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Chicagoland kicks off oval race for the championship
Chicagoland Speedway marks the first of three 1.5-mile ovals that comprise the drive to the IndyCar Series championship. Chicagoland has produced some of the most exciting races in IndyCar Series history, with four of the 10 closest margins of victory coming at the high-banked oval in Joliet, Ill. How will the unpredictable nature of 1.5-mile ovals such as Chicagoland shape the landscape of the championship battle in the final three races?
Areo options return at Chicagoland
For the second time this season, teams will have the options of rear tire ramps, sidepod extensions and wheel backing plates to the cars, adding up to an extra 300 pounds of downforce at the 1.5-mile oval at Chicagloand. The debut at Kentucky Speedway earlier this month produced exciting results, with Ryan Briscoe and Ed Carpenter running side-by-side for the final 10 laps. The Team Penske driver crossed the finish line with a margin of victory of. 0162 of a second—the 11th-closest finish in series history. Can these areo options produce similar results under the lights at Chicagoland?
Wheldon, Panther on the prowl at Chicagoland
Dan Wheldon and Panther Racing have spent plenty of time in Victory Lane 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 other active IndyCar Series driver. Now that Wheldon is behind the wheel of Panther’s No. 4 car, can this pairing find their way to the winner’s circle together?
Carpenter looks to build on Kentucky success
One of the biggest surprises to come out of the IndyCar Series’ last 1.5-mile oval race (Kentucky Speedway) was the career-best second place by Ed Carpenter. The result was Vision Racing’s second runner-up finish this season. Carpenter, whose No. 20 Menard’s Vision Racing car was eighth on the time sheet in the lone practice of the weekend for the 200-lap prime-time race, led five different times for a career-high 34 laps (including 26 of the final 45 laps). Can Carpenter build on his success at Kentucky and get his first win at Chicagoland?
Hometown teams look for Victory Lane
Plainfield, Ill. -based Dale Coyne Racing is experiencing its best season in history after Justin Wilson gave the team its first win at Watkins Glen in July. Lincolnshire, Ill. -based Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, which has earned two poles this season with driver Graham Rahal, is looking for its first win of the year. In its previous 26 seasons of open-wheel competition, N/H/L has only gone one season without a win. Can both teams put on a strong showing in front of the hometown crowd this weekend?
Race Notes:
The PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 will be the ninth IndyCar Series event conducted at Chicagoland Speedway. Previous race winners entered are: Helio Castroneves (2008), Dario Franchitti (2007), Dan Wheldon (2006, ‘05) and Jaques Lazier (2001).
Previous polesitters entered are: Ryan Briscoe (2008), Dario Franchitti (2007), Danica Patrick (2005), Helio Castroneves (2004) and Jaques Lazier (2001).
Twenty drivers entered in the event have competed in previous IndyCar Series races at Chicagoland Speedway. Ten of those drivers have led laps: Dan Wheldon (320), Helio Castroneves (235), Tony Kanaan (137), Jaques Lazier (116), Tomas Scheckter (114), Scott Dixon (79), Ryan Briscoe (41), Dario Franchitti (10), Milka Duno (5) and Danica Patrick (1).
Three drivers will make their first IndyCar Series start at Infineon: Mike Conway, Robert Doornbos and Raphael Matos.
Championship Notes:
Ryan Briscoe leads the IndyCar Series championship for the fourth time this season. It is the first time that Briscoe has led the point standings after 14 races and the latest he has led the championship.
There have been four different point leaders (Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan) and 13 lead changes in 14 races.
Ryan Briscoe leads Dario Franchitti by four points. It’s the 12th time in 14 races that the margin between first and second has been 10 points or fewer.
The margin from first (Ryan Briscoe) to third (Scott Dixon) is 20 points, the third-closest gap with three races remaining. In 2002, 13 points separated first and third and in 2006, 17 points separated first and third.
Only four drivers – Ryan Briscoe, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves – remain eligible for the championship.
This is the ninth event at Chicagoland Speedway. The winning driver at Chicagoland has won the championship three times (Sam Hornish Jr. (2002), Dan Wheldon (2005) and Dario Franchitti (2007).
In 12 seasons, two drivers have won the 15th race of the season and also won the championship: Dan Wheldon won at Chicagoland in 2005, Sam Hornish won at Texas 2 in 2002.
