Keselowski Kicks Cup Competitors for Bristol Win

Photo Credit: Brian Czobat/Autostock

The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race of the 2012 season held on a track under a mile in length, the 0.533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway served as the stage of 43 cars competing for the Food City 500.

 

A Sunday event offering a scheduled course of 500 laps, the Food City 500 in Bristol, Tennessee started with race’s pole sitter Roush Fenway Racing #16 Ford driver Greg Biffle taking the outside line for the start. A decision occasionally exercised by the pole sitter or race leader on coming to a green flag, Greg Biffle’s choice for the outside line was very much allowed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup rulebook. Since a dramatic resurfacing of the Bristol short track was performed in 2007, variable banking meant that competitors could chose various fast lines around the oval. For Biffle, taking the green flag on the outside lane for the start of the Food City 500 worked flawlessly in establishing the #16 Ford Fusion as the early favourite at Bristol. Leading the first 41 laps, the Food City 500 pace early was important to Greg Biffle’s presence at the top of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver’s standings.

 

With rain washing off the Bristol Motor Speedway surface the night before the afternoon event, NASCAR was prepared to throw a competition caution in order to help teams adjust to the altered racing conditions. Set for lap 50, there would be no need for the scheduled yellow flag. Initialized with contact between the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet of Kasey Kahne and the #78 Furniture Row Chevrolet through the track‘s frontstretch, the resulting pile-up swept up some front-running mainstays early in the Food City 500. The #99 Ford of Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch’s #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, the #9 Ford of Marcos Ambrose and Kevin Harvick’s #29 Chevrolet all sustained some form of noticeable damage from a multi-car tangle in turn 1.

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Under the yellow flag for 22 laps, there was a considerable time during the Food City 500 for all cars to adjust and repair their stock car. Despite the early carnage, NASCAR Sprint Cup team members thrashed away at the damage race vehicles eventually returning every car involved in the lap 24 crash. While cars like the #29 Richard Childress Racing-owned #29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick were serviced on pit road, the race vehicles of Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards required extensive work behind the wall that would trap both drivers down multiple laps for the event.

 

During the pit stop cycle where the NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors, the Penske Racing #22 Dodge piloted by AJ Allmendinger stayed on the race track becoming the new leader of the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Despite being challenged by cars with better tires, Allmendinger held on to the race’s top spot for an impressive 54 laps. However, after Allmendinger was passed by a Michael Waltrip Racing-owned #55 Toyota, the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger would become more of a handful for the driver over the course of the short track event. Never regaining the lead, AJ Allmendinger’s struggle into the later stages of the race ended with a 17th place finish two laps down.

 

Photo Credit: Russell LaBounty

 

 

 

Taking the lead on lap 118, the #55 Toyota Camry (driven by Mark Martin during the first three races as part of his limited schedule on the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule), Brian Vickers was wheeling the Michael Waltrip Racing stock car. Left without a ride after the 2011 when Team Red Bull Racing exited the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Vickers’ 2012 debut at Bristol was a one chance to showcase his driving talent during the young tour. Leading three times for a total of 125 laps, Brian Vickers definitely sent a clear message that the two-time Sprint Cup Series race winning driver was determined and talented enough for more events.

 

Along with Vickers’, the Michael Waltrip Racing team surrounding the part-time driver also showed off some fantastic talent through the Bristol Motor Speedway race. The team’s #56 NAPA Toyota driven by Martin Truex Jr did not lead a lap at in the Food City 500 by hung around the front pack throughout the event to finish third at Bristol. Behind Truex Jr, Clint Bowyer would finish the Food City 500 a strong 4th after several hiccups in the 2012 season to date. Leading so many laps through the mid-stage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Brian Vickers ended the 500-lap race in 5th place.

 

With only five cautions breaking up an otherwise rather tame Bristol short track event, only the lap 24 caution resulted in several cars being victimized by a single mishap on-track. Other notable caution in the Food City 500 came on lap 361 through the interaction between two Hendrick Motorsports teammates. Running side-by-side down the backstretch, the #88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon’s #24 Chevrolet touched each other gently on the side panels. Looking like innocent contact for an instant, the impact would cut-down Gordon’s left rear tire causing the #24 Chevrolet to veer into the turn 3 wall. Is it believed that the exhaust pipe area of the #88 car sliced the Goodyear tire of Jeff Gordon’s car to cause the incident.

Photo Credit: Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

As an infuriated Gordon would finish 105 laps down at Bristol netting a 35th place finish, his teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr would see his top-5 effort go down the tubes due to a late-race speeding penalty. The #88 Chevrolet would limp around the Bristol Motor Speedway for a 15th place result.

 

A race controlled early by Penske Racing’s #22 car, the #2 Miller Lite Dodge of Brad Keselowski would emerge to the front on lap 217. Narrowly averting involvement in the lap 24 accident, Keselowski was seeking an opportunity to win repeat Bristol races following his summer 2011 victory at the short track.

Challenged by Matt Kenseth’s #17 Ford Fusion, the #2 Dodge survived a late race caution to triumph at the short track. Leading 232 laps of the Food City 500 (including the final 111 laps), Keselowski wins his first event in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. With Dodge entering the winner’s circle for this fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season, every auto company involved in the tour his won an event.

 

Behind Brad Keselowski, the top-5 for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway featured Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr, Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers.

 

 

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Food City 500
Bristol Motor Speedway
Race Results

 

1. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
2. 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
3. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
4. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
5. 55 Brian Vickers Aaron's Toyota
6. 31 Jeff Burton BB&T Chevrolet
7. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet
8. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
9. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet
10. 27 Paul Menard Menards / MOEN Chevrolet
11. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
12. 39 Ryan Newman Quicken Loans Chevrolet
13. 16 Greg Biffle 811 / 3M Ford
14. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet
15. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet
16. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
17. 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
18. 51 Kurt Busch Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
19. 43 Aric Almirola Charter Communications Ford
20. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota
21. 10 David Reutimann TRADEBANK Chevrolet
22. 33 Brendan Gaughan South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet
23. 34 David Ragan Long John Silver's Ford
24. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing / CSX Play It Safe Chevrolet
25. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Ford
26. 38 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
27. 93 Travis Kvapil Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
28. 47 Bobby Labonte Clorox / Scott Products Toyota
29. 83 Landon Cassill Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota
30. 49 JJ Yeley JPO Absorbents Toyota
31. 98 Michael McDowell K LOVE - Let It Start With Me Ford
32. 18 Kyle Busch Wrigley Doublemint Toyota
33. 32 Ken Schrader We Drive Sales - TMone.com Ford
34. 36 Dave Blaney Seal Wrap / Widow Wax Chevrolet
35. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
36. 9 Marcos Ambrose MAC Tools Ford
37. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
38. 30 David Stremme Food Country USA / Inception Motorsports Toyota
39. 99 Carl Edwards Kellogg's / Cheez-It Ford
40. 87 Joe Nemechek AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
41. 23 Scott Riggs North Texas Pipe Chevrolet
42. 74 Reed Sorenson Carnegie Hotel / Turn One Racing Chevrolet
43. 26 Josh Wise Morristown Drivers Service Ford

Timothy Peters spins and wins at Lucas Oil Raceway

Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

By Jim Pedley
Special to Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(July 29, 2011)

CLERMONT, Ind.—A flat tire turned out to be one of the biggest breaks of Camping World Truck Series driver Timothy Peters’ career.

That flat tire occurred just before the halfway point in Friday night’s AAA Insurance 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway. It put him off cycle in terms of pit stops, allowed his crew to improve his truck and paved the way for Peters to take the lead with six laps to go.

Once in the lead, Peters went on to get his first victory of the season and third of his career.

"That’s what saved our night right there," Peters said.

The truck he passed with six laps to go belonged to James Buescher, who led from just past the halfway point until being overtaken by Peters.

Buescher, 21, was going for the first victory of his career in his 60th start.

"It’s definitely frustrating when you lose the lead that late," said Buescher, who led a race-high 97 laps. "Can’t get any closer to a win than that. But we had nothing for him."

David Starr was third, his first top five since October 2009 at Talladega. Rookie Miguel Paludo finished fourth, and Ron Hornaday Jr. was fifth.

Rounding out the top 10 were Matt Crafton, rookies Joey Coulter and Cole Whitt, polesitter Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain, who was making his first start.

Coulter was the last car on the lead lap as the final 107 of 200 laps were run under green. The race set a record for fewest cautions—four—for a truck race at the .686-mile track. The second caution, for 17 of the 28 laps run under yellow, was because of rain.

Peters’ fateful flat occurred just before he made contact with Steve Arpin. Peters said he didn’t even realize he had cut the tire until much later.

During the ensuing pit stop, crew chief Butch Hylton and his crew went to work with a series of adjustments to the track bar and tire pressures. Peters’ Toyota Tundra, which was slow off the truck Friday morning, came alive.

Points leader Johnny Sauter also suffered a cut tire, but he finished 23rd. He also damaged a track bar. Before those troubles, Sauter, who started the race leading the standings by 18 points over Dillon, had led 44 laps and appeared to be the driver to beat.

Dillon led 36 laps and closed to four points of Sauter. He also closed in on a postrace confrontation with Todd Bodine. The two tangled late in the race, and Dillon didn’t like it. He blocked Bodine’s way on pit road after the cool-down laps.

Bodine, who finished 12th, took the blame for the incident and apologized.

"I thought I was clear (of Dillon)," Bodine said. "Austin is the last person in the world I would do that to."

Friday Adventure at the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto Part 2

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

With the Castrol Canadian Touring Car series, Ferrari Challenge and Firestone Indy Lights already having a crack at the temporary street course on the 2011 Honda Indy Friday, it was time for the headlining IZOD INDYCAR Series to blitz the Toronto track.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/ XSL Speed Reporter

Venturing through the team's paddock area ahead of the practice, I positioned myself on the road stretch between the paddock and pit lane called Gasoline Alley in preparations for seeing majority of the cars and drivers for the first time on the Friday. One of the first cars rolling down gasoline alley was the #9 Target/Chip Ganassi Racing car to be piloted by New Zealand's Scott Dixon. The #82 KV Racing Technology car of Tony Kanaan was wheeled out just behind the #9 car for the morning practice session. Coming off the 2nd place at Iowa Speedway two weeks before, Kanaan has come close to race victory many times in the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR season.

As the open wheel racing vehicles began collecting in greater numbers on Gasoline Alley, it has drawn an increased number of race spectators. It was this time in my Friday visit, I realized two things about the 2011 Honda Indy of Toronto; firstly, there were definitely a greater number of race fans at the event and second some of them seem to get even ruder with each passing year. I admit I do not appreciate being in large crowds but there is something that needs to be said on people who crowd me within inches. As the IZOD INDYCAR Series vehicles were preparing to enter pit road for first practice, some people insisted on being almost directly behind me. Finding it extremely uncomfortable, I lowered myself to keeling in order to get some space. As a person who does not like cramped crowds, I decided after many of the cars and drivers have flooded into the pit road stalls that I would regain my insanity by visiting the Firestone Indy Lights paddock. After quickly taking in the action on the support series paddock area, the Honda engines of the IZOD INDYCAR Series engines began to buzz around the 1.755-mile circuit.

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

The headliner, the big show for the 2011 Honda Indy, the IZOD INDYCAR Series rolled into town for their first road course race since the Sao Paulo Indy 300 at the beginning of May. In risk of having some serious cobwebs for to shake off their left and right actions with the steering wheel, the drivers and teams performed near flawlessly on the first practice session. However, there was one incident where hometown rookie driver James Hinchcliffe stalled his #06 Newman/Haas Racing Dallara-Honda. Making his first laps around the street circuit as a driver in the IZOD INDYCAR Series, Hinchcliffe's history with the race dates back through childhood where he attended the event religiously. James Hinchcliffe has referred to the INDYCAR event in Toronto as “Christmas”. Believe me, I can certainly identify with that feeling.

Photo Credit: Christopher Nagy/XSL Speed Reporter

Sitting in the frontstretch grandstands, I overlooked the pit road work of the teams tending to their Dallara-Honda racing machines. Hearing the rush of IZOD INDYCAR vehicles alongside the start/finish stretch, most of the morning practice session time was spent overlooking the pits of the #06 Newman/Haas Racing team and #5 KV Racing Technology team serving Japanese driver Takuma Sato. As 24 degree Celsius temperatures in the air cook the track surface (said to be 38 degrees in surface temperature), the 1 hour, 15 minute time on track gave a true picture to the reason I love summer.

Below is a video compilation I created on Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe and the #06 Newman/Haas Racing at the Honda Indy Friday.

James Hinchcliffe at 2011 Honda Indy Toronto

Franchitti Wins Calamity-Filled Honda Indy Toronto

Photo Credit: Chris Jones

An event celebrating 25 years of running around the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, the Honda Indy of Toronto presents a generation full of great moments. In the inaugural 1986 open wheel round held on the Canadian temporary street course, Bobby Rahal claimed victory shortly after taking the year's Indy 500. For 7 of the 24 previous race runnings, Michael Andretti hoisted the Toronto race trophy. For occasions, the open wheel race in Toronto saw a Canadian challenger take the coveted race as local hero Paul Tracy won in 1993 and 2003.

Sporting a rich history of exciting open wheel racing, the 2011 edition of the Honda Indy started event as 26 IZOD INDYCAR Series competitors fire up Honda V-8 racing engines. For the 25th Sunday event on the 1.755-mile street course Canadian actor Dan Ackroyd gave a bellowing command to start those engines.

Taking the pole with an under-1 minute qualifying time, defending 2010 Honda Indy champion Will Power started the 2011 event on the front row with Scott Dixon alongside. With only 6 Honda Indy events won by the pole sitter, Power and the #12 Penske Racing team had their work cut out for them in efforts to repeat a victory lane appearance. Will Power's 8th consecutive road course pole in the IZOD INDYCAR Series parlayed a 33-lap initial lead at the Honda Indy Toronto as the Target Chip Ganassi Racing cars of Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti hung close behind.

As the green flag initiated the 85-lap race, the term "avoidable contact" was uttered quite often during and after the course of the 2011 Honda Indy of Toronto. At the typical problem area of the turn 3, Tony Kanaan in the #82 KV Racing Technology car became the first victim of what would be a series of on-track contact. Rushing into the turn in the third lap of the event, the #82 was being challenged on the inside of the Lakeshore Boulevard stretch by the #6 Penske Racing car of Ryan Briscoe. Bring early in the Honda Indy race, Kanaan gave Briscoe room to safely turn through the slow, tight turn 3. Despite the space presented, the #6 Dallara-Honda swung wide catching the right rear wheel of the #82 KV Racing Technology car. Spinning the #82 car into the outer wall, Tony Kanaan's day ended with severe suspension damage to his Dallara. Stepping out of his car, Kanaan immediately expressed heated displeasure to Ryan Briscoe as the #6 Penske Racing car rounded the track under caution. Used to being in contention for wins in the past month, Tony Kanaan's IZOD INDYCAR race in Toronto ended before the #82 car had a chance to mount a change.

Photo Credit: Jim Haines

As the Honda Indy ran under a full-course yellow to retrieve Kanaan's wrecked race car, a restart on lap 6 was followed quickly by more action within the turn 3 area of the Toronto street course. Under braking entering the corner, Danica Patrick's #7 Andretti Autosport car received hard rear end contact from Takuma Sato as she braked for the turn. Calling Sato "an idiot" over her in-car radio, Patrick was able to continue back to the pit road but Takuma Sato's #5 KV Racing Technology. Both drivers would finish the 2011 Honda Indy but would reside 6 laps down at the end of the event. In the case of Patrick, she would also get caught in a later caution. As the #7 car would end up needing two nose cone assembly changes, Danica Patrick finished the race wearing a share front end piece from her Andretti Autosport's teammate Marco Andretti's #26 car.

The first Canadian IZOD INDYCAR Series event of the 2011 season, the Honda Indy Toronto propels three drivers deeper into the race weekend spotlight. Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani and James Hinchcliffe are provided with the additional pleasure (or perhaps burden) of competing on front of a hometown crowd. While fanfare was at an all-time high for each Canadian driver, the track results through the weekend was an effort accompanied with less than impressive qualifying runs for Sunday's event. As the race started, all three drivers began to assert themselves at the Toronto event. Starting 24th driving the #8 Dragon Racing Make a Wish Canada car, Paul Tracy charged 5 spots in the first handful of race laps. Driving his regular #77 ride for Sam Schmidt Racing, Alex Tagliani was eager to show pace early in the event. Looking good up to the first round of pit stops, Tagliani's Toronto race would quickly turn sour on lap 31 when Helio Castroneves made contact with the #77 car in turn 3. While the damage was minimal, many at the race track took note of the 2009 tangle Castroneves had for other Canadian driver Paul Tracy at the event. The contact between Helio Castroneves and Alex Tagliani brought out the race's second full course caution.

In the first 1/3 stage of the Honda Indy Toronto for the IZOD INDYCAR Series, several teams deeper in the field began to short pit hoping to take advantage of a caution. Thanks to the Tagliani/Castroneves caution on lap 31, there was a chance for some to capitalize on the fact the top-three drivers Will Power, Scott Dixon and Mike Conway had no pitted. As those vehicles came to attention of pit road during the caution period, Dario Franchitti took over the race lead. On a lap 36 restart James Hinchcliffe, the rookie Canadian driver wheeling the #06 car for Newman/Haas Racing for the 2011 Honda Indy, was elevated to 5th place in the field. Attempting to retain the high track position, Hinchcliffe immediately fell under the challenge of fellow Canadian Paul Tracy. Watching the open wheel race as a spectator for almost his entire life, James Hinchcliffe would end up dicing with the heroic two-time race winner. Through turn 3 at lap 37, Tracy drew along the inside Hinchcliffe's #06 car for position. Unwilling to give up his spot, Hinchcliffe matched wits with Tracy's trademark aggression. Racing side-by-side skillfully through the tight turn 3 and 4 stretch, turn 5 would see the thrilling duke-out between the two Canadians. Out of the fifth turn of the Toronto track, Hinchcliffe's and Tracy's cars slid together. Making contact on track, Paul Tracy received the worst of the incident requiring the West Hill, Ontario native to participate in an extended time on pit road. Finishing 16th on the day, Tracy responded about his 2011 Honda Indy in post-race saying, "Today wasn't the best day for us Canadians and our team. We had a great car and made our way through the field, making it all the way to the top-five. Unfortunately, cars got in our way and ended our day early, causing us to go two laps down for the rest of the day."

Through the mid-point of the Honda Indy Toronto, the on-track impacts between vehicles has grown to the point that unscheduled pit stops were common place. On lap 42, Graham Rahal limped to attention of his Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing team with a flat rear tire caused by contact with another car. Six laps later, the #28 Andretti Autosport piloted by Ryan Hunter-Reay needed to have a loose front wing replaced. Ironically, these unscheduled pit stops would provide them with a chance at the race's victory. Hunter-Reay's pit stop came shortly ahead of a turn 3 jam-up involving Paul Tracy, Victor Meira, Sebastien Bourdais and Charlie Kimball. The fourth full course caution of the race, the race would be slowed four more times in the final 28 laps.

As the IZOD INDYCAR racers ran through the final stage of the event in Toronto, the race quickly evolved into a heavy contact street fight. One of the most controversial coming-togethers at the 2011 Honda Indy occurred between the top two points contenders in the series overall points. Into turn 3, Dario Franchitti dived under the #12 Penske Racing car of Will Power. Within the turn, Franchitti bumped Power's car dropping him from contention in the race. With major championship implications at stake, INDYCAR race control reviewed the incident. Upon the review, there was no penalty issued to the #10 car of Franchitti for the contact (the Versus television broadcast mistakenly announced there was a penalty issued but the decision was reversed).

Insult to injury was added to Will Power later on lap 65 when he was shoved by Alex Tagliani's #77 car. Out of the race, the Australian Power had harsh and angry words with both drivers who eventually led him to a second DNF in a row. "I understood he was going to get penalized but then there was no call - I just don't understand that." Will Power said after the race expressing at one point that Dario Franchitti is getting away with several incidents without penalty throughout the season. Commenting about Tagliani, Power called the French-Canadian driver "a wanker".

From lap 49, the Honda Indy Toronto was led by the #38 of Graham Rahal who was remaining on track with more worn tires and less ethanol fuel than other contenders. Needing cautions laps to make a legitimate effort to finish the 85-lap distance without an added pit stop, Rahal was aided by the considerable yellow flag periods. Holding off Ryan Hunter-Reay on a lap 61 restart, Rahal was holding on to the lead of a race his father once 25 years before.

Ending a race gone bad on lap 72, Alex Tagliani was caught in a turn 3 wreck which involved the #7 car of Danica Patrick and the #18 of James Jakes. Clipping one of the cars, Tagliani's #77 was launched onto two wheels crashing onto the outer race track fence. Despite the scary angle of Tagliani hitting the wall with the top side of his vehicle, the driver was not in danger and got out of the car without injury. Tagliani finished in 23rd place after retiring from the IZOD INDYCAR event. A short-lived restart, their was a lead change as Dario Franchitti's #10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car passes Graham Rahal to assume the top position.

Photo Credit: LAT USA /INDYCAR

One final full course caution came out on lap 77 following a four-race pile-up through turn 1. Resulting as a chain reaction when the #26 of Marco Andretti touched the #2 car of Oriol Servia, Servia's car whacked Justin Wilson's #22 car. Creating a congested track, James Hinchcliffe and Charlie Kimball made minimum contact with the stopped Servia car. Under the yellow flag, the field diverted around turn 1 while Hinchcliffe and Servia awaited a chance to rejoin the race. The Newman/Haas Racing cars completed the Honda Indy event with notable hometown rookie James Hinchcliffe finishing 14th place. Hinchcliffe would be the highest finishing Canadian driver.

On the final restart, Target Chip Ganassi Racing cars of Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon swept into the top-two spots by the end of the Lakeshore Boulevard stretch. In control of the race, the efforts of the red cars were helped on lap 79 restart lap when Ryan Hunter-Reay collided with Graham Rahal's #38 car. Despite being in the thick of things for the winning the event in the late laps, the #38 Service Central car ended the Honda Indy in 13th place. "It was really frustrating to get hit there at the end, I really thought we were going to have a good finish for the Service Central team" Rahal said following the event.

Cruising to victory with only his teammate Scott Dixon venturing an occasional move for the lead, Dario Franchitti take the checkered flag for the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto. Having won his third Honda Indy event, Franchitti also won has 4th event of the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR series season and a 30th American open wheel racing event. "I was pretty happy just be in the company of Rick and J.R., and to get my 30^th win today means a lot, especially here in Toronto, I got my first pole here in 1997. I love racing in Canada." Franchitti said in post race. In relationship to the collision with Will Power, Franchitti said after the race he was willing to take more than 50 percent of the blame for the incident but also argued the #12 Penske Racing driver had responsibility for the spin. "We had that incident with Will. He outbraked himself to outbrake me and opened up the door, I went down the inside, I held the wall and Will came down. I put my nose in there, I was trying to get my nose out, but ultimately he closed the door and paid the price."

With Scott Dixon taking a runner-up position, Andretti Autosport drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti put in a great showing at a track their team owner Michael Andretti won 7-times at through his driving career. Rebounding from his own troubles in the race, Vitor Meira brought his AJ Foyt-owned car to a top-five finish in Toronto. For the 2011 IZOD INDYCAR season, the result for Meira and the #14 team is a best result. A trio of other strong finishes in the Honda Indy Toronto includes Sebastien Bourdais completing the race in 6th place, Simona de Silvestro in 10th in her return to the series and Ana Beatriz who charged from 26th to finish 11th.

Beyond the results, the 2011 Honda Indy ended as a hot race accompanied with hot tempers. Whether this sizzling will cool ahead of the next race at Edmonton in two weeks will depend on the drivers. However, for the fans who have witnessed this wild 25th anniversary Honda Indy, it becomes so hard to believe a 1.755-mile circuit could provide such an action-packed weekend.

2011 IZOD INDYCAR Series
Honda Indy Toronto
Streets of Toronto
Race Results

1. 10 Dario Franchitti/Scotland/ Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
2. 9 Scott Dixon/New Zealand/ Target/Chip Ganassi Racing
3. 28 Ryan Hunter-Reay/United States/Andretti Autosport
4. 26 Marco Andretti/United States/ Andretti Autosport
5. 14 Vitor Meira/Brazil/ AJ Foyt Racing Enterprises
6. 19 Sebastien Bourdais/France/Dale Coyne Racing
7. 6 Ryan Briscoe/Australia/ Penske Racing
8. 4 JR Hildebrand/United States/ Panther Racing
9. 58 EJ Viso/Venezuela/ KV Racing Technology
10. 78 Simona De Silvestro/Switzerland/ HVM Racing
11. 24 Ana Beatriz/Brazil/ Dreyer & Reinbold
12. 2 Oriol Servia/Spanish/ Newman/Haas Racing
13. 38 Graham Rahal/United States/Chip Ganassi Racing
14. 06 James Hinchcliffe/Canada/ Newman/Haas Racing
15. 22 Justin Wilson/England/ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
16. 8 Paul Tracy/Canada/Dragon Racing
17. 3 Helio Castroneves/Brazil/ Penske Racing
18. 18 James Jakes/England/ Dale Coyne Racing
19. 7 Danica Patrick/United States/ Andretti Autosport
20. 5 Takuma Sato/Japan/ KV Racing Technology
21. 83 Charlie Kimball/United States/ Chip Ganassi Racing
22. 27 Mike Conway/England/Andretti Autosport
23. 77 Alex Tagliani/Canada/ Sam Schmidt Racing
24. 12 Will Power/Australia/ Penske Racing
25. 34 Sebastian Saavedra/Columbia/ Conquest Racing
26. 82 Tony Kanaan/Brazil/ KV Racing Technology

Fireworks All Around at Daytona as Harvick Claims Coke Zero 400

Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/ Getty Images for NASCAR

Through the month of June, some NASCAR fans could argue that the latter 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup shows have equated to less than stellar competitions. With two events ending during suspect debris flag cautions which created a last race dash for the checkered flag, the art of active passes for the lead (not just exchanges due to pit stops) appeared to be a dying art form in this most popular stock car racing series. The Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway a potent counter to the rather dull racing action.

With much ado about racing on the 31 year old asphalt surface, a sense of nostalgia hung over the 2.5 mile superspeedway compounded with Dale Earnhardt Jr's victory in a Wrangler-sponsored #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. As the green green dropped for the Coke Zero 400, attention was turned to the present and a 90-minute race delay due to a light rain shower.

Setting the field on points based on a Friday rain-out of qualifying, the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevy of Kevin Harvick led the 43-car field to green. From the start, Harvick was destined to prove that the appointed pole position was worthy for himself and the RCR team. Briefly breaking away with a four-car pack, challengers to Harvick came fast and often. On lap 11, Jeff Gordon took the lead in the #24 Chevrolet for one lap and then Kyle Busch's #18 Toyota surged forward to a few laps prior to the competition caution.

With the field coming to the attention of their pit crews, Kevin Harvick's #29 retook the lead through a two-tire pit stop advantage over Kyle Busch. As the green flew, the field of Sprint Cup cars continued to fight hard within the Coke Zero 400. Surprises added to the lead pack of this Daytona restrictor plate event as Elliott Sadler, Martin Truex Jr and Sam Hornish Jr were enjoying season-best runs through the early stage of the Daytona Sprint Cup race.

Into the initial laps of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, tires became a major buzz subject. On lap 28, contender Kyle Busch brought his Interstate Batteries Toyota to the attention of his Joe Gibbs Racing crew citing a loose wheel. After the stop, Kyle Busch in the #18 Toyota would rejoin the race in 38th place benefiting at least from the long 2.5 mile oval keeping him on the lead lap.

Kevin Harvick, able to retain the lead early in the run taking only right-side rubber only, began falling prey to the cars wearing four tires as the #29 was failing to keep grip on the paced Daytona surface. Harvick would fall to 14th while Kurt Busch driving the #2 Miller Lite Dodge led the pack. Sadler also led the race within the first 1/4 distance in his #19 Ford but the Penske Racing NASCAR teams came on strong as the #2, #12 and #77 would lead.

With pit stops occurring 30 laps prior, top cars such as the #48 Chevy of Jimmie Johnson and the #17 Ford of Matt Kenseth pitted with concerned with their tires. In fact, on the #17 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford, a massive chunk was missing out of one tire. On lap 59, a yellow flag fell on the field when debris from the #46 car lost right front tire. NASCAR waited several laps aon flying the caution same race teams were making pit stops.

On the resatrt on lap 64, Montoya sends the Target #42 Chevrolet to the lead. Having started the race from the rear in a backup car, #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin had progressed quickly into the top-5 by lap 65. By lap 77, Hamlin claimed the lap lead allowing him to score five bonus points to the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Showing some consistent strength, the Joe Gibbs Racing organization found their way to the front. Recovering from the tire problem of lap 28, Kyle Busch would resume leadership of the Coke Zero 400 right before the event's halfway mark ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Sam Hornish. The lead would be jockeyed around as the field neared green flag pit stops.

Amongst the exchange of cars reentering the track on lap 104, Kyle Busch was turned by the #42 of Juan Pablo Montoya down Daytona's superstretch. Acquiring hard front end damage, the #18 was retired on the apron of turn 3 with an understandably disgruntled Kyle Busch stepping out of his #18 Toyota. Sarcastically remarking that he wrecked himself, Busch left little hide his emotions of what he felt was avoidable contact from the #42 Chevy.

With a restart on lap 111, Montoya led over Mark Martin #5 Chevy (Martin's pit stop timing allowed him to gain this position). Well past halfway in the Daytona 400 mile race, the early tire issues seemed to have settled itself out. However, on lap 114 Matt Kenseth barely avoided setting off what could have been a multi-car crash through master car control. Experiencing a second tire related problem , the #17 Ford of Kenseth rejoined the field cleanly but an accident was destined to transpire within the Sprint Cup field on lap 116. In turn 3, the #6 Ford team of David Ragan had his second crash of the weekend when he collided with the #1 Chevy of Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray.

Multi-car organizations were a major factor for the Coke Zero 400. First with Penske Racing and then with Joe Gibbs Racing, the team that would emerge supreme at the end was Richard Childress Racing. While Kevin Harvick and the #29 team showed power early, the entire three-car team united at the front through the last 1/4 distance as #31 of Jeff Burton and the #33 belonging to driver Clint Bowyer began swapping the lead within the most aggressive final stints of the Coke Zero 400. Hoping to spoil the effort was the #2 of Kurt Busch who took the lead as a caution again flew on lap 141. The #17 Ford was finally claimed after averting so many potential wrecks. The #5 of Mark Martin and the #19 of Elliot Sadler were also involved in this incident which would only be a precursor to what would be a big wreck a few circuits following a lap 146 restart.

Running down the Daytona superstretch, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton heatedly fought for position rubbing into each other. Burton got wobbly but caught his #31 car but contact was made once again with the #2 Dodge sending Kurt Busch sideways into the turn 3 infield. As the result of the contact up front, a chain reaction caused the #83 Toyota being driven by Reed Sorenson to be turned while traveling down the backstretch. This triggered a massive pile-up amounting to a wall of cars through turn 3 collecting at least 16 cars including the winner of the last two Cup races Jimmie Johnson.


Photo Credit: John Harrelson/ Getty Images for NASCAR

Phenomenally, coming through the wreck nearly unscathed was the #88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr. While never having an ideal handling car within the Coke Zero 400, the Hendrick Motorsport #88 car was lucky for a change to not be caught in misfortune.

Necessitating a red flag to clean up the chaos, Mark Martin returned to he pit road with his #5 car on fire as some fast-acting members of the #48 helped removed the driver from the car. Fortunately, Martin was none the worst for wear following the scary ordeal. Involved in the accident, the #2 Dodge of Kurt Busch left with minor damage but with the persistent efforts of his Miller Lite Penske Racing pit crew was returned to racing action.

Creating a 8 lap dash to settle this NASCAR Sprint Cup race, the green flag flew with Clint Bowyer restarting on the outside as the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards started on the inside. The Richard Childress Racing three-car group all hung together in the draft making the efforts of other cars difficult. However, showing up to the front at just the perfect time, Jeff Gordon brought his #24 Chevrolet in front of Burton breaking the three-way draft on lap 156 and would swim to the lead one lap later. Just before the RCR team could retaliate, caution came out timely on lap 158 when the #77 of Hornish swept up to teammate Kurt Busch's #2 car out of turn 4 tapping himself into a wreck which involved the #19 Ford of Elliott Sadler who retired in the tri-oval after such a promising race early.

With a green-white-checker restart, the #29 of Kevin Harvick returned to the front surging past the #24 with a push from Kasey Kahne's #9 Ford. Into the last lap, the potential winner Clint Bowyer was sent out of control down the Daytona backstretch through a frenzy to the checkered flag. Since the accident happened as the field was already passing the #33 Chevy, no caution allowed the field to race back to the finish line for position. At the line, Kevin Harvick brought his #29 RCR Chevy home first followed by Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon. With many cars lost due to accidents, cars continued to wreck as they past the start/finish line.

After 4 and half hours which involved rain, a red flag and one of the most exciting 400 miles (actually 415 miles following 6 extra laps created by the green-white-checker restart) Daytona Sprint Cup race has ever experienced on the 2.5 mile superspeedway, Kevin Harvick took his second win of the season padding a healthy point advantage over 2nd place in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.

Finishing fourth and now 11th in NASCAR Sprint Cup driver's points, Dale Earnhardt Jr ended up with his best performance in the last quarter of the season but your would not have been able to tell by the #88 Chevy driver's post-race interview. Describing as team as 'lucky rather than good' for the night, he confessed that the wrecks allowed the Hendrick Motorsport car to rise at the end. Though 4th at Daytona, Earnhardt Jr was unable to lead a single lap in the Coke Zero 400.

Upon surprises in the top 10 were several cars including both Red Bull Racing cars (Reed Sorenson in 8th and Scott Speed in 10th) as well as the TRG Motorsports #71 Chevrolet piloted by Mike Bliss for the weekend. A team vacated by Bobby Labonte two races prior unsatisfied that the #71 Chevy was going to be a start-and-park machine too often, the TRG Motorsports team went to distance. Also going the distance was the Tommy Baldwin Racing #36 Chevrolet which charged from 39th to 13th. Driven by former Sprint Cup regular Steve Park, the race team is still well out of the top 35 in car owner points after too many struggles to begin the season.

Entering into the second half of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season next week at Chicagoland Speedway, Kevin Harvick now holds a commanding 212 point lead in the driver standings ahead of now 2nd place Jeff Gordon. Jimmie Johnson as well as #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin lost considerable ground in the points since being caught on the major pile-up at Daytona.