IndyCar - Suntrust Indy Challenge

DanicaFan · 24 Jun 2009, 04:39 (Ref:2489506)

8 of 17

Race - Suntrust Indy Challenge

Location - Richmond International Raceway

Date - June 27th

TV Schedule - 8pm Eastern - Versus

Course Type - 3/4 Mile Oval

Distance - 300 Laps / 225 Miles

Qualifications - June 26 - 6pm Eastern

2008 Pole Sitter - Tony Kanaan

2008 Winner - Tony Kanaan

DanicaFan · 24 Jun 2009, 04:48 (Ref:2489509)

Here is the entrant list at this time...

Car # & Driver / Car Name / Team

#2 Raphael Matos / US Marines Luczo Dragon Racing / Luczo Dragon Racing
#3 Helio Castroneves / Team Penske / Team Penske
#4 Dan Wheldon / National Guard Panther Racing / Panther Racing
#5 Mario Moraes / KV Racing Technology-Votorantim / KV Racing Technology
#6 Ryan Briscoe / Team Penske / Team Penske
#7 Danica Patrick / Boost Mobile-Motorola / Andretti Green Racing
#9 Scott Dixon / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#10 Dario Franchitti / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#11 Tony Kanaan / Team 7-Eleven / Andretti Green Racing
#13 EJ Viso / PDVSA HVM Racing / HVM Racing
#14 Ryan Hunter-Reay / ABC Supply Co. - AJ Foyt Racing / AJ Foyt Enterprises
#18 Justin Wilson / Z-Line Designs / Dale Coyne Racing
#20 Ed Carpenter / Menard's -Vision Racing / Vision Racing
#23 Tomas Scheckter / MonaVie- Dreyer & Reinbold Racing / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#24 Mike Conway / Charter-Dreyer & Reinbold Racing / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#26 Marco Andretti / Team Venom Energy / Andretti Green Racing
#27 Hideki Mutoh / Formula Dream / Andretti Green Racing
#98 Jaques Lazier / CURB-Agajanian-Team 3G - CURB-Agajanian-Team 3G
#02 Graham Rahal / McDonald's Racing Team / Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing
#06 Robert Doornbos / Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing / Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing

**gomick** · 24 Jun 2009, 09:39 (Ref:2489624)

What chance of a Danica win?

DanicaFan · 24 Jun 2009, 11:21 (Ref:2489680)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomick

What chance of a Danica win?

About as good a chance as there being snow at the North Pole. She will win this race.

Flyin Ryan · 24 Jun 2009, 13:18 (Ref:2489784)

This is a fun race usually. I've been to every Richmond race except for one and maybe only two haven't been good races and one of those was due to rain cutting it short. Crowd has steadily gotten a little bit larger every year.

Tim Northcutt · 24 Jun 2009, 13:47 (Ref:2489808)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanicaFan

About as good a chance as there being snow at the North Pole. She will win this race.

Not if they don't sort out the short track drivability issues in her car that cropped up for her at Iowa last Sunday...

Tim Northcutt · 24 Jun 2009, 13:48 (Ref:2489809)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyin Ryan

This is a fun race usually. I've been to every Richmond race except for one and maybe only two haven't been good races and one of those was due to rain cutting it short. Crowd has steadily gotten a little bit larger every year.

I enjoy watching the IRL run at both Iowa and Richmond...two fast short tracks where there is a lot of action....

DanicaFan · 24 Jun 2009, 20:37 (Ref:2490038)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

Not if they don't sort out the short track drivability issues in her car that cropped up for her at Iowa last Sunday...

They will. I have faith in her crew. Dave (her crew chief) will get the job done.

Taprobane · 24 Jun 2009, 20:54 (Ref:2490049)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanicaFan

About as good a chance as there being snow at the North Pole. She will win this race.

I'll be coming back to this after the race.

I'm hoping Mike can continue his good form from last weekend and build confidence on the ovals.

icemachine · 24 Jun 2009, 22:14 (Ref:2490101)

Well he didn't say the North Pole in the winter, good chance it could be ice free this summer.

drdisque · 25 Jun 2009, 03:34 (Ref:2490197)

This is the first race I'll miss all year. Going rafting this weekend with my college buddies.

Yannick · 26 Jun 2009, 10:57 (Ref:2490979)

Apparently, Danica is known as sort of a short track specialist from seasons past, so I wouldn't rule her out completely - plus if she wants to play a role in the championship, a win is of the essence. And Richmond has been rather favorable to Team AGR in the past, too.

But it was Tomas Scheckter who really surprised me at Newton, Iowa. Here's hoping that he will have a good finishing position again.

But we can only say so much now. Let's wait until after qualifying.

DanicaFan · 26 Jun 2009, 18:54 (Ref:2491292)

Here is the qualification order..

1. #5 Mario Moraes
2. #11 Tony Kanaan
3. #26 Marco Andretti
4. #6 Ryan Briscoe
5. #27 Hideki Mutoh
6. #23 Tomas Scheckter
7. #9 Scott Dixon
8. #02 Graham Rahal
9. #18 Justin Wilson
10. #3 Helio Castroneves
11. #10 Dario Franchitti
12. #24 Mike Conway
13. #98 Jaques Lazier
14. #2 Raphael Matos
15. #4 Dan Wheldon
16. #14 Ryan Hunter-Reay
17. #13 EJ Viso
18. #06 Robert Doornbos
19. #20 Ed Carpenter
20. #7 Danica Patrick

DanicaFan · 26 Jun 2009, 19:05 (Ref:2491301)

Today's Practice session is over. Dario Franchitti topped the chart in this session. The suprise is Raphael Matos who was 2nd quickest. Danica was 11th.

Here are the results..

Car # & Driver / Time / Speed

1. #10 Dario Franchitti / 00:16.2518 / 166.135
2. #2 Raphael Matos / 00:16.2831 / 165.816
3. #9 Scott Dixon / 00:16.3570 / 165.067
4. #3 Helio Castroneves / 00:16.3618 / 165.019
5. #23 Tomas Scheckter / 00:16.3695 / 164.941
6. #13 EJ Viso / 00:16.3716 / 164.920
7. #4 Dan Wheldon / 00:16.4355 / 164.279
8. #27 Hideki Mutoh / 00:16.4515 / 164.119
9. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 00:16.5035 / 163.602
10. #26 Marco Andretti / 00:16.5134 / 163.504
11. #7 Danica Patrick / 00:16.5388 / 163.252
12. #02 Graham Rahal / 00:16.6002 / 162.649
13. #18 Justin Wilson / 00:16.6295 / 162.362
14. #24 Mike Conway / 00:16.6315 / 162.343
15. #11 Tony Kanaan / 00:16.6526 / 162.137
16. #06 Robert Doornbos / 00:16.6637 / 162.029
17. #5 Mario Moraes / 00:16.7620 / 161.079
18. #14 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 00:16.8310 / 160.418
19. #20 Ed Carpenter / 00:17.0220 / 158.618
20. #98 Jaques Lazier / 00:17.6426 / 153.039

DanicaFan · 26 Jun 2009, 22:22 (Ref:2491370)

Qualifications are over. Congrats to Dario Franchitti for winning the pole. Danica got p10.

Here is your starting line-up..

1 #10 Dario Franchitti - 167.315
2. #9 Scott Dixon - 166.638
3. #3 Helio Castroneves - 165.931
4. #6 Ryan Briscoe - 165.749
5. #02 Graham Rahal - 165.218
6. #2 Raphael Matos - 164.928
7. #13 EJ Viso - 164.629
8. #27 Hideki Mutoh - 164.575
9. #23 Tomas Scheckter - 164.441
10. #7 Danica Patrick - 164.197
11. #24 Mike Conway - 164.129
12. #06 Robert Doornbos -164.071
13. #4 Dan Wheldon - 163.843
14. #20 Ed Carpenter - 163.824
15. #18 Justin Wilson -163.506
16. # 26 Marco Andretti - 162.780
17. #11 Tony Kanaan - 162.634
18. #14 Ryan Hunter-Reay - 162.506
19. #5 Mario Moraes - 160.895
20. #98 Jaques Lazier - 153.176

DanicaFan · 27 Jun 2009, 01:44 (Ref:2491411)

The final practice session has just ended. Poor Mario Moraes made contact with the wall at the end. He is fine. Scott Dixon was the fastest. Poor old Jaques Lazier still way off pace. It was nice to see Dan Wheldon up there. Raphael Matos is having some good runs this weekend and its good to see EJ Viso have a good session. Im suprised Ryan Briscoe didnt do better. Danica in at 12th. Im hoping they can get that car running better tomorrow. Of course these times were all down a little due to it being an evening session.

Here are the results of the 2nd session.

1. #9 Scott Dixon - 161.917
2. #4 Dan Wheldon - 161.368
3. #3 Helio Castroneves - 160.943
4. #10 Dario Franchitti - 160.436
5. #02 Graham Rahal - 159.933
6. #2 Raphael Matos - 159.911
7. #13 EJ Viso - 159.601
8. #14 Ryan Hunter-Reay - 159.410
9. #11 Tony Kanaan - 159.301
10. #23 Tomas Scheckter - 159.275
11. #6 Ryan Briscoe - 159.120
12. #7 Danica Patrick - 157.692
13. #26 Marco Andretti - 157.395
14. #24 Mike Conway - 156.763
15. #20 Ed Carpenter - 156.428
16. #06 Robert Doornbos - 156.309
17. #5 Mario Moraes - 156.276
18. #18 Justin Wilson - 156.075
19. #27 Hideki Mutoh - 155.925
20. #98 Jaques Lazier - 149.988

jimclark · 27 Jun 2009, 03:26 (Ref:2491425)

DanicaFan - "down a little due to it being an evening session." I really don't think that's the reason. Heck, if anything, the cars should run quicker if they wanted to, as it's a tad cooler.
Lo and behold...Danica is going backwards again after qualifying, ehhh?

Tim Northcutt · 27 Jun 2009, 03:47 (Ref:2491432)

AGR as a team seems to be like a ship without a rudder right now....Mutoh is their top guy (8th) and Kanaan has had the roof fall on him since the 1st of May....He starts 17th....The tub he is in this weekend has been dubbed "Frankenstein" by the team, because they have pulled parts & pieces off of his various cars since May to cobble this thing together after wrecks, fires, and one car that was just a dog...

On Versus, Danica said that she thinks they are going to have to play "pit stop games" to pick up spots, because it is tough to pass at Richmond....

Maybe she should watch her mirrors...Conway is one spot behind her...The "Fluke" at Iowa might become a "Repeat" tomorrow night, because DRR's cars looked good in quals today...

Should add fuel to the fire in the "Danica vs. Mike" thread....

Enjoy the race, gang....Richmond always has an interesting plot unfold....

Tim Northcutt · 27 Jun 2009, 03:55 (Ref:2491434)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimclark

DanicaFan - "down a little due to it being an evening session." I really don't think that's the reason. Heck, if anything, the cars should run quicker if they wanted to, as it's a tad cooler.
Lo and behold...Danica is going backwards again after qualifying, ehhh?

Times are down due to teams putting race setups on the cars....they need grip in traffic, DanicaFan...Of course they will be slower....

Richmond is a bull ring that will be tightly bunched, and it is very tough to get the balance right on a short oval like that...

The dark horse to watch...

Scheckter...His four laps in quals were VERY consistent and decently quick...others fluctuated in their times...a guy who can go hard and be consistent will win on a track like this....

Could be fun

drewdawg727 · 27 Jun 2009, 17:45 (Ref:2491670)

I don't really speak too much on this message board, just come around for the pick 'ems...but let me hope that me coming out of my shell a bit here to say that tonight's race is going to be memorable bodes true! I have a feeling..

DanicaFan · 27 Jun 2009, 18:12 (Ref:2491675)

I know that Tim. I should of been more clear as to the cars being in "race trim" for the evening session.

Watch out for Danica though, Im telling you, I have this feeling she will win.

As for TK, it sickens me with the equipment he has been getting. I dont even like to discuss this situation.

**gomick** · 28 Jun 2009, 00:52 (Ref:2491786)

Lap 1 & Jacques Lazier crashes out by himself - did something break on his car or is he a waste of time...

**gomick** · 28 Jun 2009, 00:59 (Ref:2491789)

Briscoe

- very costly for the championship at this stage...

**gomick** · 28 Jun 2009, 01:35 (Ref:2491794)

Mike's into the wall

JagtechOhio · 28 Jun 2009, 01:52 (Ref:2491797)

So during the Yellow for Conway's shunt, I went out to the kitchen for a snack. There was a bunch of fruitflies buzzing around a half-rotted banana. After watching them for a few moments, it dawned on me that the race was not quite as interesting.

I'm going out to my shop, so it's up to you guys to fill me in on the rest of the "event". I promise I'll try real hard to care about the results.

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