Suburban Journals of Chicago Sports Page

Hinchcliffe wins another exciting

Lights Race at Chicagoland Speedway.

Yet another fantastic finish at the Chicagoland Speedway saw James Hinchcliffe beat out Pippa Mann on the last lap, denying her a first win.

This was James Hinchcliffe's first at Chicagoland and third of the season. He previosly won earlier this year at Long Beach and Edmonton, both road courses. It is his first win on an oval in Firestone Indy Lights. But as Indy Car driver Will Power said.. “An oval is just like a road course, only you turn left.”

The margin of victory of today's race was .0159 of a second. It's the third-closest finish in Firestone Indy Light history. Three of the four closest races in Firestone Indy Lights history have come at Chicagoland Speedway.

Close Tight Racing from the start…
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

"It was tough, I wasn't sure I would have enough. Pippa (Mann) was super strong. At the drop of the green, we had to make up from 13^th to first. I sort of went for it with two laps to go and I thought I may have gone a lap too early but I had a really good run off of Turn 2. I was able to get alongside Pippa and side-draft her a bit. She pushed me kind of high and that may have hurt her momentum a bit. Then the same thing off of Turn 4, and we were able to use the angle to run down to the start/finish line. That's Chicagoland racing.

Pippa Mann finished second, a career best finish in Firestone Indy Lights. Her previous best finish was fifth at Infineon two weeks ago.

Pippa Mann (#11) was strong the whole race.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

"Hinch and I did some side-by-side racing today and he had an awesome car. When he was right behind me on the last restart, I thought this is the last person I want to see in my mirrors and I mean that in the most complementary way. I had something for everyone out there today but the guy that crossed the line first. My team did an amazing job but at the end of the day, the better guy won the race.

Philip Major finish third, a career best finish in Firestone Indy Lights. His previous best finish was sixth in 2009 (Indianapolis, Iowa, Watkins Glen).

"Oh man, this is probably one of the craziest tracks I have ever raced at. It's my first time here. I don't remember a lap where we weren't side-by-side and almost banging wheels. It was crazy. In the end, you just have to feel out your car and make adjustments, put yourself in the right place and try to finish at the podium in the end.

It will be sad if the rumors hold true and Chicago will be part of the IRL & Lights past. Let’s hope the sun has not set on the Indy Car series here.