IRL : Franchitti wins a third one in Toronto (+photos)

Pole sitter Dario Franchitti (Ganassi) earned his third victory of the 2009 season in an incident-packed IndyCar race today in Toronto also taking the lead in the series championship.

Dario Franchitti (Click the above image to access the photo gallery)

Ryan Briscoe (Penske) was runner-up while returnee Will Power (Penske) was able to clinch the last spot on the podium both thanks to good pit strategies and yellow timing.

Paul Tracy (KV Racing) had to retire after a collision with Helio Castroneves (Penske) as they fought for second, and Alex Tagliani lost a potential win for Conquest as the same yellow that worked perfectly for Franchitti's final stop ruined the Canadian's strategy.

At the start, Franchitti held his lead, ahead of the fast-starting Tagliani. While the leader opted to make his first pit visit on lap 25, losing time with a slow wheel change, Tagliani chose to stretch his fuel mileage and run to lap 31.

A tangle between Rahal and the lapped Carpenter brought out a yellow and this was ideal timing for Franchitti, who was in the pits at that moment but it was bad news for Tagliani, who had to wait until the field formed up before making his stop, dropping him to ninth where he would finished.


Toronto Indy Results

Pos Driver Team Gap
1. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 85 laps
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske + 1.6745s
3. Will Power Penske + 2.1355s
4. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 2.4803s
5. Justin Wilson Coyne + 2.9230s
6. Danica Patrick Andretti Green + 6.4095s
7. Ryan Hunter-Reay Foyt + 7.1837s
8. Marco Andretti Andretti Green + 8.2552s
9. Alex Tagliani Conquest +13.4745s
10. Etc.....


IRL Standings - After Toronto

Pos. Driver Team Points
1. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 347
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi 345
3. Ryan Briscoe Penske 334
4. Helio Castroneves Penske 269
5. Danica Patrick AGR 266