2016 Verizon IndyCar SeriesOpen Wheel

[RACECAR]

Its now the IRL's turn to Haul A$$ in the blue grass

 

[Sharky.]

It would be tough to go against Scott Dixon the rest of the way unless he truly tanks to the IndyCar abyss the rest of the way.

Now, while I'm confident he won't, I get the feeling that something will go badly wrong and he'll lose it all.

That said, a good result here (ie finishing ahead of Helio, or a win and a Helio bomb) will all but seal the championship, IMO

 

[RACECAR]

I just relized something about the race today...

This..Is..SPARTA!!!

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Kentucky 300 Race Results
Congratulations to Scott Dixon for winning the 2008 Kentucky 300.

 

[TS]

Now, while I'm confident he won't, I get the feeling that something will go badly wrong and he'll lose it all.

That said, a good result here (ie finishing ahead of Helio, or a win and a Helio bomb) will all but seal the championship, IMO

Everything has gone right for Dixon so far this year (except for that little incident at Watkins Glen) and it's nearly impossible for Helio to win. On the ESPN telecast, they said that Helio would have to gain 23 some points on Scott Dixon in order to win. Which means that Helio would have to win the race and lead the most laps and Dixon would have to finish worse than 5th every race.

 

[VNAF Ace]

Texaco leaving NASCAR UPDATE: Sirius Speedway has learned that Chevron-Texaco will not return as sponsor of #42-Juan Pablo Montoya's Dodge next season. The Texaco-Havoline brand is in the final year of its sponsorship contract with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and a media representative for Ganassi Racing confirmed the move this afternoon. Texaco-Havoline will not move to another team in 2009, electing instead to end their longstanding involvement in NASCAR. That decision leaves Ganassi Racing in need of at least two new sponsors in 2009, and possibly three. Team owner Chip Ganassi recently parked the #40 Dodge driven by Dario Franchitti due to lack of sponsorship, and there are longstanding rumors that Target may not return to the #41 Dodge currently driven by Reed Sorenson. (Sirius Speedway/Motorsports Soapbox)(8-19-2008)

UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will need to find another sponsor for Juan Pablo Montoya in 2009 because Texaco sponsorship will dry up at the end of the season. Texaco/Havoline is leaving NASCAR and therefore will not return to the #42 next season, Ganassi officials said Tuesday. Ganassi is now looking for sponsors for Montoya for half of next season. Wrigley's will sponsor the other half, as it has done this season. The #40 team with driver Dario Franchitti was shut down earlier this year when no sponsors could be lined up. Team officials said they were not surprised by Texaco's decision, saying they knew the company was looking to leave the sport. Ganassi's other team -- the #41 of Reed Sorenson -- is sponsored by Target, which also sponsors Ganassi's championship-contending IndyCar Series teams. Ganassi officials said the Target sponsorship is solid for both NASCAR and IndyCar beyond this season. Ganassi still plans to field at least two teams in 2009 and hopes enough sponsorship can be found for a third.(ESPN.com)(8-20-2008)

http://www.jayski.com/teams/42.htm

I'd love to see Newman/Hass/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) capitalize on this oppurtunity to bring Texaco/Havoline back to the IndyCar Series! NHLR already has Graham Rahal's car in their classic black and white paint scheme ready!

 

[m.piedgros]

Ooh-boy-oh-boy-oh-boy!! Hopefully it does come true. In a tougher economy perhaps paying four million dollars a year in sponsorship versus twenty million is starting to make sense... I'm off to research Texaco-Havoline and see how they are doing financially before I pass judgment. I have a hunch that they are doing pretty well, but we'll see.

m.piedgros

 

[Sharky.]

Which means that Helio would have to win the race and lead the most laps and Dixon would have to finish worse than 5th every race.

Stranger things have happened.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'll tell you this... the black #6 Texaco car raced by Michael Andretti is one of the most classic race cars of either the IndyCar Series or the late Champ Car. Wouldn't it be pure nostalgia to seean all-black Texaco car in IndyCar?

 

[RACECAR]

I'd love to see Newman/Hass/Lanigan Racing (NHLR) capitalize on this oppurtunity to bring Texaco/Havoline back to the IndyCar Series! NHLR already has Graham Rahal's car in their classic black and white paint scheme ready!

Then let the pants wetting begin...

 

[TS]

Stranger things have happened.

True, how many of us predicted Graham Rahal's chances of winning in his IndyCar debut? Hell, how many of us predicted Rahal's chances of actually finishing that race?

Then let the pants wetting begin...

Awkward.

Anyway, did you guys hear about the Team Penske hauler catching fire in Wyoming? All the cars and equipment (worth about $2 mil) was destroyed.

 

[VNAF Ace]

Yea, I heard about the fire. Although the fire was bad, at least no one was hurt. And based on the practice times, Team Penske seems to be doing fine setting up their oval cars for road racing.

And to my fellow IndyCar fans: The starting lineup and race results will be posted late this weekend because I'll be watching the race live at Infineon (Sears Point) Raceway! This will be my first race!

 

[RACECAR]

Awkward.

Anyway, did you guys hear about the Team Penske hauler catching fire in Wyoming? All the cars and equipment (worth about $2 mil) was destroyed.

I was just poking fun at the fact that everyone seems excited at the idea of seeing the old Texaco Havoline car coming back.

 

[TS]

http://www.indycar.com/schedule/?event_id=50

Scroll towards the bottom for live timing & scoring + steaming video of the events this weekend.

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Sonoma GP Starting Lineup
The 2008 Sonoma GP airs tomorrow at 5:30 PM EDT on ESPN2!

 

[RACECAR]

Helio Castroneves wins the Indycar Grand Prix of Sonoma. The championship is not over yet.

 

[Lee]

About bloody time too.

 

[Sharky.]

Damn it, what the hell were you doing, Scott?! (ie: nothing)

I'm not confident about Dixon's title chances now... I have a bad feeling about it.

 

[TS]

Scott was running in the top-5, but his strategy was way off.

As for his championship, he could clinch it at Belle Isle if he finishes well or wins.

 

[Sharky.]

Scott was running in the top-5, but his strategy was way off.

I was watching the live timing on indycar.com from lap 31 onwards, and he was on exactly the same strategy as Helio... yet Helio was WAY quicker O_o

As for his championship, he could clinch it at Belle Isle if he finishes well or wins.

He needs, what, 10 points more than Helio at Belle to seal it?

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Sonoma GP Race Results
Congratulations to Helio Castroneves for winning the 2008 Sonoma GP.

I had a fun time at Infineon (Sears Point) Raceway! I'll post pictures from the race as soon as my friend uploads them!

 

[TS]

He needs, what, 10 points more than Helio at Belle to seal it?

I imagine.

 

[KAMKA-Z]

Interesting race. It seemed like there were about 4 sets of pit strategies going on at once. Different drivers from each strategy saw success and failure. The big loosers in the shuffle were Dixon and Marco. It seemed to work well for both Penske cars despite different pit rotations. Wheldon and Danica were able to work their way up rather steadily. Early on they fell way down but must have had a clear track to keep up fast laps. Dixon was bottled up behind slower cars and it hurt his race badly.

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Detroit GP Starting Lineup
The 2008 Detroit GP airs tomorrow at 3:30 PM EDT on ABC!

 

[Sharky.]

Dixon on pole, Helio joining him on the front row.

Should be an interesting race.

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Detroit GP Race Results
Congratulations to Justin Wilson for winning the 2008 Detroit GP.

The championship battle between Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves goes down to the final points race next Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway!

 

[TS]

2008 Detroit GP Race Results
Congratulations to Justin Wilson for winning the 2008 Detroit GP.

The championship battle between Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves goes down to the final points race next Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway!

Fixed.

 

[TS]

By Dave Lewandowski (indycar.com)

How about this for a strange twist? Dario Franchitti, who trumped Scott Dixon on the final lap of the final race for the 2007 IndyCar Series championship and in the 91st Indianapolis 500, will be his teammate for the 2009 season.

Or this: Franchitti will replace former teammate Dan Wheldon in the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing entry.

Or this: Wheldon will take over the wheel of the No. 4 Panther Racing car, replacing Vitor Meira.

The flurry of driver movement comes with the final points-paying race of the season Sept. 7 at Chicagoland Speedway with the championship on the line between Dixon and Team Penske's Helio Castronves, who isn't going anywhere in '09.

Wheldon, who is fourth in the IndyCar Series standings, will not return to Target Chip Ganassi Racing after competing in the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway.

"I want to personally thank Target and the whole Chip Ganassi Racing organization for the success and enjoyment we shared together," Wheldon said. "With that said, I will certainly miss my working relationship with Scott Dixon and wish him and the team all the best for this weekend at Chicagoland."

Wheldon recorded two victories with 11 top-10 finishes in claiming fourth place in the 2007 standings. Through 16 races this season, he has two victories (Kansas and Iowa speedways) and 10 top fives.

Wheldon will return to Panther Racing, where he broke into the IndyCar Series with two late-season races in 2002 after being a test driver for the two-time series championship team.

"It's hard to describe the level of excitement and emotions all of us at Panther have knowing that Dan has come back to drive for us," team managing partner and CEO John Barnes said. "I remember watching him drive for the first time in the Indy Lights series years ago, and I knew he was going to be a special talent. Since then he's become one of the best open-wheel drivers in the world, and for him to make his return to our team at the height of his racing career is a tremendous compliment to our team. I know he's excited about getting into the No. 4 car for the first time and we've got a tremendous future ahead of us."

Wheldon, 30, won the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series championship with Andretti Green Racing. He joined Dixon at Target Chip Ganassi Racing the next season, tying Sam Hornish Jr. for the series title - losing out on the Championship Cup based on the first tiebreaker (four victories to two).

In 96 IndyCar Series starts, Wheldon has 15 victories and 54 top-five finishes. He joined Andretti Green Racing in 2003.

"I'm very excited to be joining the entire Panther Racing crew," said Wheldon, who signed a multi-year contract and will drive the No. 4 car for the first time in the Nikon Indy 300 at Surfers Paradise, Australia, in October. "This is the place where I started my career in 2002 and with the personnel and leadership that John Barnes has put together, I know that we'll be fighting for outright victories, the Indianapolis 500 title and the league championship.

"I'm looking forward to when my obligations with my current team have been honored, so I can get with the entire Panther family and start moving towards all of our goals of winning races and championships together. It's great to be back."

Panther Racing has not re-signed Meira, but said if sponsorship materializes for a second car in '09 he would be welcome back. Meira, who has two top-five finishes this season, is closing out his third year with Panther Racing. He has 56 top-10 finishes in 92 career starts with three teams and said he's exploring his options.

Wheldon and Franchitti were Andretti Green Racing teammates from 2003-05. After winning the Indianapolis 500 and series title last year, Franchitti signed to compete with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates' NASCAR program. Franchitti drove in 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup races with a best finish of 22nd before the No. 40 car team was shuttered in July because of a lack of sponsorship. He's currently 27th in the Nationwide Series standings, competing in 14 races.

"Part of the reason that I signed with Ganassi last year was because of how many options that Chip has at his disposal for a driver," said Franchitti, 35, who has eight victories and 30 top-five finishes in 67 IndyCar Series starts dating to 2002. "You can do almost any form of racing that you want.

"I think the unified series is excellent news. I think the schedule for next year was a big part of my decision, plus the chance to drive for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, which is a great team. I have competed against the team for I guess 10 or 11 years in open-wheel. I know how difficult they are to beat. I'm really looking forward to being a part of the team going forward and having Scott as a teammate."

Though they competed wheel to wheel, especially during the 2007 season, for the championship, Franchitti and Dixon have been friends off the track.

"It's definitely pretty positive to have a teammate that's been very strong, very tough to beat, including last year where we came up just short," said Dixon, who has to finish eighth or better at Chicagoland to clinch his second series title. "I think it's going to be a huge influx for the team. It's come at a tough time for everyone I think with the team especially coming down to the championship, but it bodes well and looks absolutely fantastic for next season.

"I hope we can continue on with the success that the team's had. Definitely with a teammate like Dario, it's going to be all good things."

The team also announced that Target has re-signed as the primary sponsor of the IndyCar Series program for its 20th season and beyond.

I had doubts about Dario moving from the Indy Cars to NASCAR since the day they announced it and I knew and predicted that he would be back in the IRL for 2009.

 

[Sharky.]

While I always thought of Wheldon as a bit of a hothead, I'm sad to see him leave Ganassi. He and Scott worked well on the track (usually).

I reckon Dario will be replacing Dan, the clues are all there - especially the fact he drives for Ganassi in NASCAR. Means making the switch to the Ganassi IRL team a doddle. Man, 09 would be a right rip-snorter if that turns out to be true - Scott and Dario would push each other to the limit each and every race, I can feel it.

 

[JohnBM01]

Wheldon out... Franchitti in. That's how the 2009 story goes.

So it all comes down to two drivers. Either a Brazilian or a New Zealander (Kiwi, right?) will win the 2008 championship. It's still too damn early for a season like this to end this soon. So this debate is simple...

Dixon or Castroneves?