Oak Park Journal Sports Page

Dan Peters Sports Editor
Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
Oak Park Journal
Forest Park Journal

Meijer Indy 300 is off and running and how will Danica Patrick and
Milka Dunno behave in the turns..?
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Yolanda Rotor

Elation to Frustration....Scott Dixon Snatches Meijer Indy 300 Trophy….Helio the Bridesmaid for the 7th Time This Season.
by Mark Rotor

Before the start of Saturday’s Meijer Indy 300 race at the Kentucky Speedway, Helio Castroneves was 65 points behind the Indy point’s leader Scott Dixon with 4 races remaining in the championship schedule. Castroneves and team Penske would need to make a powerful move on Target Chip Ganassi’s Scott Dixon if they were
to pull ahead of the point’s leader. During the race, Dixon dominated leading 151 of 200 laps starting from the pole position.

Castroneves is hungry for a win and the car was running well.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

However, on lap 194th Castroneves made his big move on Dixon by taking the race lead when the #9 car entered the pits for a final splash of fuel. With team Penske’s #3 car fuelled with 22-gallons of ethanol on Lap #143, Castroneves was poised to win his first race of the season if he could hold on for 6 additional laps. But with one lap to go and a ¼ lap lead, Castroneves was passed by a charging Dixon
on the final turn of the race. Dixon took the checkered flag ahead
of Castroneves who ran out of fuel and coasted to his seventh 2nd place finish of season. Following close behind was Marco Andretti (Andretti Green Racing) #26 car finishing in 3rd place barely edged out by Castroneves in the #3 car.

Castroneves, in the center, is working his way past Rice and Foyt.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

“When I was going into Turn 3, I thought, 'I got it!' Like I'm finally going to win this race," Castroneves said. "And all of a sudden I'm coming out of Turn 4 and the car just coughed. My reaction at that time, it was like 'No!' But I need to still finish the race. I didn't want the car to stop right away. I didn't know how many cars were behind Dixon and Marco (Andretti). I just wanted to finish the race as high as I could.” The frustrated Helio Castroneves was philosophical when asked about his 7th 2nd place finish of the year. “It's funny, Scott Dixon says to me: "Man every time I win, you finish second."
I said, "Well, every time I finish second, you finish first. We've got to change that.”

With the Meijer Indy 300 win Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) captured their 6th victory of the season tying teammate Dan Wheldon’s 2005 season. “What a day. I think we tried to play it kind of safe and just be conservative. Even in traffic we really didn’t rush things. The car was fantastic. It was strategy in the end, it was crazy. There was no way we were going to catch him (Castroneves). He was half the track ahead of us. I knew our car was probably quicker than his, but not 20 miles per hour faster. It was nice to get it the way we did. I think about the run that Dario (Franchitti) had for
the championship last season, and it’s nice to be able to be in that (winning) position after how we lost it last year in Chicago”

Dixson and Marco, one holds on, the other wants to trade places.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Mark Rotor

Not only did Marco Andretti (Andretti Green Racing) almost beat Castroneves to the finish line for second place but also challenged pole sitter Dixon by taking the race lead for a total of 38 laps. Andretti commented “I think tonight was a night we had one of
the cars to win. I think Dixon was probably the other one. But you know, we tried to play traffic as best we could. I was turned down behind him trying to work with him to pull away, and then as soon
as I saw traffic, slower traffic ahead, I went to position one and committed to the outside and held him low, and then we were able
to overtake him twice, but obviously it didn't pay off. With 198 laps to go race leaders Andretti and Meira tuned into pit lane for a splash of fuel when Dixon retook the race lead from Andretti. I’m a bit disappointed especially for how much fuel I was conserving behind him, and coming down the straightaway, everything was looking good until then. I think we have to take advantage of days and races where we have the car to win, and doesn't come that often in the IndyCar Series, that’s for sure.”

Danica Patrick crashes during practice in turn 2.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos by Yolanda Rotor

Danica Patrick (Andretti Green Team) #7 Car collided with turn two wall during the 2nd practice on Friday shredding the right side of the Motorola #7 Dolra. Patrick was not injured and was release from the infield care center. Due to the damage to Patrick’s primary car she used the backup car and started in the rear of the race field. On Saturday’s Patrick finished in 11th place. “Considering the fact that started from the back of the field, I’m happy with an 11th place finish. It was difficult getting through traffic at the start of the race, but that is what I expected. All-in-all, the Motorola car did very well!”

Milka Duno ends her race with a wall embrace.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Mark Rotor

Milka Duno (#23 CITGO/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing) started 18th and later made heavy contact with the Turn #2 wall with the right side of the car on Lap 134. Duno was not injured and commented
“I think the right front of the suspension broke because there was
no reason. I was just turning and the car went straight into the wall. I’m sure it was the suspension because the car went down and straight into the wall.”

Dixson holds off a Marco rally.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Mark Rotor

Three races remain in the Indy championship season and Dixon has extended his lead to 78 points over Castroneves Penske Racing. "Obviously, with a 78﷓point lead now, I think it's pretty healthy, but anything can happen," Dixon said after visiting Victory Circle at Kentucky Speedway for the first time. "Helio could quite easily have gained on us and made it more of a fight. With Sonoma and Chicago and Belle Isle, tracks that those guys are very good at as well, we are going to make sure we don't lose too many points. But it would be nice to gain a couple on Helio in Sonoma and maybe we only need 82 points or something to have it sewn up (heading to Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 7th). That would be nice, but in reality, I think we'll be racing almost till the last race."

Wins feel good and the team shares their thrill.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Yolanda Rotor

This is Scott Dixon’s 16th victory in his IndyCar Series career.
This is the 24th IndyCar Series victory for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

Ryan Briscoe and Danica Patrick, who finished seventh and 11th, respectively, are eliminated from championship contention.
Helio Castroneves finished second for the third consecutive race.
Dixon and Castroneves are the only driver to record 12 top-five finishes this season.

Don't Forget the arrival of Miss America, Emily Cox, and then the Akrax daredevils.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

Danica Patrick passes Milka Duno, as she works her way up to an 11th Place finish--starting from the last in the pack.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Mark Rotor

Milka Duno is safe and unharmed from her misfortune.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Mark Rotor

Marco Andretti finished third, his sixth top-five finish of the season and the 20th top-10 finish of his career. He has made 45 starts.
Vitor Meira finished fourth, his second top-five finish of the season. His best finish was second at Indianapolis.

Dan Wheldon finished fifth, his ninth top-five finish of the season.

Scott Dixon Winner
Hellio Castroneves 2nd
Marco Andretti 3rd

© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Mark Rotor

Before the Race, Action was Woven Into the Practice
by Mark Rotor

Indy practice for the Kentucky race ended with the #7 Andretti Green car up into the the wall in turn 2 with 10 minutes left in the practice session. No other racer was involved in the collision.

Danica Patrick crashes during practice runs...
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos by Yolanda Rotor

Danica stated 'I was in the second lane when the front end just started to slide up the track toward the wall. She tried to turn but the car would not respond'. The outcome was a badly mangled Motorola #7 car. Danica was not injured and will start in the back of the pack for Saturday Meijer Indy 300.

Past Sports News

Local Sports and Teams

Car Racing News and Reports

Local Car Race Tracks

Chicagoland Speedway and
Route 66 Speedway Joliet, Illinois

Indy Racing at the Brickyard
in Indianapolis, Indiana

Milwaukee Racing at the Mile Track

Michigan International Speedway

Brickyard at Indy

Chicago Motor Speedway Cicero, Illinois