Franchitti Wins Long Beach IndyCar Grand Prix

Dario Franchitti overcame a poor start to dominate the IndyCar Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

After losing two places on the start, Franchitti took fifteen laps to get back into second. When he took the lead on pit strategy, he held it for 51 of the 67 green-flag laps. Using a pair of lucky breaks (twice he pitted just before a yellow flag) to his advantage, he showed that once in front he had the talent to stay there.

Dario Franchitti drove a masterful race, conserving fuel when it mattered and charging hard when he could, bringing the Target Chip Ganassi car home a comfortable 3.3 seconds ahead of Will Power in the Penske. Franchitti was untouchable through the final 25 laps; even when conserving fuel, he was able to stay clear of the pack.

Will Power took second after struggling all race with radio troubles. Power, hired by Team Penske to replace Helio Castroneves until Helio’s tax trial was over, practiced all weekend in Helio’s car; when Helio showed up, Power had to step into a brand new car, but he still put it on the pole.

Penske is currently only budgeted for two cars, but after Power’s performance, it seems likely that Roger Penske will be looking for more sponsorship.

Andretti-Green Racing had a fantastic weekend. After qualifying in eleventh and twenty-second, Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick came back to finish third and fourth.

Danica in particular benefitted from extremely lucky pit strategy. Danica pitted early for tires under green, just before a full-course caution, allowing her to move right up through the field. Then on lap 50, she came in for her final stop, and four laps later Mike Conway hit the tires at turn Eight, bringing out another yellow.

Marco Andretti finished sixth after qualifying nineteenth, the third AGR car in the top ten, despite nearly colliding with fifth-place finisher Dan Wheldon in the final laps.

Defending series champion Scott Dixon had a depressing day. On lap 18, Will Power slowed unaccountably (possibly he thought the course was going yellow after Conway hit the tire barrier—Power had no in-car communication) forcing EJ Viso to slow, and Dixon rammed Viso.

Then on lap 24, Dixon rammed Graham Rahal as Rahal turned to take the hairpin. Dixon continued on, but he caused a five-car pileup which put Justin Wilson out of the race.

Then, after the full-course caution on lap 54, Ryan Briscoe hit the gas to clean his tires after coming around the hairpin, and accidentally rammed Dixon from behind. Dixon eventually finished 15^th.

The win gives Dario Franchitti a solid lead in the Championship points, with 84 points, leading second-place Will Power, who has 69.

The stories of the race? Andretti-Green Racing seems to have finally found its way; as the series moves onto the ovals, traditionally AGR’s strength, who knows how far they might go?

And Team Penske faces a few tough decisions. Now that Helio Castroneves’ tax troubles are behind him, he has reclaimed his spot on the Penske team, but the driver he is replacing, Will Power, is second in the championship points and has been having a great season. The other Penske driver, Ryan Briscoe, is third in the points with 67. Surplus wealth in drivers is an odd situation for a racing team, but in these tight times, can Roger Penske find funds for a third car?

IndyCar moves on to the ovals, with the next race at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway. For more information visit http://www.kansasspeedway.com/

 

	Top Five Finishers		Points Standing
1	Dario Franchitti	1	Dario Franchitti	84
2	Will Power	2	Will Power	69
3	Tony Kanaan	3	Ryan Briscoe	67
4	Danica Patrick	4	Tony Kanaan	65
5	Dan Wheldon	5	Ryan Hunter-Reay	59