Hunter-Reay takes victory in bizarre ABC Supply 500
Ryan Hunter-Reay has taken his second victory of the season at Pocono in the ABC Supply 500, after a thoroughly bizarre 200-lap race. The 2012 champion finished ahead of Josef Newgarden and championship leader Juan Pablo Montoya in a race which ended under caution.
However, there was a sombre mood in parc ferme after Justin Wilson was involved in a serious incident on lap 179, when the Briton was struck on the head by debris following a high-speed spin by Sage Karam.
Wilson was extracted from the car and transported via helicopter to Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital with a confirmed head injury.
With favourable weather conditions the penultimate race of the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series got underway around the iconic Pocono Raceway for the ABC Supply 500. Helio Castroneves started the race from pole, and was exceptionally eager to get proceedings underway.
After two aborted starts courtesy of an overzealous Castroneves, the race began with the usual freneticism up and down the order.
Newgarden in particular stormed into a commanding lead into turn one, sweeping around the outside of both Castroneves and Pagenaud, with the latter slotting into second position.
Throughout the order various battles ensued, with drivers jostling for position up and down the order. Rookie Gabby Chaves made the most of his start to the race, rising up from 16th to 12th in the opening few laps.
Further down the order British driver Pippa Mann was struck with a mechanical issue on her Dale Coyne Racing machine, forcing her to pit. Meanwhile championship leader Juan Pablo Montoya was struggling to rise through the field, making his way up to only 15th after starting from 19th after 19 laps.
Rookie Stefano Coletti became the first retirement, after a mechanical issue seemingly materialised on his KV Racing Technology machine and forced him to pit. Shortly afterwards the first scheduled pit-stop took place, with race leader Newgarden diving into the pits.
This enabled Pagenaud to assume the lead of the race, as Jack Hawksworth also pitted for AJ Foyt Racing. A lap later further drivers elected to pit under green flag conditions, including the Target Chip Ganassi Racing of Scott Dixon.
The third caution of the race occurred only moments after Dixon and others pitted, as Hawksworth lost his left-rear wheel after it was not securely attached during his stop only a lap earlier. Luckily the wheel in question came to rest without striking a car, as the field bunched up behind the safety car.
Under safety car conditions the remaining drivers elected to pit, including race leader Pagenaud and championship leader Montoya. This enabled Newgarden to resume his lead of the race, ahead of Carlos Munoz and Justin Wilson.
On lap 37 the race was resumed, however only for one corner before Sebastien Bourdais slammed into the wall at turn one. The Frenchman had been complaining of a sticking throttle only moments earlier, and suffered a hefty collision with the wall.
After a slightly longer delay, the race was restarted as Wilson pounced on Newgarden to secure the lead of the race. However, the Briton led for only one corner before Newgarden resumed the lead with a quick overtake.
Further back championship leader Montoya enjoyed a champion’s restart, running five wide into turn one as he rose steadily up into eighth position.
As Ryan Briscoe began to lose ground in the Schmidt Peterson Motorsport car, Tony Kanaan came to life and made quick overtakes on Munoz, Wilson and Newgarden to storm into the lead for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Ten laps later the second round of scheduled pit-stops ensued, with race leader Kanaan becoming the first driver to pit. The Brazilian was joined in the pits by Newgarden, who perfected his stop to rejoin ahead of Kanaan.
Meanwhile Ryan Hunter-Reay assumed the lead of the race, before pitting with a whole host of other drivers a lap later. As Pagenaud returned into the lead of the race, Graham Rahal suffered a disastrous stop, as his mechanics failed to attach the fuel hose to the car.
Eventually Rahal rejoined the action, albeit way down the order. Pagenaud and Montoya pitted several laps later, which saw Castroneves rise up into the lead of the race. However, as the final few drivers completed their second pit-stops, Pagenaud soon resumed his lead at the front.
However, Pagenaud’s lead lasted only several laps, before Castroneves scythed his way from third to lead the race for Team Penske. Pagenaud continued to lose ground as the race continued, dropping to fourth as Kanaan and Hunter-Reay muscled their way through.
The fourth caution of the afternoon was caused on lap 85 when Charlie Kimball and Hawksworth collided, with both drivers clearly angry with each other for the contact. Whilst Kimball managed to limp back to the pits with only damage to his front-wing, Hawksworth was left stricken in the middle of the track.
In traditional oval style the entire field pitted under caution conditions, with reigning champion Will Power in particular suffering a highly embarrassing stop. The Australian driver spun whilst exiting his pit-box, before rejoining the action further down the order.
Meanwhile Castroneves managed to maintain his lead at the front, however that lead evaporated shortly after the restart as Kanaan stormed head of his fellow countryman to lead the race.
Only moments after the race was restarted and Kanaan took the lead, yet another caution was caused after Rahal and Tristan Vautier collided in spectacular fashion on the final corner. Rahal was understandably livid with the incident, immediately removing himself from his car and marching over to Vautier to verbally vent his frustration.
Replays showed that Vautier simply stuck his car three wide alongside Rahal and Wilson at the last moment, resulting in the contact which miraculously managed to avoid collecting Wilson who was on the high line.
On the restart Kanaan instantly lost the lead to Pagenaud, with rookie Sage Karam a close second for Chip Ganassi Racing. On the next lap local hero Karam stormed into the lead, clearly eager to rise to the top on home territory.
However, Karam’s reign was soon over as the 20-year-old pitted under green flag conditions. This enabled Pagenaud to momentarily resume the lead, before Castroneves stormed through to steal the lead away from the Frenchman.
A sixth caution was caused on lap 109, as James Jakes made light contact with Ed Carpenter, which resulted in Carpenter’s left-rear tyre guard flying off drastically and coming to rest on the racing line.
This enabled the most field to pit once again under caution conditions, with Pagenaud rejoining the action ahead of Castroneves. Meanwhile Carpenter returned to the pits to retire, after initial repairs were unsuccessful.
On the restart rookie Chaves led the field away, before being pounced upon by Castroneves into turn one. The duo traded the lead for the next few high speed laps, with the entire field unquestionably resuming the race with sheer aggressiveness.
Further down the order a frenetic battle between Kanaan, Takuma Sato and Montoya ensued, with the trio running three wide in their bid to outsmart each other. Meanwhile race leader Chaves pitted, handing the lead down to Hunter-Reay.
The seventh caution of the afternoon occurred on lap 132, as Kanaan went spiralling out of his 248th consecutive IndyCar start. The Brazilian dipped a wheel beneath the yellow line, which sent him spinning into the inside wall and subsequent retirement.
During the caution period the majority of the field pitted, including Pagenaud and Power. The latter suffered yet another embarrassing stop, as the Australian exited his pit box and this time failed to gain any speed.
On the restart Chaves lead the field away, before being robbed of the lead by Pagenaud almost instantly.
No sooner had the field completed one lap before yet another caution arose, this time courtesy of Marco Andretti who lost control of his car and slammed heavily into the wall. The 28-year-old gingerly removed himself from his car, before then limping away with the assistance of a marshal. Andretti later confirmed that he took a knock to the outside of his right knee, hence the slow removal from his car.
The race was resumed on lap 149, with Pagenaud leading the field into turn one. The Frenchman remained out in front for several laps, before Hunter-Reay breezed through into the lead for Andretti Autosport.
The ninth caution of the race was caused in extremely comical circumstances, as a fox decided to scamper across the track right in front of Mann’s car. During the relatively short delay the majority of the field pitted under caution conditions, resulting in Briscoe assuming the lead.
On the restart absolute mayhem ensued, with several drivers slow to realise the race was restarting. This resulted in the field entering turn one over seven wide, before Castroneves ran wide and slammed into the wall at turn one.
Once again the safety car was called upon, as the marshals cleared away Castroneves’s stricken Team Penske machine. Under caution many drivers dived into the pits, including Power and Montoya.
The race was resumed shortly afterwards, with Hunter-Reay leading the field at the front. However, the lead changed hands numerous times during the following laps, with Newgarden, Sato and then Karam rising to the front of the pack.
This created an all-time new record for lead changes at Pocono of 29, with 24 laps still remaining. All of sudden the eleventh caution was caused as race leader Karam lost control of his car and speared violently into the wall.
As the field strove to avoid colliding with the stricken rookie, a piece of debris seemed to strike the cockpit area of Wilson, who then ran straight into the inside wall. This resulted in medical attention being required to both drivers, with Karam clearly shaken after the extent of his incident.
Whilst Karam removed himself from his car and walked to the ambulance under his own steam, Wilson was extracted from his car and then air-lifted from Pocono to the Lehigh Valley Health Network Cedar Crest Hospital, as the marshals cleared the stricken cars as the laps ticked away.
After a lengthy delay, the race was resumed with Sato immediately pouncing on Chaves for the lead. Chaves almost instantly regained the lead, with utterly frenetic racing up and down the order.
Two laps later Hunter-Reay stormed into the lead, as Chaves began to struggle with Newgarden second and Montoya third.
The twelfth and final caution of the race occurred on lap 196, as Chaves suffered a mechanical issue and slowed drastically. The Colombian managed to limp back to the pits, whilst race control confirmed the race would end under safety car conditions.
This enabled Hunter-Reay to cruise across the line to secure his 14th career victory in the Verizon IndyCar Series, ending the race ahead of Newgarden and Montoya. Power ended fourth, Munoz fifth and Sato sixth. Despite leading several laps Pagenaud ended the race seventh, ahead of Briscoe and Dixon with Jakes rounding out the top ten.
The Verizon IndyCar Series now heads to the Sonoma Raceway for the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma, the final round of the season and one which will offer double points. Montoya has extended his lead in the drivers’ championship to 34 points ahead of Rahal, with Dixon 47 points behind and Power 61 points behind.
Image courtesy of Bret Kelley/IndyCar Series Media Service
Mike Conway To Make IndyCar Return At Detroit
Mike Conway will make his return to the IZOD IndyCar Series at Detroit this weekend with Dale Coyne Racing, in what will be the sport’s first doubleheader race weekend around the 2.3-mile, 13-turn street circuit. The 29-year-old Briton last raced at Long Beach in April for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
After feeling uncomfortable competing on ovals towards the end of last season, Mike Conway left the IZOD IndyCar Series with immediate effect and was subsequently replaced for the season finale by Wade Cunningham at Fontana. Despite his departure from the Series, Mike Conway returned earlier in the year with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing at Long Beach, where the Bromley-born Briton qualified a competitive 5th yet retired with an electrical issue.
“I am very thankful for this opportunity with Dale and look forward to having a race weekend where I will have two chances to race with my fellow competitors,” explained Mike Conway. “I miss being in the car full time, and teaming with Justin (Wilson) again will be quite exciting for me.”
Mike Conway and Justin Wilson were team-mates back in 2010 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, a year when Mike Conway suffered two fractured vertebrae in his neck following an almighty incident at the Indianapolis 500. Last season Mike Conway finished 9th around the streets of Detroit for A.J. Foyt Enterprises, on his way to 21st in the Drivers’ Championship with 233 points scored.
Picture Copyright © Ron McQueeney/IndyCar
Tony Kanaan Finally Secures Indianapolis 500 Crown
Tony Kanaan has finally managed to secure his maiden Indianapolis 500 victory, after the thrilling 97th running of the legendary event around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Brazilian sensation was followed home by impressive rookie Carlos Munoz, with reigning Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay 3rd.
The 200-lap race began under cloudy skies over the 2.5-mile oval, with Ed Carpenter leading the 33-car field into Turn 1 after securing only his second pole position of his career for the event. As the opening lap of the race ensued, Marco Andretti mastered an overtaking maneuver on Carlos Munoz for 2nd position. The first full course caution was caused after only four laps, when JR Hildebrand lost control of his Panther Racing machine and spun into the retaining barrier on the exit of Turn 1.
JR Hildebrand caused the first caution on Lap 4.
Under safety car conditions, James Jakes, Simona de Silvestro, Graham Rahal, A.J. Allmendinger, Katherine Legge and Charlie Kimball all elected to pit. However, the latter was forced to return to the pits a lap later after his car suffered from an electrical issue. The race was eventually resumed on Lap 7, with Ed Carpenter still in the lead ahead of Marco Andretti and E.J. Viso. However, Tony Kanaan soon began to scythe through the field in his KV Racing Technology machine, eventually overtaking Marco Andretti for 2nd and then Ed Carpenter for the lead on Lap 9.
The lead changed hands on numerous occasions as the race progressed, with Ed Carpenter, Marco Andretti and Tony Kanaan all jostling at the front of the pack. Despite retaking the lead once again on Lap 28 from Marco Andretti, Tony Kanaan was forced to pit for tyres and fuel on Lap 29, therefore gifting the lead back to Andretti. However, his lead was short-lived as he too elected to pit a lap later along with Ed Carpenter, E.J. Viso and Conor Daly. This allowed reigning IZOD IndyCar Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay to assume the lead, before he also pitted on Lap 31.
With many drivers completing green flag pit-stops, the Penske of Will Power gradually rose into the lead. The Australian driver, who has never won the Indianapolis 500, also pitted on Lap 33. This allowed James Jakes to take the lead for the first time around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, before a second full course caution was caused when Sebastian Saavedra spun into the wall at Turn 4. Under caution conditions, James Jakes pitted from the lead allowing Ed Carpenter to resume his lead of the race.
At the restart Ed Carpenter once again stormed into the lead ahead of Marco Andretti, with Ryan Hunter-Reay, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan following closely behind. Simona de Silvestro was issued with a drive-thru penalty for running over pit equipment during her pit-stop. The frenetic battle at the front was resumed between Ed Carpenter and Marco Andretti, with both swapping for the lead on numerous occasions before the third full course caution was caused on Lap 57.
This time it was Championship leader Takuma Sato who spun on the exit of Turn 2, however the A.J. Foyt Racing driver luckily managed to avoid a collision with the barrier and continued circulating. With the field once again under safety car conditions, the entire field elected to pit with Ryan Hunter-Reay winning the race off of pit-road and assuming the lead of the race. The race was restarted on Lap 61 with Hunter-Reay in the lead, however Marco Andretti soon perfected an overtaking maneuver on his fellow countryman for the lead.
As the battle at the front continued to rage on between Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter and Tony Kanaan, Buddy Lazier became the next retirement of the race after he returned to the pits with a fuel pressure issue. By Lap 75, Will Power joined the battle for the lead and eventually overtook Tony Kanaan at Turn 3. The Australian driver remained in the lead for several laps, before KV Racing Technology’s Tony Kanaan once again returned to the lead.
The Brazilian driver took to pit road on Lap 89, allowing E.J. Viso to make yet another lead change at the front. E.J. Viso’s lead was short-lived, however, when the Venezuelan driver also elected for another pit-stop. This allowed Colombian rookie Carlos Munoz to rise to the lead of the race for Andretti Autosport, before he too pitted and allowed Tony Kanaan to resume his lead at the top on Lap 92.
On Lap 98, A.J. Allmendinger stormed through the order from 4th to the lead, eventually overtaking Tony Kanaan at Turn 3. At the halfway stage of the race, A.J. Allmendinger led Tony Kanaan, with Ryan Hunter-Reay a close 3rd for Andretti Autosport. The battle for the lead at the front between Allmendinger and Kanaan intensified on Lap 101, however the Penske driver retained his lead until Lap 113 when his right cross seat strap came loose, forcing him to pit and allowing Tony Kanaan to resume his lead of the race.
Marco Andretti momentarily snatched the lead away from Tony Kanaan on Lap 121, however both he and Kanaan elected to pit shortly afterwards. This allowed reigning Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay to take the lead before he pitted on Lap 122. The lead changed hands many times throughout the next few laps, as the green flag pit-stops ensued. This saw Carlos Munoz, Alex Tagliani and James Hinchcliffe all assume the lead before Ryan Hunter-Reay perfected an overtaking maneuver for the lead into Turn 1 on Lap 126.
However, the reigning Champion’s authority at the front was tested towards the end of the 126th lap, when Marco Andretti breezed into the lead. Ryan Hunter-Reay soon retook the lead, before E.J. Viso overtook both of them on Lap 133 to storm into the lead. Once again the lead changed on Lap 136, as Ryan Hunter-Reay stormed around team-mates Marco Andretti and E.J. Viso for the lead.
On Lap 137, A.J. Allmendinger returned to the lead of the race after his unscheduled pit-stop earlier in the race. The top nine cars were separated by less than two seconds as they finished Lap 137, in what was quickly becoming yet another thrilling Indianapolis 500. Allmendinger was forced to pit once again on Lap 143, allowing Hunter-Reay to assume the lead. However, Helio Castroneves flew from 3rd to 1st on Lap 145 to become the race’s 13th different leader.
The moment Tony Kanaan crossed the line to secure his first Indianapolis 500 victory.
The likable Brazilian’s lead was cut short on Lap 146 when Marco Andretti once again stormed into the lead, as the legendary race entered its closing stages. The 26-year-old American was forced to pit on Lap 152, allowing Ryan Hunter-Reay to once again rise back into the lead. Carlos Munoz once again momentarily led as the field began their final green flag pit-stops, before he too pitted and handed the lead down to Scott Dixon on Lap 155. The Kiwi’s lead was also short-lived, before he pitted and gifted James Hinchcliffe the lead of the race.
When James Hinchcliffe pitted on Lap 158, Marco Andretti momentarily resumed the lead before Ryan Hunter-Reay stormed into the lead. The lead between the two ebbed and flowed until A.J. Allmendinger overtook the duo for the lead on Lap 165. Marco Andretti stormed up the inside of Allmendinger for the lead on Lap 168, before Ryan Hunter-Reay took the lead a lap later after passing Andretti.
Whilst the battle for the lead continued to wage on at the front, Townsend Bell brushed the barrier at Turn 2 and quickly pitted for repairs. As Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti continued to trade the lead, Tony Kanaan silently rose through the order to the lead on Lap 174 after a masterful overtaking maneuver on Andretti. The Brazilian driver continued to battle for the lead until lap 178, when he was forced to pit. This saw Carlos Munoz assume the lead, before Marco Andretti once again rose to the top before pitting on Lap 180.
As many drivers once again returned to pit road, Carlos Munoz continued to hold a commanding lead at the front in only his first Indianapolis 500. The Colombian ace eventually pitted on Lap 185, allowing James Hinchcliffe to momentarily assume the lead before Ryan Hunter-Reay overtook the Canadian. The lead once again changed hands numerous times in the closing stages, with Tony Kanaan battling hard with the reigning Champion before a full course caution was caused on Lap 194 after Graham Rahal spun into the wall on the exit of Turn 2.
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti caused the final caution on Lap 198.
The race was resumed on Lap 197, with the top three running three wide at Turn 1. Tony Kanaan stormed into a commanding lead ahead of Carlos Munoz and Ryan Hunter-Reay as three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti slammed into the wall at Turn 1 and brought out another full course caution on Lap 198. This eventually saw the race end under caution conditions, with Tony Kanaan finally securing that elusive Indianapolis 500 crown.
The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 saw a mesmerizing and record-shattering 68 lead changes throughout the frenetic 200 laps. Despite storming to a sensational and well-earned victory, Tony Kanaan heads to the next race at Detroit in only 7th position in the Drivers’ Championship with 124 points. Marco Andretti takes the lead away from Takuma Sato at the top of the Drivers’ Championship with 168 points, despite not yet winning a race in 2013.
The IZOD IndyCar Series moves swiftly on to Detroit next weekend for the first duel race weekend with the Chevrolet Indy Duel in Detroit around the notorious streets of Detroit. Scott Dixon took victory last season, however the winner this season is anyone’s guess after a highly competitive start to the season.
Results - 200 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Engine Time/Gap
1. Tony Kanaan KV/Chevy 2h40m03.4181s
2. Carlos Munoz Andretti/Chevy + 0.1159
3. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti/Chevy + 0.2480
4. Marco Andretti Andretti/Chevy + 0.3634
5. Justin Wilson Coyne/Honda + 0.8138
6. Helio Castroneves Penske/Chevy + 3.0086
7. AJ Allmendinger Penske/Chevy + 4.0107
8. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt/Honda + 4.2609
9. Charlie Kimball Ganassi/Honda + 5.6864
10. Ed Carpenter Carpenter/Chevy + 6.8425
11. Oriol Servia Panther DRR/Chevy + 7.8633
12. Ryan Briscoe Ganassi/Honda + 8.9216
13. Takuma Sato Foyt/Honda + 10.2602
14. Scott Dixon Ganassi/Honda + 11.3858
15. Ana Beatriz Coyne/Honda + 12.2657
16. Tristan Vautier Schmidt/Honda + 15.3045
17. Simona De Silvestro KV/Chevy + 15.7201
18. EJ Viso Andretti/Chevy + 17.8056
19. Will Power Penske/Chevy + 22.5403
20. James Jakes Rahal/Honda + 1 lap
21. James Hinchcliffe Andretti/Chevy + 1 lap
22. Conor Daly Foyt/Honda + 2 laps
23. Dario Franchitti Ganassi/Honda + 3 laps*
24. Alex Tagliani Herta/Honda + 4 laps
25. Graham Rahal Rahal/Honda + 7 laps*
26. Katherine Legge Schmidt/Honda + 7 laps
27. Townsend Bell Panther/Chevy + 8 laps
28. Josef Newgarden Fisher/Honda + 9 laps
* Not running at finish
Retirements
Sebastien Bourdais Dragon/Chevy 178 laps
Pippa Mann Coyne/Honda 46 laps
Buddy Lazier Lazier/Chevy 44 laps
Sebastian Saavedra Dragon/Chevy 34 laps
JR Hildebrand Panther/Chevy 3 laps
Picture(s) Copyright © Chris Jones, Mike Young & Walter Kuhn/IndyCar
Pippa Mann Confirmed For Indianapolis 500 With Dale Coyne Racing
It has been officially confirmed that 29-year-old Briton Pippa Mann will compete during the Indianapolis 500 later this month with Dale Coyne Racing, which will see her start her second race around the legendary oval. Pippa Mann has competed in four IZOD IndyCar Series events, and became the first female Briton to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.
Pippa Mann made her debut at the 2011 Indianapolis 500 with Conquest Racing, where she qualified 31st and finished 20th. Despite qualifying 27th at New Hampshire, Pippa Mann suffered an end-plate fracture during final practice and was forced to withdraw from the event. Although she bounced back at Kentucky with 22nd, she was involved in the multi-car incident at the season finale at Las Vegas which eventually took the life of Dan Wheldon and saw Pippa Mann suffer burns.
Throughout 2012, Pippa Mann was without a full-time drive. She competed in the Auto GP Series at Sonoma for Campos Racing and finished 9th and 8th respectively during the two races. The 29-year-old Briton is understandably thrilled with her return to the IZOD IndyCar Series this month, which will see her team-mate fellow countryman Justin Wilson and Brazilian female driver Ana Beatriz.
“I’m delighted to be able to share this news,” explained Pippa Mann. “I actually first met Dale [Coyne] several years ago, before I came to the U.S., at what turned out to be the final ChampCar test at Sebring right before the open-wheel merger. We’ve sort of had an on-going conversation ever since then, and I actually got very close to getting in one of Dale’s cars on Bump Day last year. A year later, we’ve now put this program together, and I cannot wait to be back on track with Honda and running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.”
Before making her debut in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2011, Pippa Mann enjoyed a highly competitive career in the Firestone Indy Lights category which saw her take her first pole around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and first victory at the Kentucky Speedway. Pippa Mann will begin her preparations for the Indianapolis 500 on May 11th during the first of six practice days.
Picture Copyright © IndyCar
Takuma Sato Makes IndyCar History With Victory At Long Beach
Takuma Sato has made IndyCar history after taking his and Japan’s maiden IZOD IndyCar Series victory around the Streets of Long Beach, after an incident-filled race ran in scorching weather conditions. The 36-year-old took the victory ahead of Graham Rahal, with Justin Wilson 3rd for Dale Coyne Racing,
After securing pole position, four-time Champion Dario Franchitti led at the start as the field jostled for position through the opening corners. At Turn 6, rookie Tristan Vautier collided with Scott Dixon, an incident which forced the Kiwi to pit with a puncture and saw Vautier struck with a drive-thru penalty for causing an avoidable incident. Further collisions ensued throughout the opening lap, as Sebastian Saavedra slammed into the wall at Turn 9. This saw the first of many full course cautions, as Marco Andretti pitted to replace a damaged front nose cone.
The race was restarted on Lap 7, as Dario Franchitti fought for the lead of the race with reigning Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay. This was the first lap the Scotsman had led since the season finale at Fontana last year, in what has so far been a tough new season. Dario Franchitti proceeded to open up a gap to Ryan Hunter-Reay throughout the opening few laps, before Takuma Sato managed to overtake the Andretti Autosport driver for 2nd on Lap 22. The Japanese ace then began to catch Franchitti for the lead, before electing to pit on Lap 28 along with Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Dario Franchitti pitted from the lead a lap later and suffered a frustratingly slow stop, which ultimately led to the 39-year-old loosing the lead to Will Power. A second full course caution was caused on Lap 30 when Charlie Kimball and Alex Tagliani collided at Turn 8. Will Power, who has so far led during each of the three opening races, pitted under caution and handed the lead down to Takuma Sato.
The race was resumed on Lap 35, only for a third full course caution to be caused moments later when James Hinchcliffe and Tony Kanaan collected E.J. Viso at Turn 1. The Venezuelan driver continued to circulate, and eventually pitted for repairs along with Ryan Hunter-Reay, unlike Tony Kanaan who managed to survive the incident relatively unscathed. The race was quickly resumed, as Takuma Sato continued to lead at the front despite Graham Rahal’s attempts to reel in the A.J. Foyt Racing driver.
Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay’s disastrous race was ended on Lap 50, when the American driver struck the tyre barrier at Turn 8. This caused the fourth full course caution of the race, and allowed the leaders to pit under caution. Takuma Sato won the race off of pit road, whereas further back Will Power was struck by Tristan Vautier who was exiting his pit box. This caused slight damage to Power’s Penske, and saw Vautier issued with his second penalty of the day. During the melee in the pit-lane, A.J. Allmendinger was forced into retirement with a mechanical issue.
Once again the race was resumed on Lap 56, as Takuma Sato remained in the lead ahead of Graham Rahal. Charlie Kimball’s race was brought to a premature conclusion when the 28-year-old struck the barrier at Turn 1. However, this did not result in a full course caution, as the gap at the front ebbed and flowed between Takuma Sato and Graham Rahal. As Takuma Sato started his final lap of the race, there was contact between Tony Kanaan and Oriol Servia, which saw the race end under caution conditions as Takuma Sato stormed to an historic victory around the Streets of Long Beach.
The Japanese ace was followed home by Graham Rahal in 2nd and Justin Wilson in 3rd, after 80 incident-filled laps. Takuma Sato’s victory was the first for A.J. Foyt Racing since Kansas in 2002, and the first on a street or road course since Silverstone way back in 1978. With three different winners in the first three races, the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series has enjoyed an exciting and unpredictable start. Helio Castroneves remains atop the Drivers’ Championship with 99 points, however Takuma Sato is only six points adrift in 2nd position. The Series will reconvene in several weeks time around the Streets of Sao Paulo for the Sao Paulo Indy 300.
Results - 80 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Takuma Sato Foyt Dallara-Honda 1h50m08.7155s
2. Graham Rahal Rahal Dallara-Honda + 5.3612s
3. Justin Wilson Coyne Dallara-Honda + 8.2386s
4. Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 12.3573s
5. JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy + 28.2402s
6. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR Dallara-Chevy + 29.4683s
7. Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 30.2703s
8. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 31.8674s
9. Simona de Silvestro KV Dallara-Chevy + 33.1224s
10. Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy + 33.4118s
11. Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 33.6278s
12. James Jakes Rahal Dallara-Honda + 35.0645s
13. Josef Newgarden Fisher Dallara-Honda + 35.8945s
14. Ana Beatriz Coyne Dallara-Honda + 36.3442s
15. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 36.5936s
16. Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy + 43.0022s
17. Tristan Vautier Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 51.7961s
18. Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy + 56.4533s
19. Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda + 1 laps
20. Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy + 2 laps
21. Charlie Kimball Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 2 laps
22. EJ Viso Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 27 laps
Retirements:
AJ Allmendinger Penske Dallara-Chevy 51 laps
Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Dallara-Chevy 49 laps
Mike Conway Rahal Dallara-Honda 38 laps
James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy 34 laps
Sebastian Saavedra Dragon Dallara-Chevy 1 lap
Picture Copyright © Chris Jones/IndyCar
Ana Beatriz To Remain With Dale Coyne Racing Until Indianapolis 500
It has been announced that Brazilian female driver Ana Beatriz will remain with Dale Coyne Racing until the Indianapolis 500 next month, as the 25-year-old prepares for her 25th start this weekend at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama around the Barber Motorsports Park. She will continue to compete in the Honda-powered No. 18 machine alongside British driver Justin Wilson.
Ana Beatriz marked her return to the Series last time out around the streets of St. Petersburg, after competing in only two races during the 2012 season. Despite suffering a frustrating mechanical issue on Lap 55, the Brazilian driver will continue with Dale Coyne Racing for the next few races in the IZOD IndyCar Series. This weekend will be Ana Beatriz’s first race around the Barber Motorsports Park, despite contesting in a full season the Series back in 2011 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. The Brazilian driver was forced to skip the race at Barber that season after sustaining a wrist injury at the opening race of the year at St. Petersburg.
“I am very excited to be back and race at Barber and Long Beach,” explained Ana Beatriz. “I didn’t think I would be back in a car until Brazil, but I want to thank Ipiranga and Dale [Coyne] for making it possible for me to drive full time through Indianapolis. We didn’t have the finish we would have liked to in St. Petersburg, but I am confident that we can get a better finish for the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda at Barber this weekend.”
After this weekend’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, Ana Beatriz will compete in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, her home event around the streets of Sao Paulo in Brazil and the legendary Indianapolis 500. Her best result at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was 21st in both 2010 and 2011, a result she will undoubtedly be striving to emulate this year in the No. 18 machine.
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Ryan Briscoe Fastest After Opening Practice At Fontana
Ryan Briscoe has ended the opening practice session for this weekend’s MAVTV IndyCar World Championships at the Auto Club Speedway fastest, after the first 90-minutes of track action ahead of qualifying for tomorrow’s IndyCar finale. The Australian driver was followed home by Carpenter in 2nd and Franchitti in 3rd.
In sweltering Californian conditions, Ed Carpenter set the initial pace once the session got underway. However, the Penske of Ryan Briscoe soon rose to the top of the timing sheets within the first 30 minutes. The session was momentarily halted in the early stages due to two track inspections, before Simona de Silvestro caused a third caution as her Lotus-powered HVM Racing car suffered an engine related issue. Justin Wilson was the only driver during the session to make contact with the wall, after the 34-year-old Briton spun whilst negotiating turn 2.
Ryan Briscoe remained fastest as the session progressed, and was eventually followed by Ed Carpenter and reigning Series Champion Dario Franchitti as the session came to a conclusion. Championship contenders Will Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay ended the session 4th and 16th respectively, with the latter suffering a highly uncompetitive opening session.
The teams and drivers will now be frantically preparing for the qualifying session which is scheduled to take place later today, before a final practice session after qualifying.
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Rubens Barrichello Set To Leave KV Racing Technology
Rubens Barrichello has announced that he will leave his current IndyCar team, KV Racing Technology, at the end of the season. The Brazilian star aims to switch to a rival team for 2013, after suffering a tough debut season in the IndyCar Series. Barrichello’s highest finish so far this season has been 7th, at the Iowa Corn Indy 250.
After 19 seasons in Formula 1, racing for a number of iconic teams such as Ferrari, Brawn GP and Williams, Rubens Barrichello made the switch to America after the 2011 season to race in the IZOD IndyCar Series alongside good friend and fellow countryman Tony Kanaan. However, the 40-year-old Brazilian’s debut season has not been hugely competitive, with Barrichello struggling for decent results alongside fellow former F1 drivers Takuma Sato, Justin Wilson and Sebastien Bourdais.
With the uncompetitiveness of Barrichello’s season so far, the motor sport veteran seems eager to move his way up the IndyCar ladder. Reports suggest he has already held talks with a Honda-powered team in preparation for the 2013 season. Currently, race winning team Chip Ganassi Racing use Honda engines, and would be the ideal team for Barrichello if the Brazilian has any ambitions on winning races next season.
“I don’t like being 15th, and I am working myself up,” explained Rubens Barrichello in an interview with AutoSport. “I’m getting better in comparison with my team-mates, but my car is still not. And the strategy side still hasn’t clicked. I’m fairly open to [KV owners] Jimmy [Vasser] and Kevin [Kalkhoven]; they gave me a car, and we had a situation where the deal was done in the last 20 minutes. But I’m here to win. Now that I have done IndyCar, I want to do it better, because I don’t think I was able to do what I am really capable of for one reason or another. And since I do this because I enjoy doing it, I might as well come back.”
Rubens Barrichello’s good friend and team-mate, Tony Kanaan, is a former race winner of the IZOD IndyCar Series. Since his debut season in 2002, Kanaan has taken 14 race victories, all for Andretti Autosport [formerly known as Andretti Green Racing]. Since making a move to KV Racing Technology last season, Kanaan’s best finish so far has been 2nd on two occasions.
With Rubens Barrichello’s ambitions set high, it seems unquestionable that the likable Brazilian will most certainly need to move to a team higher up the grid. However, duo to the highly competitive nature of the IZOD IndyCar Series, victory isn’t a certainty no matter which team you drive for.
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Scott Dixon Storms To Victory At Mid-Ohio
Scott Dixon stormed to yet another victory around the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course earlier today, after snatching the win away from pole man Will Power during a tense pit stop on lap 29. Simon Pagenaud clinched 3rd, as Championship contenders Ryan Hunter-Reay and Helio Castroneves endured less-than-successful races floundering at the back.
The race started in relatively clean fashion, as the Penske of Will Power led Target Chip Ganassi’s Dario Franchitti through the opening few corners. Further back Justin Wilson spun, but was able to rejoin as the pack jostled for position in the early stages of the opening lap. Oriol Servia’s race suffered an early blow on lap 3, as the Spaniard pitted with a suspected mechanical issue.
Justin Wilson was striving to redeem himself after his mistake at the start, as the Briton stormed through the back of the pack and was up to 17th position by lap 7. Helio Castroneves became the first driver to make a scheduled pit stop on lap 9, along with Graham Rahal and JR Hildebrand. The Brazilian driver started the race from a lowly 23rd, after incurring a 10-place grid penalty for an unauthorized engine change.
The leaders began their first pit stops on lap 28, as Dario Franchitti, Simon Pagenaud, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Mike Conway all peeled into the pits whereas Will Power and Scott Dixon continued to circulate out on track in 1st and 2nd positions. However, the leading duo pitted only a lap later with Will Power only just scampering out of the pits still in the lead.
Back in the midfield, and likes of Alex Tagliani, Ryan Briscoe and Tony Kanaan were locked in a frenetic battle. With many drivers using their push-to-pass devices, it was amazing how neither drivers made serious contact as they negotiated turns 4 and 5. Briscoe and Tagliani did make contact, but only lightly as the pair continued out on track.
As the race progressed, Will Power continued to assert unyielding dominance over the proceedings. The Australian driver has yet to win a race around the tricky Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, however that stat looked likely to change as the race entered the halfway stage. Will Power’s Championship surge received a boost on lap 54, when Championship leader Ryan Hunter-Reay reported a mechanical issue on his Andretti Autosport car. The American driver began to drop through the order, as a pit stop confirmed it was a fuel injector issue. However, Hunter-Reay continued to circulate out on track, way back down in 21st position.
On lap 58 the top four all pitted together, as Will Power, Scott Dixon, Sebastien Bourdais and Dario Franchitti all peeled off into the pits. The Target Chip Ganassi mechanics carried out a blistering pit stop for Dixon, as the Kiwi rejoined only just ahead of Will Power. It was later discovered that it took a fraction of a second longer for the Penske mechanics to attach the fuel hose to Power’s car, thus compromising the Australian driver’s lead.
Whilst Dixon and Power battled for supremacy in the pits, James Hinchcliffe assumed the lead albeit for only two laps. The Canadian driver pitted on lap 60, and made contact with reigning Series Champion Dario Franchitti upon pit exit. This forced the Scotsman to pit once again for a new nose cone, and demoted him further down the order.
Ryan Hunter-Reay’s race finally came to a premature end on lap 82, after his mechanics tried their best to rectify the issue several laps beforehand. This was a huge boost for Will Power, who would take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship regardless of only finishing 2nd to Scott Dixon.
As the checkered flag fell it was Kiwi Scott Dixon who crossed the line in 1st, ahead of the Penske of Will Power in 2nd and the impressive rookie of Simon Pagenaud in 3rd. The race ran caution free for the second race weekend in succession, the first time this has occurred in the sport since 1987. The IZOD IndyCar Series now heads to the daunting Sonoma Raceway in California, where Will Power will be out to further increase his lead at the top in his quest for Championship glory.
Results - 85 laps: Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap 1. Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda 1h39m48.5083s 2. Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy + 3.4619s 3. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 4.5402s 4. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 5.5822s 5. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 7.5663s 6. Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy + 12.328s 7. Ryan Briscoe Penske Dallara-Chevy + 27.9601s 8. Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 28.1691s 9. JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy + 29.2325s 10. Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda + 31.1722s 11. Graham Rahal Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 31.4387s 12. Josef Newgarden Fisher Dallara-Honda + 32.0754s 13. Takuma Sato Rahal Dallara-Honda + 32.4073s 14. Giorgio Pantano Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 33.9166s 15. Rubens Barrichello KV Dallara-Chevy + 35.2863s 16. Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy + 35.9205s 17. Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 36.9834s 18. Justin Wilson Coyne Dallara-Honda + 42.0974s 19. James Jakes Coyne Dallara-Honda + 46.4304s 20. EJ Viso KV Dallara-Chevy + 46.8068s 21. Mike Conway Foyt Dallara-Honda + 46.9535s 22. Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy + 1 lap 23. Simona de Silvestro HVM Dallara-Lotus + 2 laps 24. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 6 laps 25. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR Dallara-Chevy + 7 laps
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Giorgio Pantano Replaces Charlie Kimball At Mid-Ohio
Ex-Formula 1 driver Giorgio Pantano will replace the injured Charlie Kimball at this weekend’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, after the American driver suffered a fracture to the fifth metacarpal in his right hand during testing at the Mid-Ohio road course last week. Pantano last raced in IndyCar last season, for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
After the incident, it was initially thought that Charlie Kimball would still be able to race this weekend. However, after further evaluation in Indianapolis it was decided that the 27-year-old would not be ready to return for the race. This means Italian driver Giorgio Pantano will make yet another return to the IndyCar Series, racing for the second time in his IndyCar career for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Giorgio Pantano made his IndyCar debut back in 2005 for Chip Ganassi Racing, after a disappointing season in Formula 1 with Jordan. The Italian driver competed in only two races towards the end of the season, with a best finish of 4th at the Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix. Pantano then made a return to the Series towards the end of last season, substituting for the injured Justin Wilson and only managing a best finish of 16th at Twin Ring Motegi.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity to be rejoining Chip Ganassi Racing and the IZOD IndyCar Series this weekend at Mid-Ohio,” explained Giorgio Pantano. “You never want to have something happen to another driver and I wish Charlie a quick recovery. Nonetheless, the opportunity is here and I am looking forward to working with the team again and making the best of it.”
Although Charlie Kimball is frustrated to be missing out on the race at Mid-Ohio, the American driver will still travel to the event to help support Giorgio Pantano and his team. Kimball recorded his career-best finish earlier this season, with 2nd at the Honda Indy of Toronto. He is confident of making a return behind the wheel once the IndyCar Series arrives at Sonoma later this month, for round 13 of the Championship.
“I’m very disappointed to miss out on the Mid-Ohio race weekend,” said Charlie Kimball. “We had such a good race there last year and I was really looking forward to another shot at the podium. However, I trust the medical professionals at IndyCar, and we’re making sure I’m back to 100 percent for Sonoma.”
This is the first time Charlie Kimball has broken a bone or missed a race due to an injury, and will start an intense therapy program next week as the American driver gears up for a return to the Series at Sonoma.
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