Dan Wheldon(#10 Target Chip Ganassi RacingHonda) Started 1st, finished 1st, his 12th career IndyCar Series victoryand record third-consecutive win at Homestead-Miami Speedway:
It was a great way to open up the season. Weve worked very hard as a team over the off season to perfect the things we learned in 2006. A lot of credit goes to the engineering staff and especially [technical director] Andy Brown. As well, I credit Honda. Its been a seamless transition to 3.5 liters and ethanol fuel. It was fun out there tonight. Even when we had our problem in the pits, I didnt get upset. The car was fast all night and comfortable to drive, and we had a lot of laps to make up the positions we had lost. I didnt want to force the issue, I wanted it to come to me, and it did. I didnt expect to dominate, but everything went our way tonight. Since Im a Florida boy [Wheldon makes his home in St. Petersburg], it must be the weather or something that brings out the best in me.
Robert Clarke (President, Honda Performance Development) on Hondas performance this season:
“First, Id like to offer my congratulations to Dan Wheldon on his record third-consecutive victory here at Homestead, and to the entire Target Chip Ganassi organization on their dominating performance tonight. It was a perfect night for Honda. There were no engine-related issues that were aware of, and reports from the drivers have been very favorable. This was a bit more of a test from an engine standpoint than we will face next weekend at St. Petersburg, but were looking forward to the drivers feedback from the road course event there. Overall, Im very pleased with the engines performance and reliability.
IRL IndyCar Series
Round 01: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Miami
1 Dan Wheldon (Target Chip Ganassi)
2 Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi)
3 Sam Hornish Jr. (Team Penske)
4 Vitor Meira (Panther Racing)
5 Tony Kanaan (Andretti Green Racing)
6 Ed Carpenter (Vision Racing)
7 Dario Franchitti (Andretti Green Racing)
8 Tomas Scheckter (Vision Racing)
9 Helio Castroneves (Team Penske)
10 Buddy Rice (Dreyer & Reinbold)
11 Sarah Fisher (Dreyer & Reinbold)
12 Scott Sharp (Rahal Letterman Racing)
13 Darren Manning (A. J. Foyt Racing)
14 Danica Patrick (Andretti Green Racing)
15 Marty Roth (Roth Racing)
16 Kosuke Matsuura (Super Aguri Panther)
17 Jeff Simmons (Rahal Letterman Racing)
18 A. J. Foyt IV (Vision Racing)
19 Alex Barron (CURB/Beck Racing)
20 Marco Andretti (Andretti Green Racing)
| 
|