Chip Ganassi Racing's Dario Franchitti edged pole sitter Will Power (Penske) to win the IndyCar series Grand Prix of Long Beach just three races into his series comeback.
Having qualified on front row, Franchitti lost some ground at the start when he was pat by Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne) and Raphael Matos (Luczo Dragon) right at Turn 1.
But Franchitti wasted no time in getting back at the front by first passing Wilson on lap four and repeating the move on Matos 10 laps later. Ganassi then made what proved to be the winning strategy call, bringing Franchitti straight in for his first stop when Mike Conway crashed his car into the Turn 1 wall.
Meanwhile, Will Power - whose radio had broken - believed that there would be a yellow flag and slowed, allowing Matos and Wilson to pass him. After the full field had pitted, Franchitti was the in front, followed by Danica Patrick (AGR), Power and Castroneves (Penske).
As Franchitti quickly managed to open up a 3-5s lead after every yellow, Power had to turn his attention to resisting Kanaan for third - the Andretti Green driver having vaulted up the order thanks to a long first stint and pitting before the crucial late yellow.
Patrick took fourth from 22nd on the grid, with Panther driver Wheldon fending off Marco Andretti to take fifth.
Race results:
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1h58m47.4658s
2. Will Power Penske + 3.3182s
3. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green + 4.0537s
4. Danica Patrick Andretti Green + 5.0742s
5. Dan Wheldon Panther + 6.5655s
6. Marco Andretti Andretti Green + 7.5900s
7. Helio Castroneves Penske + 8.6332s
8. Raphael Matos Luczo Dragon + 9.4835s
9. Robert Doornbos Newman/Haas/Lanigan + 9.9583s
10. Alex Tagliani Conquest + 13.6185s
11. Ryan Hunter-Reay Vision + 15.2097s
12. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan + 15.8507s
13. Ryan Briscoe Penske +1m05.1013s
14. Vitor Meira Foyt + 1 lap
15. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 1 lap
16. Darren Manning Dreyer & Reinbold + 1 lap
17. Stanton Barrett 3G + 1 lap
18. Ed Carpenter Vision + 3 laps
Retirements:
Driver Team Laps
Mario Moraes KV 71
Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green 60
Mike Conway Dreyer & Reinbold 51
Justin Wilson Dale Coyne 24
EJ Viso HVM 16
Championship standings (after 2 races)
1. Dario Franchitti 84
2. Will Power 69
3. Ryan Briscoe 67
4. Tony Kanaan 65
5. Ryan Hunter-Reay 59
photo:Charles Gauthier
Having qualified on front row, Franchitti lost some ground at the start when he was pat by Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne) and Raphael Matos (Luczo Dragon) right at Turn 1.
But Franchitti wasted no time in getting back at the front by first passing Wilson on lap four and repeating the move on Matos 10 laps later. Ganassi then made what proved to be the winning strategy call, bringing Franchitti straight in for his first stop when Mike Conway crashed his car into the Turn 1 wall.
Meanwhile, Will Power - whose radio had broken - believed that there would be a yellow flag and slowed, allowing Matos and Wilson to pass him. After the full field had pitted, Franchitti was the in front, followed by Danica Patrick (AGR), Power and Castroneves (Penske).
As Franchitti quickly managed to open up a 3-5s lead after every yellow, Power had to turn his attention to resisting Kanaan for third - the Andretti Green driver having vaulted up the order thanks to a long first stint and pitting before the crucial late yellow.
Patrick took fourth from 22nd on the grid, with Panther driver Wheldon fending off Marco Andretti to take fifth.
Race results:
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 1h58m47.4658s
2. Will Power Penske + 3.3182s
3. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green + 4.0537s
4. Danica Patrick Andretti Green + 5.0742s
5. Dan Wheldon Panther + 6.5655s
6. Marco Andretti Andretti Green + 7.5900s
7. Helio Castroneves Penske + 8.6332s
8. Raphael Matos Luczo Dragon + 9.4835s
9. Robert Doornbos Newman/Haas/Lanigan + 9.9583s
10. Alex Tagliani Conquest + 13.6185s
11. Ryan Hunter-Reay Vision + 15.2097s
12. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan + 15.8507s
13. Ryan Briscoe Penske +1m05.1013s
14. Vitor Meira Foyt + 1 lap
15. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 1 lap
16. Darren Manning Dreyer & Reinbold + 1 lap
17. Stanton Barrett 3G + 1 lap
18. Ed Carpenter Vision + 3 laps
Retirements:
Driver Team Laps
Mario Moraes KV 71
Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green 60
Mike Conway Dreyer & Reinbold 51
Justin Wilson Dale Coyne 24
EJ Viso HVM 16
Championship standings (after 2 races)
1. Dario Franchitti 84
2. Will Power 69
3. Ryan Briscoe 67
4. Tony Kanaan 65
5. Ryan Hunter-Reay 59
photo:Charles Gauthier
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