" Dixon Wins Richmond SunTrust Indy Challenge"

The Target Chip Ganassi Team is on a major roll, with Scott Dixon winning his 3rd of 2009 and 19th of his IndyCar driving career by taking the checker over Dario Franchitti at Richmond International Raceway. Graham Rahal finished a career best 3rd on the ovals (to go with his 2008 St.Petersburg street course win). The 19th win by Dixon ties the record set by Sam Hornish.

All three drivers mentioned that the passing was not as easy and as plentiful as it has been here in past years, with point leader Franchitti apologizing to fans in Victory Lane on the podium. In the post race briefing, Franchitti said the cars were very difficult to drive and that what looked easy to the untrained eye was anything but. There were an unusually low three lead changes between Dixon, Franchitti and Hideki Mutoh (who finished 4th).

Team Penske had a not so good night, with first Ryan Briscoe and then Helio Castroneves crashing out of the event. They hold on to 3rd and 4th in points, respectively.

We'll have more on this week's Race-Talk with both Dixon and Franchitti as they get ready for racing ("only twisted") on the historic and let it all hang out Watkins Glen International natural road course in Schuyler County, New York.

"Dario Franchitti leads Ganassi Crew to Richmond IndyCar Front Row"

In 2008, Franchitti was in the midst of his NASCAR attempt. The last time he raced here in 2007, the race distance was 250 laps. Fast Forward to Peak Performance Pole Day today:

After the practice, Franchitti's crew and that of teammate Scott Dixon went into a skull session to see if more speed could be found. Dixon's crew adapted Franchitti's set up to their Target Dallara. Franchitti says his car was a bit tight going into turn two, and more than rather loose going out of turn four. Conventional racing wisdom says one has to "hang it out" for a quick lap. Franchitti's average speed of 167.315 miles an hour for the four qualifying laps won the pole--and the point that goes with it. Dixon's average was 166.638 miles an hour.

An all Penske second row of Helio Castroneves, 3rd, and series point leader Ryan Briscoe 4th. Graham Rahal starts 5th.

The most important half hour they will spend is the final night practice under the lights--that will be the closest they will come to in race conditions until tomorrow night.

Catch you on race day.

"Front Row At St. Pete"

To your left, Graham Rahal, at 20 years, 90 days old, the youngest IndyCar pole sitter, with an effort of 103.828 miles an hour for his first pole, and a leg up on defense of his win here last year. To your right, Justin Wilson, who drove his fast lap of 103.196 miles an hour to give new owner Dale Coyne Racing his best ever team starting position. Rahal had a semi-close moment on an otherwise impeccable Fast Six...the son of Bobby Rahal thought he needed to get an even quicker lap, and upset the car ever so slightly enough to kiss the wall.

The top 6 are Rahal, Wilson, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Briscoe, Dario Franchitti, and Will Power. Scott Dixon will see the green from 8th, Danica Patrick 15th, and her teammate, Marco Andretti, 18th. Rahal showed a bit of pleasure when asked whether he derived satisfaction from beating and out qualifying Marco.

We'll blog after the American LeMans Series race wraps up.

Kanaan, Andretti Sweep Front Row for Andretti-Green; Rahal 3rd

Qualifying for the SunTrust Indy Challenge is done here at the 3/4 mile Richmond International Raceway, with Tony Kanaan winning his 2nd pole of 2008, with an average qualifying speed of 167.876 miles per hour on the "Action Track". That knocked teammate Marco Andretti off the pole for this week Marco's 167.795 was nothing to sneeze at. Graham Rahal could back up his St. Petersburg win with one here if he gets a break or two...the son of Bobby Rahal starts 3rd. Indy Car series point leader and Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon starts 4th. In the hard luck department, Ryan Hunter-Reay of Rahal-Letterman Racing was fastest in practice...but his car wouldn't start and had to be pulled from the qualifying line--so he could not qualify and will start the race in 25th.

All of the drivers say the extra 50 laps will make this race more interesting than it already is. Dixon says the race won't be won on lap #1, nor will it be won on lap 200. Seems obvious, but drivers don't think ahead sometimes in the heat of racing. Speaking of which...the shower seemed to break the back of the humidity...and qualifying was downright comfortable on an early summer evening.

Helio Castroneves was not pleased with his speed...though the two time Indianapolis 500 winner exhibits a happy go lucky persona most of the time, he is a dedicated hard competitor and was grumpy after his qualifying run. Castroneves will start the Indy Challenge from 18th.

That's it for this evening...we'll post up tomorrow.

19 years, 93 days and his first Checkered Flag

Graham Rahal beat one of IndyCar racing's best to notch a place in auto racing history. The son of team owner Bobby Rahal (a pretty good driver in his day if you recall). held off Helio Castroneves to win the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and start putting to rest the speculation about the former Champ Car drivers being able to make the transition to the less powerful Honda powered Dallara machines. Polesitter Tony Kanaan was third. Scott Dixon suffered mechanical woes...and dropped to second in points behind Castroneves. Kanaan is also third in points...Rahal (the youngest driver ever to win a major league open wheel race) now 4th. The IndyCar series takes a break to get ready for a doubleheader on two continents in two weeks...the former Champ Car drivers (Rahal, Wilson, Will Power, etc) will stay behind to race in Long Beach...while the rest of the drivers work out on the Motegi oval. Everyone who runs the "last hurrah" for the old Panoz/Cosworth chassis will get IndyCar points...in 2009...you'll see the IndyCars take on Shoreline drive, etc. Rahal says he's looking forward to Long Beach. There may be anywhere from 12-20 cars...and Paul Tracy will drive the last roundup for Forsythe Racing.

Bobby Rahal came up to the press work room to chat with a few reporters...like any dad...even though his driver (Ryan Hunter-Reay) was running out of gas...Rahal the elder said he still thought of Graham as his little kid.

We'll rejoin you from Glitter Gulch with NHRA coverage next weekend.

Champ Car World Series Test #1--Sebring, 2008

14 Champ cars took times this morning during the first session of testing for the 2008 Champ Car World Series season at the 1.7 mile short course at Sebring International Raceway. Fastest early was Alex Figge of Pacific Coast Motorsports. The veteran Paul Tracy had fuel pump problems in the early session...but got those solved and was running when we left this afternoon. We'll talk with Tracy on this week's Race-Talk program about the test.

Most wags suggested that a sparse (10 or even fewer) field of cars would take advantage of the first test. Tracy talked with us about season expectations...you have to consider him as a dark horse behind favorite Justin Wilson (now with Newman Haas Lanigan Racing, along with Graham Rahal, who told me he's ready to contend for wins in 2008).

The series needs at least 18 cars to satisfy promoter requirements. The "formal" roll-out is slated for the series' Spring Training at Laguna Seca outside Monterey, California in March.

We've been fortunate to be down here in FL for the 24 Hours, ALMS test and now Champ Car test, while waiting for the festivities to begin at the World Center of Racing. Kevin "Happy" Harvick will be on a New York media blitz after the Super Bowl hoopla settles down...TV and radio appearances for the defending champion of the Daytona 500 before NASCAR's Media Day on February 7.

Left--Champ Car point leader Will Power (3rd place finisher) and Center--race winner Sebastien Bourdais, who won his 3rd consecutive Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Oriol Servia, who replaced the injured Paul Tracy, finished second, 2.61 seconds behind Bourdais, who led 58 of the 78 laps run.

Long Beach Impressions--a typically good Long Beach crowd, so the "bulldog" was fed very well. If the series can get past next week in Houston to that 6 week break until Portland, then they can work a little on the chassis. What looked like a lazy hit for Paul Tracy certainly wasn't--and the series can ill afford to have their series "bad boy" and leading active open wheel driver in terms of starts, victories and laps led on the sidelines. However, Tracy is just shy of 40, and recuperative powers diminish with age.

Cristiano da Matta continues to make progress from his head injuries suffered last summer at Road America; he was roaming the paddock this weekend.

Rookie Graham Rahal kept his nose out of trouble; the son of legend Bobby Rahal finished 8th. Graham (like it or not) has big shoes to fill; it would also help the series to have a credible American born contender. One does not become a contender by crashing, but completing laps, and learning how to go faster.

The Champ Car field needs at least 20 starters. That's a rough number to make when the DP-01 production line is shut down. To attract sponsors, you need "buzz" and it can be created with visuals like those which came from Las Vegas and Long Beach. The product must sustain the "buzz", somewhat like sourdough bread starter.

Next on-scene blog will be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. We'll check in with comments before then, to be sure.

Posted at 4:48 pm local time

Race Day, 4/8/2007--Easter Sunday


Greetings from the race course. Our day began early with Mass at the Golden Nugget; the Vegas Grand Prix had Mass and a non-denominational service at 6am local time. Props to them for remembering what is truly important today; we hope all who could were able to celebrate. We hope they remembered the men and women who are in harm's way holding our enemies at bay, so we can do all of our celebrating without fear.

Will Power (one of auto racing's best names) was fastest in morning warmup for the Champ Cars. Sebastien Bourdais' team sorted out the qualifying problems; the three-time and defending champ clocked in 5th. The series gives no points for practice; I still think the race will be between Bourdais and Tracy. But that's why they run races...we'll post a few snapshots and results later.
Posted at 10:38 am local time

Bobby Rahal (yes, the father of Graham Rahal, 3 time Champ Car/CART era champion and the Rahal in the Rahal-Letterman IndyCar series team) won the Historic Grand Prix for old time Formula One and Indy style cars. But wait, there's more (on the way)!
Posted at 12:07 pm local time

Late pre-race observation

Art doesn't feed the bulldog. While this weekend had everything go about 85% right, the people (or lack thereof) watching in the stands will tell a different story. You will see every fancy camera angle NBC Universal can muster to show people in the stands if you watch the broadcast/replay. From our observation point (16th floor of the World Market Center) we don't see many people in the stands, but we see clusters of people on top of parking ramps, etc. We wonder whether this race fits the old bromide about sports car racing, where (unlike NASCAR) the drivers know the fans by name. We'll cut through the spin later.
Posted at 1:02 pm local time

Top Three from the Champ Car Season opener & musings

Photo--left, 2nd place finisher Robert Doornbos, center, winner Will Power, right, 3rd place finisher Paul Tracy.

Power and Tracy dueled back and forth for the lead...F1 test driver Doornbos snuck ahead of "hometown hero" Tracy. Power brings Derrick Walker his 2nd Champ Car win since 1999. Today was also Mr. Walker's birthday.

Graham Rahal and Matt Halliday crashed on lap 2; Rahal ended up against the wall, just like in Saturday practice. He was credited for last place.

Katherine Legge finished 6th, on the lead lap, equalling her best Champ Car performance.

The veteran motorsports writer for the Las Vegas Review Journal, Jeff Wolf, estimated the crowd at 20,000. The Vegas Grand Prix erected 28,000 seats. So NBC TV anchor Bill Weber's bleating about a sell out was specious.

The new DP-01 Champ Cars really look sharp, and there's no sound in racing quite like a turbocharged Cosworth V8. You have to like the fact that all the chassis are made in the USA.

We'll join you next week from the mother of all American street races, the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Thanks for putting up with our learning how to 1) use the autofocus point & shoot camera and 2) figuring out a somewhat attractive layout for the pictures we upload.

Posted at 5:32 pm local

Paul Kaminski

Day Two, "Glitter Gulch", April 7, 2007

Top Left--Will Power, polesitter for the Vegas Grand Prix Champ Car season opener.

Center--The Vanderbilt Trophy in the Champ Car Paddock. The trophy goes to the series champion at season's end.

Right--The Newman-Haas Lanigan Team working on rookie Graham Rahal's #2 DP 01 Champ Car during morning practice. He smacked the wall after setting 3rd fast time. The team likely would go to a backup.

04/07/2007--10:40 am local

Sophomore Will Power is on the pole for the Champ Car Vegas Grand Prix, with a speed of 113.154 miles per hour. It's the second pole for the Australian driver, who drives for Derrick Walker. Paul Tracy is 2nd thanks to yesterday's run; rookie Robert Doornbos starts 3rd. Sebastien Bourdais starts 17th, because he brought out a red flag with a gearbox problem and his time was negated. Rookie Graham Rahal recovered from the morning crash; he'll start 10th. This is the first time in the last 54 races that Bourdais has started in a position outside the top 10.

Two thoughts: Will the Golden Nugget post a number on how quick Tracy might snooker Mr. Power on the start (first turn, methinks) and how many laps before Bourdais gets to the front? The race is a timed, 1 hour 45 minute event.

Happy Easter Vigil

Paul Kaminski

04/07/2007--4:08 pm local

Greetings from "Glitter Gulch", a/k/a Downtown Las Vegas

The Champ Cars are on track this afternoon local time. For 2007, the series will use a new chassis, called the DP-01 (DP represents Dr. Don Panoz, legendary sports car maven and owner of the company that designs and builds the cars). The DP-01 is all American built.

This is the debut for a bunch of rookies---8 of the 17 drivers will wear the rookie designator...including Simon Pagenaud and Graham Rahal, 1-2 finishers in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2006. Vegas resident, bad boy and past CART Champion Paul Tracy will start no worse than second...his speed over the 2.4 mile temporary street circuit was 110.097 miles an hour. In Champ Car road/street course qualifying...the fastest in the first session is guaranteed at least second starting spot. Tracy also gets a championship point. He says a driver must be precise when setting up for corners on this circuit.

The top three were Tracy (center), Pagenaud (right) and 3-time and defending series champ Sebastien Bourdais (left). Rookie Pagenaud clocked in at 109.803; Bourdais stopped the timers at 109.530 miles an hour.

We'll share more impressions and photos tomorrow.

Paul Kaminski

4/6/2007