Richmond, VA (Sports Network) - Dario Franchitti led 242 of 250 laps on his
way to Victory Lane during Saturday night's SunTrust Indy Challenge at the
Richmond International Raceway. The No.27 Andretti Green Racing driver crossed
the finish line 0.4194 seconds ahead of Scott Dixon.
The victory was Franchitti's second in a row, third of his season and seventh
of his IndyCar career.
Since qualifying was washed out by rain yesterday the starting grid was based
on entrant points. Therefore, Franchitti led the 19-car field around the 0.75-
mile oval for 250 laps of exciting short track racing.
The first caution flag of the night came out just seconds after the green flag
dropped. As the drivers entered the first turn Sam Hornish Jr. spun his car
out onto the grass. The No.6 Team Penske driver now found himself in the last
place.
When the race got back underway on lap four, Franchitti quickly pulled away
from the field. He eventually created a margin of four seconds. Tony Kanaan,
Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Helio Castroneves followed behind the leader.
The lead for Franchitti was 2.5 seconds when the next caution flag flew on lap
60 for debris on the track. During the caution period the No.27 Andretti Green
Racing driver led the leaders down pit road for their first stops.
The battle off pit road was won by Kanaan followed by teammate Franchitti.
Dixon, Wheldon and Castroneves.
On lap 71 Kanaan led the field to the restart. But Franchitti used a great
restart to retake the first position. The No.27 AGR driver took the outside
lane as they entered turn one to pass his teammate.
The gap between Franchitti and Kanaan continued to increase. The margin
quickly reached two seconds.
The 34-year-old veteran was dominant, to say the least. He was putting on a
clinic for the other drivers. After 125 laps of racing, the halfway point, the
top-five read: Franchitti, Kanaan, Dixon, Wheldon and Castroneves.
Franchitti was still showing the way when the next caution flag came out on
lap 155 for Jeff Simmons. This allowed the leaders to make their last pit
stops of the night and for some drama to develop.
As the drivers made their way off pit road Castroneves tried to pass
Franchitti. The RIR officials penalized Castroneves for violating the
"blending rule." Officials decided that he would go to the end of the lead lap
and then serve a drive through penalty.
Once everything was sorted out the top-five read: Franchitti, Dixon, Kanaan,
Wheldon and Buddy Rice. The race went back to green on lap 171.
The No.27 AGR driver started to build a comfortable lead again. On lap 173
Castroneves served his penalty. He reentered the track in the 11th spot and
one lap down to the leader. The No.3 Team Penske driver would finish the race
in the same position.
Meanwhile, the battle heated up behind the leader as Wheldon moved past Kanaan
to take over the third spot.
It was obvious that it was going to take a miracle for someone to pass
Franchitti. The No.9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver was able to stay within
a second of the leader, but no better.
On lap 203 the "miracle" almost occurred. Hornish Jr., who was two laps down,
tried to pass Franchitti on the inside and in the process touched tires with
the leader. But fortunately for Franchitti it didn't create a crash.
With 20 laps remaining the margin was 0.4326 seconds. That gap was erased by a
caution flag that flew with 12 laps to go for debris.
When the race went back to green Franchitti led Dixon, Wheldon, Kanaan and
Rice. The No.27 AGR driver got a great restart again. His lead reached half a
second.
As the laps dwindled down Dixon could never put a run together. Franchitti was
too fast as he crossed the finish line without challenge.
Wheldon, Kanaan and Rice completed the top-five.
The next race in the series is set for Sunday, July 8th at Watkins Glen
International.