Justin Wilson Heads to the Finish
Line
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photo by Yolanda Rotor
Justin Wilson
Presses Castroneves for Win
at Detroit Indy Grand Prix…........Blocking Controversy Impacts
Castroneves
by Yolanda Rotor
It was 10:00 AM on a sunlit Sunday morning at the scenic Belle Isle
road course lined with trees and surrounded by a glittering river where
Indy driver Justin Wilson (Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing) began his race
day by running practice laps. However, after only
two laps Wilson knew that this day may not go his way as the #02
McDonalds car suffered a steering problem that prevented him from
finishing the warm-up laps. Despite the pre-race car issue, the 30 year
old Indy series rookie was able to taste the thrill of victory by
taking the checkered flag ahead of Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan to
win his first race of the season on Sunday afternoon at
the Detroit Indy Grand Prix. Justin commented: "It was a long tough
day, but we managed to stay clean, and we got great strategy and good
pit stops. The McDonald's team was doing a fantastic job. I was so
desperate to get a victory this year, my first one in IndyCar (Series)
and my first one with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. This means a lot.
It's the most important win of my career."
Wilson stalks behind Castroneves,
waiting for an opportunity.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photo by Yolanda Rotor
Wilson started the race in 4th position behind Scott Dixon the pole
sitter, Helio Castroneves and Oriol Servia. After Dixon (Target Chip
Ganassi) #9 car entered the pits on lap 15 on early fuel strategy and
Oriol Servia (KV Racing Technology) # 5 car went pitted on lap #30
Wilson moved up to 2nd behind the race leader Castroneves.
Pole winner
Scott Dixon is in front of team mate Helio
Castroneves
early in the
race.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photo by Dan Peters
Castroneves
grabs the front of the pack in the 20th lap of the day.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photos by Mark Rotor
Castroneves took the race lead on lap #20 and must have and his sights
on winning the race and cutting into Scott Dixon’s Indy car driver’s
points lead. However after leading 33 laps controversy
stuck as Castroneves was panelized by Indy car officials for blocking
the 2nd place car of Justin Wilson. On turn #12 Castroneves was
panelized for cutting low then high crossing in front of the #02 car
as Wilson attempted to pass Castroneves. Castroneves was ordered to go
behind the #02 car giving-up the race lead on lap #73.
Castroneves stalked Wilson without success for the next 14 laps as
Wilson crossed the finish line to win the Detroit Indy Grand Prix.
Danica Patrick rounds the curve,
there was a turn she missed.....
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photo by Dan Peters
Danica
Patrick comes loose on the turn........
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photo by Yolanda Rotor
An emotionally restrained Helio Castroneves comments after the race:
"Consistency is the only thing I ask for. I've been in this series
since 2002, and we never had a situation like this. We always have
a warning, and then if you do it again, then you're going to be
penalized. All of the sudden, I didn't get any warning. It was, 'Move
over, or you're going to be black flagged.' It was uncalled for. I know
that (Brian Barnhart) is trying to put pressure on and make everyone
disciplined, but two races to go for the championship, I don't think
it's the right thing to do."
The
winning team is pleased with the win.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photo by Dan Peters
During Wilson’s press conference the lanky 6-foot-3 British driver
commented on the blocking penalty: "Helio was racing hard. The
first yellow, I was right behind him and that's how it goes. It was
just hard racing. The second time I got a good run out of (Turn 12) and
started to overlap, and I had the inside for the next corner. Before
we got halfway down the straight, he started to come across and I had
to lift or we both were going to crash. I was a little upset at the
time, but I was relieved when the officials put it right."
Indy car President of Operations and Competition Brian Barnhart
released a statement about the blocking incident: "We talk about
blocking every week in the drivers' meeting and tell them what they can
and can't do and what the code of conduct is on the racetrack. (Helio
Castroneves) clearly moved his car to impede the progress
of a following car (Justin Wilson) and moved his car in response to the
actions and the line taken by a following car. I think Helio and
everyone associated knows that it's not what's expected and not what's
accepted of how we race out there. We want to race clean and fair and
we need to call them like we see them. You can't officiate based on
points or who's involved or what position they hold. You have to do it
out of fairness and competition."
Other notable incidents during the race included a 1st lap contact
between the #23 Car of Milka Duno (CITGO) and #18 car of Bruno
Janqueira (Z-Line Design) causing a yellow flag. Janqueira was
penalized by Indycar officials for “avoidable contact” and was sent
to the back of the field. Duno commented: “The over aggressive Bruno
moved to try and pass forcing me to hit the wall. As a result my rear
wing was damaged and the suspension.” In addition, a collision
on lap #33 between #7 car of Danica Patrick
(Andretti/Green Racing) and #4 car Vitor Meira (Panther Racing)
occurred as wheels touched. Patrick car was restarted and Meira
returned to the pits with fender damage. Patrick commented: “We had a
great car this weekend and unfortunately we encountered a couple of
incidents that put us a lap down. I was really hoping to finish strong
on the final road course of the season”
With one race to go in the 2008 Indy Car Points Championship Scott
Dixon leads Helio Castroneves by 30 points. The Peak Indy 300 race at
the Chicagoland speedway on September 7th will determine the outcome of
the driver’s points championship. Last year the point’s championship
alluded Dixon as it came down to the final race of the season at the
Chicagoland Speedway. Scott Dixon lead Dario Franchitti on the
final lap of the race and Dixon ran out of fuel. This year Dixon needs
to finish in 8th place or better to guaranty the 2008 drivers points
championship. Next year Dixon will not need to concern himself with
Dario Franchitti who announced on Tuesday his return to Indy car series
for the 2009 season. Dario will become Scott Dixon’s team mate joining
Target Chip Ganassi and replacing Dan Wheldon in the #10 car.
 
Milka Dunno and Danica Patrick
were polite to one another today.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photos by Mark Rotor
POST-RACE NOTES:
·
This is the second IndyCar Series victory for Newman/Haas/Lanigan
Racing. The team also won with Graham Rahal at St. Petersburg in April.
·
Wilson is the ninth driver to win this season, tying the record for
most drivers to win in a season (1996/97, 2002, 2003 and 2005).
·
Helio Castroneves finished second for the record eighth
time this season. He clinched the three bonus points for most laps led
during the race.
·
Castroneves made his 111th consecutive start, passing
Sam Hornish Jr. for the second-longest streak all time. Scott Sharp
holds the record with 138 consecutive starts.
·
Tony Kanaan finished third, his seventh podium finish
of the season.
·
Oriol Servia finished fourth, his fourth top-five finish
of the season.
·
Scott Dixon finished fifth, his 13th top-five finish of
the season.
·
Dixon led 18 laps and has led 885 laps this season. He needs to lead
five more laps to break Tony Kanaan's record
for laps led in a season set in 2004.
·
Bruno Junqueira improved 17 positions during the race
to finish seventh, his second top-10 finish of the season.
·
Will Power finished eighth, his fourth top-10 finish of the season.
Justin
Wilson Gets More than a Happy Meal...
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photo by Yolanda Rotor
The shoreline even better after a
good win..
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
photo by Mark Rotor
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