briscoe 1-46, Dixon 47-55, Briscoe 56-59, Dixon 60, Briscoe 61-74, Castroneves 75-95, Dixon 96-102, Castroneves 103, Dixon 104-106, Castroneves 107, Dixon 108-112, Scheckter 113-116, Kanaan 117-123, Franchitti 124-157, Briscoe 158-160, Dixon 161-195, Briscoe 196-197, Dixon 198, Briscoe 199-200.
Point standings: Briscoe 550, Franchitti 525, Dixon 517, Castroneves 383, Patrick 353, Andretti 342, Kanaan 335, Rahal 331, Wheldon 318, Wilson 316.
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