Chicagoland 100

Race Photos (Above) By Mark Rotor

JOLIET, Ill. - Results Saturday of the Chicagoland 100 Firestone Indy Lights event at the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, laps completed and reason out (if any) and money earned:

1. (9) Daniel Herrington, 67, Running $30,000

2. (6) James Davison, 67, Running $22,500

3. (14) Andrew Prendeville, 67, Running $19,000

4. (3) Wade Cunningham, 67, Running $16,000

5. (13) J.R. Hildebrand, 67, Running $15,000

6. (2) Sebastian Saavedra, 67, Running $14,500

7. (11) Charlie Kimball, 67, Running $14,000

8. (8) Martin Plowman, 67, Running $13,500

9. (5) Pippa Mann, 64, Running $13,000

10. (16) Rodrigo Barbosa, 61, Running $12,500

11. (12) Richard Philippe, 34, Mechanical $14,500

12. (7) James Hinchcliffe, 32, Contact $11,500

13. (4) Mike Potekhen, 31, Contact $11,000

14. (15) Ana Beatriz, 31, Contact $12,000

15. (1) Brandon Wagner, 20, Handling $12,000

16. (10) Mario Romancini, 12, Mechanical $7,500

Race Photos (Above) By Dan Peters 

 Race Statistics

      Winner's average speed: 138.490 mph

      Time of race: 44:07.3016

      Margin of victory: 0.0613 of a second

      Cautions: 2 caution flags for 14 laps

      Lead changes: 5 among 4 drivers

Lap leaders: Cunningham 1-16, Davison 17, Cunningham 18-23, Potekhen 24, Cunningham 25-41, Herrington 42-67.

Point standings: Hildebrand 503, Davison 416, Saavedra 411, Cunningham 388, Hinchcliffe 379, Herrington 365, Romancini 342, Beatriz 320, Prendeville 293, Kimball 293.

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Brandon Wagner On Pole for Indy Lights Race at Joliet

Photo By Mark Rotor

Qualifying Saturday for the Chicagoland 100 Firestone Indy Lights event on the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway, with starting position, car number in parentheses, driver and speed:

1. (32) Brandon Wagner, 189.954

2. (27) Sebastian Saavedra, 189.942

3. (11) Wade Cunningham, 189.424

4. (24) Mike Potekhen, 188.938

5. (16) Pippa Mann, 188.300

6. (21) James Davison, 188.246

7. (7) James Hinchcliffe, 188.158

8. (15) Martin Plowman, 188.037

9. (28) Daniel Herrington, 187.769

10. (5) Mario Romancini, 187.631

11. (35) Charlie Kimball, 186.873

12. (37) Richard Philippe, 186.510

13. (26) J.R. Hildebrand, 183.790

14. (2) Andrew Prendeville, 177.922

15. (20) Ana Beatriz, no speed

16. (55) Rodrigo Barbosa, no speed

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Indy Lights Practice At Chicagoland Speedway, August 29, 2009

INDYCAR SERIES NEWS AND NOTES - Aug. 24, 2009

Photo By Dan Peters from Chicagoland Speedway in 2008

Three championship contenders square off on three ovals:

Scott Dixon kicked off defense of his IndyCar Series title with 16^th- and 15^th-place finishes, but righted the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car for a string of 11 top 10s - including four victories that boosted him to the IndyCar Series career record - and into championship contention again.

In fact, he entered the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway on Aug. 23 atop the standings. He exited the 2.303-mile, 12-turn course in third - 20 points behind Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe and 16 shy of teammate Dario Franchitti. While his 13th-place result isn't going to be a title-breaker, opportunities to get a leg up on the strong competition are dwindling.

Three contenders, three oval races. On the docket are Chicagoland Speedway, Twin Ring Motegi and Homestead-Miami Speedway - whose only common characteristic lies in that they're measured at 1.5 miles.

"I'm happy to not lead now as long as we can lead at (the Oct. 10 season finale at) Homestead," said Dixon, who's been the runner-up the past two years at Chicagoland Speedway - where he's fallen short and clinched the driver championship. "We have a great run coming up with the three tracks at the finish. We won (at Homestead-Miami Speedway) last year and finished second at the others. If we can run like that we should be looking good. But it's a tough day when you have such a bad one and your competitors have such a good one.
 
"Hopefully, we'll take this as our bad weekend and just move on and get a good result on our next three."

It's the third time since 2001 that the differential between first and third is 20 points or less with three races remaining. Franchitti's wire-to-wire victory at Infineon Raceway (only the second in IndyCar Series history) and Briscoe's seventh runner-up finish of the season (one off Helio Castroneves' year-old series record) provided the 13th different points leader in the 14 races.

"I've never heard of anything like it before. Hopefully, I can change that now," said Briscoe, who's the only driver to lead after consecutive races.

Briscoe's top-five consistency though needs a Victory Circle visit to put some distance between his challengers. He attempted to overtake Franchitti multiple times after a restart with four laps left in the 75-lap race to do just that, but was blunted.

"If we're going to win the championship, I'm going to have to win one of these last three," Briscoe said. "We just have to keep getting these points. Coming in second gets a little old after awhile, but we'll win one of these someday."

Franchitti, who tied Castroneves, Tony Bettenhausen and Emerson Fittipaldi for 16^th on the all-time Indy car racing victory list with 22 (12 in the IndyCar Series), held off Dixon on the final lap at Chicagoland in '07 to clinch the series title. He expects another race that will go down to the finish - under the lights at Chicagoland and right through to the late-afternoon speedfest at Homestead-Miami.

"It's just so competitive that you can't afford mistakes," Franchitti said. "We've all made them this year. Actually, we've all had bad luck as well. When you get the chance, you got to score the points."

Sarah Fisher "goes pink" for season finale:

IndyCar Series team owner/driver Sarah Fisher will be "going pink" for the season finale Oct. 10 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Sarah Fisher Racing will join with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fisher's No. 67 Dollar General-sponsored race car will be pink for the Firestone Indy 300.

"We really wanted to partner with Komen to raise funds for breast cancer research and community outreach programs," Fisher said. "We're so lucky to have a sponsor like Dollar General that supports our community outreach efforts. Together, we can broaden our support of Komen for the Cure and further the fight against breast cancer."

Fisher, 28, the only female owner/driver in the IndyCar Series, is hoping to attract attention to this disease that affects about 1 in 8 women in the United States alone.

"Breast cancer is a growing global problem that, without a cure, will kill more than 10 million women in the next 25 years," Fisher said. "SFR is committed to helping Komen decrease those numbers. I've lost a loved one to breast cancer, and I will do everything I can to help others in their battle."

Fisher also will roll out the new Dallara chassis, which she took ownership of last week thanks to sponsor Hartman Oil. The Firestone Indy 300 will be Fisher's sixth race of the season. Her highest IndyCar Series finish of second came at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2001.

Medical updates for Power, Philippe:

Penske Racing driver Will Power, who suffered compression fractures to two lumbar vertebrae and a concussion in a crash during practice Aug. 22 for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway, remained at Santa Rosa (Calif.) Memorial Hospital on Aug. 24. A discharge date had not been finalized. Nelson Philippe, who suffered an open fracture of the left foot, a hairline fracture of his right fibula and a concussion in the on-track incident, was to be released from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital either late in the day Aug. 24 or Aug. 25. The final decision is based on the travel plans of his immediate family.

Fans can vote for Firestone Tire-ific Move of the Race:

The $10,000 prize is awarded after each IndyCar Series race to the driver who best utilizes his or her Firestone tires to make a bold, dramatic move during the event. This week's nominees are Dario Franchitti for his flag-to-flag victory at Infineon Raceway, Mike Conway for his pass for third place on Lap 73, and Justin Wilson for relying on three sets of new alternate tires to move from 22nd to seventh. Fans can vote at www.indycar.com.

The 2009 IndyCar Series season continues Aug. 29 with the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at 9 p.m. (EDT) by VERSUS. A one-hour qualifying show will be telecast by VERSUS at 6 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 28. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145 and Sirius channel 211. The radio broadcast also will be carried on www.indycar.com. The 2009 Firestone Indy Lights season continues with the Chicagoland 100 on Aug. 29 at Chicagoland Speedway. The race will be telecast at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Aug. 31 by VERSUS.

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FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS SCHEDULE TO FEATURE 13 RACES IN 2010

  Twelve returning tracks, Barber Motorsports Park make up developmental series' slate

           INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 - Firestone Indy Lights will offer the challenge of one of the most diverse schedules of any developmental series in motorsports in 2010, with 13 races divided among five ovals, four temporary street circuits, and four permanent road courses.

The 2010 schedule includes 12 venues that hosted Firestone Indy Lights races in 2009 and the series' first race at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. All races will be held in conjunction with the IndyCar Series.

"Our goal is to prepare Firestone Indy Lights drivers to become successful IndyCar Series drivers, and to reach that goal they must gain experience and succeed on all types of racing circuits," said Roger Bailey, executive director of the Firestone Indy Lights. "The schedule offers that challenge to our drivers each year."

For the eighth consecutive year, the Firestone Indy Lights season will begin competition in Florida, with a race on the streets of St. Petersburg to open the campaign on March 27 or 28.

The series will then make its debut at the 2.3-mile Barber Motorsports Park on April 10 or 11 before heading to the Streets of Long Beach, Calif., for the second time on April 17 or 18. Dates will be determined soon.

The first oval of the season will be the series' premier event - the Firestone Freedom 100 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 28 two days before the Indianapolis 500.

"The opportunity to compete on Carb Day at Indianapolis is an experience that is second to none for our drivers, teams and sponsors and the highlight of the schedule each year," Bailey said. "We feel like our schedule demands the ability of both drivers and teams to master a variety of venues with the end result of a champion that is fully prepared to be an IndyCar Series driver."

The summer stretch features five consecutive road course events, including a Canadian swing on the streets of Toronto on July 17 or 18 and at Edmonton's City Centre Airport on July 24 or 25.

The season will conclude with three consecutive oval events, including the championship race Oct. 1 or 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which will host the Firestone Indy Lights for the eighth year in a row.

"The 2010 Firestone Indy Lights schedule has great balance," said Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing. "It provides the perfect blend of ovals, street circuits and road courses necessary to prepare these talented and developing drivers for the rigors of the IndyCar Series. If they can master the diversity of tracks on the Firestone Indy Lights schedule, it will have them well prepared to take that next step. Competing on this array of venues also allows Firestone Racing to more finely develop and advance the technology of the Firehawk race tires. We're looking forward to another great season of exciting Firestone Indy Lights racing in 2010."

The Firestone Indy Lights is the premier ladder series for drivers and teams striving to compete in the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Teams compete for nearly $4 million in prize money in cars that are second in speed only to the IndyCar Series cars at most tracks they visit. Graduates of this fast and cost-effective series include Marco Andretti, Richard Antinucci, Ed Carpenter, Raphael Matos and Hideki Mutoh.

The complete 2010 Firestone Indy Lights schedule:

The 2009 IndyCar Series season continues Aug. 23 with the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at 5 p.m. (EDT) by VERSUS. A one-hour qualifying show will be telecast by VERSUS at 6 p.m. on Aug. 22. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145 and Sirius channel 211. The radio broadcast also will be carried on www.indycar.com. The 2009 Firestone Indy Lights season continues with the Carneros 100 on Aug. 23 at Infineon Raceway. The race will be telecast at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Aug. 24 by VERSUS.

INDY RACING LEAGUE COMING TO
BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Birmingham, Ala. (July 27,2009) - Barber Motorsports Park and the IndyCar Series have announced a three-year partnership today that will bring the series to Birmingham beginning in April 2010.

The "Indy Grand Prix of Alabama," will be contested the weekend of April 9-11, 2010.

"The Barber Motorsports Park is the finest road track in North America and deserves an event of this caliber and prestige. We were fortunate to have the assistance of both Governor Riley and Mayor Langford, both of whom understand the benefits the IndyCar Series bring to our city and state. This will be the only IndyCar Series race in the deep-south meaning it is a great tourist draw for the region. Plus, having the automotive world focus on our state enables us to highlight our growing automotive industry," explained Gene Hallman, President of Zoom Motorsports, the track's exclusive promoter.

Representatives from Zoom Motorsports, Barber Motorsports Park and the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, began discussing a partnership in 2007. Intense lobbying efforts by the State of Alabama, City of Birmingham, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau and Zoom Motorsports resulted in Birmingham's addition to the 2010 season schedule. 

"We are thrilled to bring the speed and excitement of the IndyCar Series to Barber Motorsports Park, the greater Birmingham area and the state of Alabama," said Terry Angstadt, president, commercial division for the Indy Racing League. "Zoom Motorsports and Barber Motorsports Park have already been outstanding hosts of two previous IndyCar Series tests. The nearly two year pursuit to bring IndyCar Series racing to Birmingham only reinforces the professionalism and planning put into this by our newest scheduling partner."

The Barber Motorsports Park opened in 2003; it is the largest philanthropic project in the history of the state of Alabama with more than $70 million private funds contributed. The track features 17 turns and 80 feet of elevation changes over the 2.38-mile circuit. The Indy Racing League has hosted two test sessions at the Barber Motorsports Park, the most recent in March 2009.

Tickets to the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will be available in September 2009; daily capacity at the track will be limited to 30,000 individuals to enable all spectators the opportunity to experience the race up close. Individuals interested in purchasing tickets can pre-register for them by visiting www.barbermotorsports.com; pre-registration will be available for both grand-stand and general admission seating. 

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The 2009 IndyCar Series season continues Aug. 1 with the Meijer Indy 300 presented by Red Baron and Edy's at Kentucky Speedway. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at 8 p.m. (EDT) by VERSUS. A one-hour qualifying show will be telecast by VERSUS at 6 p.m. on July 31. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, XM channel 145 and Sirius channel 211. The radio broadcast also will be carried on www.indycar.com. The 2009 Firestone Indy Lights season continues with the Kentucky 100 on Aug. 1 at Kentucky Speedway. The race will be telecast at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Aug. 3 by VERSUS.

The End of an Era…Tony George Steps Down from From IRL.. The Series Future uncertain?

The end of an era for open-wheel racing in America? Indy chief Tony George has stepped down from his post. The long-time president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, George was widely seen as the impetus for the 1996 split in Indy racing that created the Indy Racing League (IRL) and the rival Champ Car series (formerly known as CART), but he was also instrumental in fostering the merger of the two championships into the new IndyCar Series over which he's presided.

During his nearly two-decade tenure as the head of the famous race track, George also brought NASCAR, Formula One and MotoGP to the speedway for the first time, vastly expanding the calendar of events at the iconic venue.

However, elements within the Hulman-George company that controls the business were concerned with the amount of resources their chief executive put into the reintegrated IndyCar Series and recently asked him to reorganize the company, but Tony evidently decided to step down instead. He'll be focusing his energies on the Vision Racing team which he fields in the series, while the job he vacates will be split into two: CFO Jeffrey G Belskus will take the reins at the speedway, while chief legal counsel W Curtis Brighton will oversee the operation of the series

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DIXON WINS AT RICHMOND, TIES HORNISH'S ALL-TIME VICTORY RECORD

RICHMOND, Va. (Saturday, June 27, 2009) - Scott Dixon one-upped Sam Hornish Jr.

Dixon, who started next to polesitter Dario Franchitti, won the SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Raceway by 0.3109 of a second over his Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate.

The victory - Dixon's third of the season and second at Richmond - was the 19th of Dixon's IndyCar Series career and tied Hornish for the most in series history. Dixon, driving the No. 9 entry, matched the record in his 104th race - one less than Hornish, who totaled 116 starts from 2000-2006.

Graham Rahal finished third - his best oval finish - in the No. 02 McDonald's entry for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. Hideki Mutoh, who led the first laps of his IndyCar Series career, finished fourth in the No. 27 Formula Dream car and Andretti Green Racing teammate Danica Patrick was fifth.

Franchitti, who earned a bonus point for winning the PEAK Performance Pole Award, took the championship points lead (279-278) over Dixon. Ryan Briscoe, the points leader entering the eighth of 17 races, suffered his first DNF since July 2008 at Nashville Superspeedway and fell to 26 points behind. His Team Penske teammate, Helio Castroneves, also crashed exiting Turn 2 and is fourth with 225 points heading to Watkins Glen International, the first of three consecutive road/street races

SunTrust Indy Challenge

RICHMOND, Va. - Results Saturday of the SunTrust Indy Challenge IndyCar Series event June 27 at the .75-mile Richmond International Raceway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):

1. (2) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 300, Running

2. (1) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 300, Running

3. (5) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 300, Running

4. (8) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 300, Running

5. (10) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 300, Running

6. (17) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 299, Running

7. (16) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 299, Running

8. (6) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 299, Running

9. (12) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 299, Running

10. (13) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 299, Running

11. (9) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 299, Running

12. (7) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 299, Running

13. (14) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 299, Running

14. (15) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 298, Running

15. (18) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 298, Running

16. (19) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 297, Running

17. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 245, Contact

18. (11) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 135, Contact

19. (4) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 26, Contact

20. (20) Jaques Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 0, Contact

Race Statistics

Winner's average speed: 124.952 mph

Time of race: 1:48:02.4703

Margin of victory: 0.3109 of a second

Cautions: 4 caution flags for 46 laps

Lead changes: 3 among 3 drivers

Lap leaders: Franchitti 1-30, Mutoh 31-104, Franchitti 105-139, Dixon 140-300.

Point standings: Franchitti 279, Dixon 278, Briscoe 253, Castroneves 225, Patrick 219, Wheldon 204, Kanaan 190, Andretti 185, Rahal 180, Mutoh 174.

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FRANCHITTI CLAIMS PEAK PERFORMANCE POLE FOR SUNTRUST INDY CHALLENGE

Dario Franchitti's "Hot Streak" continues.

Franchitti, who won six days earlier at Iowa Speedway, earned the PEAK Performance Pole Award presented by Advance Auto Parts at another short track. Driving the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car, he recorded a four-lap average of167.315 mph on the 0.75-mile Richmond International Raceway.

In 2007, Franchitti started from the pole based on driver points because qualifications were rained out, led 262 laps and won the SunTrust Indy Challenge. Of course, he'd appreciate a similar result.

Scott Dixon (166.638 mph) will join his teammate on the front row - his highest start of the season. Team Penske teammates Helio Castroneves (165.931) and Ryan Briscoe (165.749) will share Row 2.

Graham Rahal (165.218) will start fifth and Raphael Matos (164.928) sixth - his best on an oval this season. E.J. Viso (164.629) also posted a season high on an oval in seventh, and will share Row 4 with Hideki Mutoh (164.575).

Mario Moraes was uninjured in the day's only accident when he spun his No. 5 KV Racing Technology car off of Turn 4 in the final practice.

The IndyCar Series drivers Raphael Matos and Mario Moraes added to the festive, family atmosphere of a churrascaria during a July 24 dinner at Texas de Brazil in Richmond, Va., by acting as hosts and explaining the menu and drinks.

"I think what's great is that everyone loved it," said Matos, a rookie driving for Luczo Dragon Racing. "It was great to open their eyes to the Brazilian culture, the Brazilian way of serving."

Brazilian steakhouses offer cuts of slow-roasted Angus beef, lamb, pork, chicken and sausage served by strolling gauchos, who carve the offerings off the spit.

"I think I better stick to race car driving for a living because I'm not a very good server," Matos said. "I enjoyed greeting the guests and explaining the menu and traditional Brazilian drinks."

Moraes' service with a smile included unfolding napkins for guests and pouring water.

"I think it was good for me to have only one day working as a server," said Moraes, who drives for KV Racing Technology. "I'd rather stick to making reservations in a restaurant. It's much easier."

Qualifying Friday for the SunTrust Indy Challenge IndyCar Series event on the .75-mile Richmond International Raceway, with starting position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine and speed:

1. (10) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 167.315

2. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 166.638

3. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 165.931

4. (6) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 165.749

5. (02) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 165.218

6. (2) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 164.928

7. (13) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 164.629

8. (27) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 164.575

9. (23) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 164.441

10. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 164.197

11. (24) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 164.129

12. (06) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 164.071

13. (4) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 163.843

14. (20) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 163.824

15. (18) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 163.506

16. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 162.780

17. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 162.634

18. (14) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 162.506

19. (5) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 160.895

20. (98) Jaques Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 153.176

Bombardier Learjet 550

CASTRONEVES CLIMBS FENCE AFTER WINNING AGAIN AT TEXAS

FORT WORTH, Texas (Saturday, June 6, 2009) - Helio Castroneves won for the third time at Texas Motor Speedway, grabbing the lead off a Lap 175 pit stop and going on to a 0.3904 of a second victory over Team Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe.

http://www.danspitstopracing.com/helio_castroneves 

FORT WORTH, Texas - Results Saturday of the Bombardier Learjet 550 IndyCar Series event June 6 at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):

1. (4) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

2. (2) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

3. (3) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

4. (8) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

5. (1) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

6. (5) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

7. (7) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

8. (16) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

9. (10) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 228, Running

10. (6) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 227, Running

11. (9) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 227, Running

12. (15) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 226, Running

13. (18) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 226, Running

14. (13) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 225, Running

15. (17) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 225, Running

16. (23) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 225, Running

17. (14) Sarah Fisher, Dallara-Honda, 222, Running

18. (24) Jaques Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 210, Running

19. (19) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 185, Running

20. (22) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara-Honda, 170, Contact

21. (11) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 153, Mechanical

22. (12) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 1, Contact

23. (20) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 1, Contact

24. (21) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 1, Contact

Race Statistics

Winner's average speed: 172.677 mph

Time of race: 1:55:16.1670

Margin of victory: 0.3904 of a second

Cautions: 3 caution flags for 26 laps

Lead changes: 7 lead changes among 4 drivers

Lap leaders: Franchitti 1-10, Briscoe 11-56, Castroneves 57-58, Carpenter 59, Briscoe 60-111, Castroneves 112-113, Briscoe 114-175, Castroneves 176-228.

Point standings: Briscoe 199, Dixon 196, Franchitti 188, Castroneves 186, Patrick 167, Wheldon 152, Kanaan 146, Andretti 141, Rahal 126, Hunter-Reay 116.

CLICK HERE for IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550 Race Results

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FRANCHITTI WINS POLE FOR BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550K

FORT WORTH, Texas, Friday, June 05, 2009 - Dario Franchitti earned his first PEAK Performance Pole Award of the season and the seventh of his IndyCar Series career with a four-lap average of 214.513 mph on the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway.

"To win the pole at Texas says a lot about the Target guys and the job they do building the car. The regulations are so tight now that it's all about the details. The cars are so similar. It's all about how the guys build the car and the changes they make. The team makes a great car and it's my job in qualifying is not to screw it up. If the car is fast enough, you're looking good. Tomorrow is going to be interesting. It's a tough, long and demanding race."

The top four drivers in the series championship--the same four drivers that swept the first two rows in qualifying--posted speed averages in the 214-mph bracket.

Ryan Briscoe will start alongside Franchitti in the Bombardier Learjet 550k after a four-lap average of 214.413 mph.

"It was a pretty good run; we just weren't quick enough over four laps and were a tenth (of a second) off. We always treat qualifying as a the first race of the weekend, so it's always good to go for the pole. It's a long race and I believe we'll have a strong race car, which is the most important thing. The night race is always spectacular. I've had some good results here, so I always look forward to coming back." said Briscoe

Points leader and defending race winner Scott Dixon (214.296) and Helio Castroneves (214.228) will be on Row 2. Danica Patrick will start fifth (213.929) and share Row 3 with Mario Moraes (213.717).

"I put the pedal to the metal, but it was just one of those days where there was not much happening. It's too bad because we have a quick car, and we didn't qualify as fast as I thought we would. But we'll move on to tomorrow and the important thing is that it's a long race, and we have a really good car. The fastest car is not always the winner at Texas, I've won from the pole, and I've won from third place. Overall, I'm happy to be starting in the second row considering last week's qualifying (Castroneves started last after crashing during qualifying.) Tomorrow night will be a challenge because a lot of people will be close to one another on the track, but hopefully everyone will be smart at the beginning and it will be a good clean race. It will be a long tough race, but it's always lots of fun here at Texas." said Castroneves.

Patrick continues impress.... another top 5 qualifying effort.

 "The car felt really good as soon as I went out. We made a few small changes to the car for the qualifying run that were helpful. We are trying to have as many options for the Boost Mobile/Motorola car as we can. I wish we could've held on to the pole, but I think we are going to be really competitive tomorrow night."

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The official starting lineup for the Bombardier Learjet 550K

FORT WORTH, Texas - Qualifying Friday for the Bombardier Learjet 550K IndyCar Series event on the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway, with starting position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine and speed:

1. (10) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 214.513

2. (6) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 214.413

3. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 214.296

4. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 214.228

5. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 213.929

6. (5) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 213.717

7. (4) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 213.596

8. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 213.540

9. (06) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 213.479

10. (20) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 213.435

11. (27) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 213.327

12. (02) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 213.178

13. (34) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 213.173

14. (67) Sarah Fisher, Dallara-Honda, 212.554

15. (2) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 212.137

16. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 212.108

17. (18) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 212.021

18. (43) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 211.741

19. (24) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 211.686

20. (23) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 211.601

21. (13) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 211.553

22. (14) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara-Honda, 211.454

23. (21) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 210.532

24. (98) Jaques Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 209.329

WHELDON TOPS NIGHT PRACTICE AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

FORT WORTH, Texas (Thursday, June 4, 2009) - Dan Wheldon, who has a trio of third-place finishes at Texas Motor Speedway, will attempt to give Panther Racing its sixth victory at the track June 6 in the Bombardier Learjet 550k. He started quickly on the 1.5-mile, high-banked oval.

Wheldon, driving the No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing car, posted the quickest lap (215.783 mph; 24.2744 seconds) in a twilight practice session.

"Panther has won a lot of races here, and with the times changing, it seems a lot harder to win IndyCar Series races. We rolled off the truck pretty strong. When you look at the time sheet, you can see I had a pretty strong draft, but the car seems to be quick on our own. I would say that in terms of speed, it's the most competitive car we've had this season. That's certainly a good sign. It's still the first practice sessions. There's not too much to be excited about right now, but we certainly have a car capable of being quick. We just need to work on it so it's as good in traffic."

Andretti Green Racing's Danica Patrick was second (214.884; 24.3759) in the No. 7 Boost Mobile/Motorola car.

"So far this weekend has started exactly the way I hoped it would. The Boost Mobile/Motorola car unloaded fast and felt very comfortable in traffic.  The bottom line is that Eddie (Jones) and Marco (Andretti) were able to set up a very good car last year.  We ran their 2008 race set up and didn't change a thing for tonight's session. I'm really excited for the rest of the weekend and think we'll be strong Saturday."

Ryan Briscoe (214.652), Dario Franchitti (214.433) and Scott Dixon (214.399) - the top three in the championship standings in reverse order - also were in the top five in the 45-minute all-car session that followed 45 minutes of practice for rookies and drivers not in the top 10 in points.

RYAN BRISCOE "It was a good first session tonight. We did a lot of pack running to simulate what the car will be like during the race. Overall, the Team Penske car was pretty soild. I think we have a bit of work left heading into the race, but so far we're in good shape. I don't know how much work we'll do on qualifying set-up, because it's all about having a good race car. Obviously, we'll want to come out tomorrow and qualify near the front, but for now we're focused on preparing for Saturday night."

Helio Castroneves (214.311) was sixth and Graham Rahal (214.224) was seventh, while Tony Kanaan (213.767) was eighth and Milka Duno ninth (213.539). Andretti Green Racing teammates Marco Andretti (213.387) and Hideki Mutoh (213.317) followed. 

This is the 20^th IndyCar Series event at Texas Motor Speedway. Scott Dixon won the race in 2008. Gil de Ferran holds the single-lap qualifying record with a lap of 23.5031 seconds, 222.864 mph set in October 2003. Scott Dixon holds the four-lap qualifying record of 214.878 mph set last year. Past winners Scott Dixon (2008), Helio Castroneves (2006 and Oct. 2004), Tomas Scheckter (2005) and Tony Kanaan (June 2004) are entered in the event.

Danica Patrick is on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list, joining luminaries such as Angelina Jolie (first on the list), Oprah Winfrey (second) and President Barack Obama (49th).

The Celebrity 100, which includes film and television actors, models, chefs, athletes, authors, and musicians, is a measure of entertainment-related earnings and media visibility (exposure in print, television, radio and online). The earnings estimates consist of pre-tax income between June 2008 and June 2009. Management, agent, and attorney fees are not deducted.

Patrick, who is ranked No. 100, broke through last year in Japan when she became the first woman to win a major closed-course auto race. Her third-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 on May 24 was the highest ever for a female driver. Patrick, who has four consecutive top-five finishes in the books, will compete this weekend in the Bombardier Learjet 550k at Texas Motor Speedway in the No. 7 Boost Mobile/Motorola car for Andretti Green Racing.

Alex Tagliani has driven on the Texas Motor Speedway oval before, but this will be the first time he'll compete in a race. Tagliani, who advanced 22 positions to finish 11th in his first Indianapolis 500 on May 24, will drive the No. 34 entry with sponsorship from the Rexall Edmonton Indy, Lifelock, TDS and the King Tut exhibit that continues its national tour with a stop at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis starting June 27.

ALEX TAGLIANI (No. 34 Conquest Racing): "I remember my first time in Texas in 2001 back when I was in CART. It was pretty crazy having to cancel the race because of the sustained G forces. I enjoyed running at Texas back then so I'm looking forward to my first race here this weekend. I'm still fresh from our great run and unbelievable experience at Indy," he said. "It was great teamwork. This weekend will again be important for us. We will keep on doing our best and it will be a great opportunity for us to keep progressing on these types of tracks."

Luczo Dragon Racing co-owner Steve Luczo is not at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. He is in Sicily to present scholarships and receives honorary citizenship in Corleone, Italy, his family's hometown.

Luczo will present scholarships in honor of his mother Rose Luczo to students in Corleone. He and Philip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, will receive honorary citizenship June 6 in a ceremony at City Hall.

Dario Franchitti hopes running an Energizer livery at Texas will bring him the same luck it has for Scott Dixon over the last three years at TCGR.

Dixon has won the three races he has used the Energizer scheme.  In 2006, Dixon won at Watkins Glen in the Energizer car. In 2007 and 2008 Dixon won at Nashville Superspeedway.

DARIO FRANCHITTI (No. 10 Energizer): "I didn't know that (Scott was undefeated in the Energizer car), maybe he'll want to trade cars this weekend since I seem to run better in the Target colors. I know Dan (Wheldon) wasn't undefeated in the Energizer car. I just want to win races regardless of what the car looks like."

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing announced today that South African driver Tomas Scheckter and sponsor MonaVie will join the team's IndyCar Series effort for more events this season, beginning this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

Scheckter, who qualified 10^th and finished 13^th for the team at Milwaukee, is currently slated to run nine additional races with the team in 2009 season with MonaVie as the primary sponsor.

TOMAS SCHECKTER (No. 43 MonaVie/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing): "I'm really excited about it. I think we proved in a short time in Milwaukee that we are competitive. Dennis (Reinbold) and Robbie (Buhl) have given me a great opportunity, and I'm lucky to have MonaVie onboard. They have been extremely supportive, and I'm looking forward to getting the MonaVie car on the track in Texas and hopefully put it in victory lane."

DENNIS REINBOLD (Dreyer & Reinbold Racing co-owner): "We are excited to have Tomas and MonaVie join our team for more events. He did a great job for us in Milwaukee, and we are extremely happy that we were able to work something out with him and MonaVie for nine additional races."

DALLIN LARSEN (MonaVie Founder and President): "MonaVie is pleased to introduce the MonaVie brand and new MonaVie EMV at these amazing IndyCar Series events. Our relationship with Tomas and team Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will help introduce MonaVie's new energy drink to those looking for the perfect equation of health and energy to recharge both mind and body."

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INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY STATEMENT ON TONY GEORGE

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

At a regular meeting of the board of directors of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 26, board members asked Tony George, chief executive officer of the IMS companies, to devise a plan for management of Hulman & Company, the Indy Racing League, Clabber Girl and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that would allow him to focus on the business which requires the greatest attention. This plan is to be presented to the board at a meeting later this year.

IMS Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George said: “There was a general discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing all of our companies and where most of our energies need to be spent. All of our properties are doing well, given the challenges of the current economy. The Indy Racing League represents our greatest growth opportunity and therefore deserves the most attention at this point.”

Tony George said: “Contrary to published reports, I continue to serve as CEO of IMS. Our board of directors met yesterday, and we did discuss how to best confront challenges and exploit opportunities facing our businesses. This is nothing new and is something that we continually do as a board. But no changes in leadership or responsibility have been made. We don’t normally comment on board deliberations concerning our family business. However, the widespread, inaccurate reports and rumors caused my mother and me to conclude that it was necessary to set the record straight. If changes are made in the management of the company that are newsworthy, we will announce them when they are made.”

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Shaq joins Luczo Dragon as charity partner

Luczo Dragon Racing has partnered with NBA star Shaquille O'Neal to raise money and awareness for charity throughout the 2009 IndyCar Series season.

By partnering with champion athletes each year, Steve Luczo and Jay Penske, co-owners of Luczo Dragon Racing, have established a unique charity drive that has delivered more than $1 million to charitable organizations worldwide in two years. With the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps as their primary partners on the car in 2009, much of the team's charitable focus will turn to organizations that support fallen heroes and their families.

"We are proud to have Shaquille O'Neal join our team of champions," Luczo said. "Shaq has demonstrated that leadership, competitiveness, winning and compassion can all be achieved at the same time. As one of the most recognized champions in sports, and as a positive role model through his many community and social efforts, Shaq is the ideal individual to help Luczo Dragon Racing further its success. On top of that, his father is a military veteran, which is particularly relevant to our expanded mission of supporting wounded and fallen soldiers and their families."

The LDR community development program was designed to raise money, increase exposure of auto racing and encourage a philanthropic spirit that inspires others to make an impact in their communities.

As a four-time NBA champion, 15-time All Star, three-time NBA Finals MVP and 2000 NBA MVP, O'Neal has carved out a Hall of Fame career on the court. His work with children and families in need are just part of his mission to serve the community.

"I believe in giving, and I am thrilled to be joining forces with the Luczo Dragon Racing team," O'Neal said. "My parents taught me at a young age that my goals are and should be more than just about the things I want to personally accomplish. Therefore, giving to others has given me a deeper sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Everyone has a passion.

It could be any number of things: animals, education, AIDS research, cancer, etc. My passion is our most precious resource, children. 

That is why I support charity organizations that focus on children including Kids Athletic Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of America on a regular basis.

There is no excuse for not giving. If you don't have money, you still can support by volunteering your time. Take it from me, we all win when we take the focus off of ourselves and support others."

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DIXON EARNS FIRST WIN OF 2009 SEASON WITH VICTORY AT KANSAS

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Sunday, April 26, 2009) – Reigning IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon earned his first victory of the 2009 season, taking the checkered flag in the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway .7104 of a second ahead of Helio Castroneves.

The win was the third in a row at the track by a Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver.

Dixon entered the race 17^th in points after two difficult races on street circuits to begin the season. The return to a 1.5-mile oval suited him well. After starting fourth, Dixon passed pole sitter Graham Rahal on Lap 8 and went on to lead 134 of 200 laps for his 17^th career victory. The win moved Dixon to fourth in the point standings as the IndyCar Series prepares for the Indianapolis 500.

“I think we were expecting the race to be a lot more difficult as far as the wind conditions in Turns 3 and 4 and maybe more cautions. Our team was definitely talking about a lot of cautions and making sure we saved fuel. All-in-all for me it was a pretty smooth race. We had a great car. We jumped straight to second then about 10 laps later we got Graham (Rahal) when he slid up the track a bit in Turns 3 and 4. We got out front and started saving fuel. The Target car was really good all day. We had a bit of a fumble in the pits, which dropped us back to third at one point and made it quite difficult to get past (Ryan) Briscoe. I think we were trimmed to win as they say. The car was maybe not as good as it should have been in traffic. Luckily enough, we were saving enough fuel and caught the caution that catapulted us to the front.”

Castroneves nearly duplicated his back-to-front victory from last September at Chicagoland. In that race, Castroneves won after starting 28^th. Sunday, he worked his way up from the 21^st to second.

“That was a lot of fun. This wind was a little bit challenging, but it was the same for everyone. Team Penske did a hell of a job. Ryan (Bricoe) and I were working really well together and you can see both Team Penske cars up at the top. It’s good points. Yes, you want to win, but Scott (Dixon) did a hell of a job. Andretti Green also – it’s a good battle. Hopefully this is good preparation for the Indianapolis 500.”

Tony Kanaan finished third. The only driver to record top-five finishes in each of the first three races this season, Kanaan moved into the points lead, one point ahead of Ryan Briscoe, who finished fourth.

“Consistency is definitely the key. But we need to work a lot harder to get this car to win races. But in the meantime, we keep finishing where we need to be. Obviously, it feels good, but it’s so early in the season. It’s good momentum going to Indy. We added a lot of downforce for the race, and that actually cost me toward the end. I told my engineer that we need to be there at the end, so don’t give me a car that’s going to scare the hell out of me during the whole race. Obviously I regretted it a little in the end, but it was a good result for the team.”

Kanaan led an Andretti Green Racing contingent that placed all four drivers in the top 10 for the first time since Milwaukee 2006. Danica Patrick finished fifth, Marco Andretti sixth and Hideki Mutoh eighth.

Rahal finished seventh and two-time defending race winner Dan Wheldon finished 10^th.

“We had a pretty good start. On the first lap, we pulled away. It was just Dixie (Scott Dixon) and I moving our way forward, trying to pull out a gap. I was struggling a bit in Turns 3 and 4, and that’s where I got passed the three times I was passed. Late in the race, I discovered the high line, and that’s how I got around everybody, because my car was pretty good in (Turns) 3 and 4 up top. I need to definitely think about that earlier next time. It’s a lesson learned. Having to do the splash and go there at the end for what was to be our last stop really cost us four spots, so realistically we were looking pretty good. I think the McDonald's team has the outright speed, but we just need to make sure we have it for the whole race.” (About Dario Franchitti’s accident:) “I didn’t see that. I have no clue what happened. I’ll go talk to him, but all of a sudden I saw out of my right rear mirror the thing just went straight and I was like, ‘Whoa, what happened there?’ I signaled that I was coming into pit lane by putting two wheels over the white line, and I did it right off Turn 2, and then I came back out to the white line and ducked in. I hit the brakes once I ducked, and it was pretty late – later than I have ever hit the brakes going into a pit lane. And all of a sudden I see this flash going by and straight into the fence. With the speed he was carrying, he wasn’t going to make it anyway whether I was there or not.”  Rahal said.

INDYCAR SERIES POST-RACE NOTES:

Scott Dixon earned his first win of the season and the 17^th of his IndyCar Series career. This is the 49^th top-five finish of his career and the 69^th top-10 finish of his career.

This is Dixon’s first victory since last season at Kentucky.

Dixon has led 279 of the last 400 laps and 295 of the last 600 laps at Kansas Speedway.

Dixon has led laps in each of the last four races at Kansas, however this is his first victory at the track.

This is the third consecutive victory for Target Chip Ganassi Racing at Kansas. Dan Wheldon won the last two races at the track for the team.

Target Chip Ganassi racing drivers have led 518 of the last 600 laps at Kansas.

Two-time defending race winner Dan Wheldon finished 10^th, his second top-10 finish of the season.

Helio Castroneves finished second after starting 21^st, nearly duplicating his performance the last time he raced on a 1.5-mile oval. Last September at Chicagoland, Castroneves started 28^th and went on to win.

This is Castroneves’ 67^th career top-five finish and 90^th career top-10 finish.

Tony Kanaan takes over the series points lead with a third-place finish. This is his third top-five finish of the season and the 69^th top-five finish of his career, the most in IndyCar Series history.

Ryan Briscoe finished fourth, his second top-five finish of the season.

Polesitter Graham Rahal finished seventh, his best career finish on an oval.

Hideki Mutoh finished eighth, his first top-10 finish since last year at Mid-Ohio.

All four Andretti Green Racing cars finished in the top 10 for the first time since Milwaukee 2006 when Tony Kanaan finished first, Marco Andretti fifth, Dario Franchitti sixth and Bryan Herta seventh.

Ed Carpenter finished ninth, his first top-10 since last year at Kentucky.

Also on Sunday, Sebastian Saavedra earned his first career victory in Firestone Indy Lights, winning the Kansas Lottery 100 under caution ahead of 2005 series champion Wade Cunningham.

“It’s unbelievable. I cannot be happier than I am right now. AFS/Andretti Green did an incredible job, and I have to thank the guys. They were just unbelievable. The key was the restarts. I just had perfect timing behind Wade (Cunningham). I’m very happy for me but also the team. It’s a win for Colombia, but hopefully the first of many more.” (About the conditions): “My main problem was the wind. It was really windy out there. I think the last half of the race I was struggling with the back (of the car) because there were so many wind changes. That was the only thing I had a problem with. My car was perfect. It was really fast. Hopefully, we can keep it going for the rest of the season.”

Saavedra passed Cunningham on a Lap 10 restart and led the remainder of the 67 laps.

Mario Romancini finished third, Ana Beatriz fourth and Martin Plowman fifth. Jonathan Summerton took over the points lead with a seventh-place finish.

The race featured five cautions for 33 laps. Dillon Battistini, involved in the final incident of the race on Lap 59, was transported to KU Medical Center where all preliminary tests came back negative, however, he will remain at the facility overnight for observation.

UPDATE:

Firestone Indy Lights driver Dillon Battistini was discharged from the KU Medical Center. Battistini was transported to the facility following a crash with Pippa Mann on Lap 59 of Sunday’s Kansas Lottery 100. He was kept overnight for observation after all preliminary tests were negative.

FIRESTONE INDY LIGHTS POST-RACE NOTES:

Rookie Sebastian Saavedra earned his first Firestone Indy Lights victory in his fourth start. His previous best finish was second at St. Petersburg 2.

Wade Cunningham finished second, his best finish since a second at Mid-Ohio 2 last year.

Mario Romancini finished third, his first career top-five finish.

Ana Beatriz finished fourth, her third top-five finish of the season.

Martin Plowman finished a career-best fifth. His previous best was 15^th at St. Petersburg 1 and Long Beach.

Jonathan Summerton takes over the points lead after finishing seventh, his first finish outside the top four.

Junior Strous, who entered the race as the points leader, finished 11^th and ranks second in points.

The top 10 finishers represent eight teams.

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Duno returns to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing at Kansas

Milka Duno will return to run a limited schedule with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing beginning April 26 with the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway.

"We are very excited to have Milka back with our team,” said team co-owner Dennis Reinbold. “We had significant momentum last year, and we want to pick up where we left off and continue to get results. "Also, we are very proud that CITGO is returning as a primary sponsor on the No. 23 car.”

Duno debuted in the IndyCar Series in 2007, making seven starts with SAMAX Motorsports and recording a career-best finish of 11^th at Texas Motor Speedway. Last year, she joined Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for 11 races, finishing the season by leading five laps at the season finale at Chicagoland Speedway.

"I'm really happy to be racing and to be back at Kansas,” Duno said. “This track is a very special place for me, because I made my debut in the IndyCar Series here. The fans are very supportive. I'm also very happy to be coming back to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as they did a great job last year. Finally, I must thank CITGO for their fantastic support. I really appreciate the opportunity to be back and will work hard to get some great results.”

Milka Duno's Official Web site:

http://www.milkaduno.com/

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HVM Racing, Nelson Philippe partner for Indianapolis 500

HVM Racing will field a second car in the 2009 Indianapolis 500 with former HVM driver Nelson Philippe at the wheel. Philippe will make his debut in the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series driving the No. 31 entry as a teammate to E.J. Viso.

“We are excited to have Nelson driving again for HVM Racing,” said Keith Wiggins, team principal. “He won for us in (Champ Car in) 2006, which was quite an accomplishment for such a young driver and had his best ever season. Although coming back will be to a new series, a new track, with huge competition and in the biggest event of the year, we will work together to achieve a good result. We always like challenges.”

Visit Nelson Philippe's Official Web Site at:

http://www.nelsonphilippe.com/

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Welcome Back Helio!!

Photo By Mark Rotor

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Danica Patrick crashes again…and out of season-opener

Danica Patrick’s season got off to a rough start after she crashed out early in the season-opening Honda Grand Prix.

She was running ninth in the 22-car field on Sunday when rookie Raphael Matos tried to pass as the two went into one of the tightest turns on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit.

Both cars crashed, with Patrick’s Andretti Green Racing entry slamming hard, rear end first into a tire barrier.

As the uninjured drivers walked away, Patrick patted Matos on the helmet as if to say, “Use your head.” The two then waited for a ride back to the pits, with a lively discussion taking place as Matos sat on a wall and Patrick stood in front of him.

Patrick, who has been known to blow up at other drivers in similar circumstances, was calm after she got back to the team’s pit.

“It’s not exactly the ideal spot to pass,” she said. “We were going into the fast chicane there and there’s no room, there’s no room for two people. … I was looking in my mirrors and I saw him. He just wasn’t all the way up next to me.”

Matos, making his IndyCar debut with the Luczo Dragon team, wasn’t ready to take the blame.

“We just had a very unfortunate racing accident,” the Brazilian said. “It shouldn’t have happened. Danica made a big mistake passing a lapped car and I really had a good run on her. I was halfway up on her. I thought she’d give me enough room to pass, but she didn’t.”

Patrick, the only woman in the field, ended her day in 19th and Matos was 20th. Each completed just 31 of 100 laps.

Danica Patrick's official web site:

http://www.danicaracing.com/