Team Penske's Will Power won the IndyCar season opener today, race that was presented in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in what was one spectacular, rain-interrupted,event.
Due to massive rainfalls, the race had to be halted for nearly 45 minutes before the action could resume between Power, his Penske team-mate Ryan Briscoe and Andretti's Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Power ultimately emerged on top ahead of Hunter-Reay while Briscoe crashed out of the lead. Vitor Meira completed the podium.
Right from the start, the event was marked with incidents like when former F1 driver Takuma Sato (KV Racing) punt Scott Dixon (Ganassi) into a spin. Helio Castroneves (Penske) then collected Dixon's stranded car, although both were able to resume after repairs - unlike Sato.
The biggest crash happened when another KV Racing's driver, Mario Moraes rode over the back of Marco Andretti and remained perched on top of the Andretti's Dallara through the first chicane
Meanwhile, Fazzt Racing's Alex Tagliani was hanging on to second until lap 19, when Hunter-Reay dived ahead at the last corner.
Most of the field pitted when the yellow was called to retrive Milka Duno's parked Dale Coyne car on lap 21, but HVM's rookie Simona de Silvestro stayed out and gained the lead. But Hunter-Reay overtook Franchitti for second and then grabbed the lead from de Silvestro on the next lap.
Unfortunatly for Tagliani, Dan Wheldon (D&R) tagged the rear of his car at the end of the back straight and sent the Canadian into Kanaan, ending Fazzt's debut.
Hunter-Reay and Power were among a group of drivers who decided to return to slicks during the pace car laps prior to the restart and the American swift progress back through the field proved that slicks were now the right choice.
The Penske duo quickly chased down Hunter-Reay. After the ensuing fight between Briscoe and Hunter-Reay, the Australian braked too late into Turn 5 and skated into the tyres.
At the restart, Hunter-Reay edged away from Power, the Penske driver reeled the leader back in and with four minutes on the clock he slipped down the inside at the end of the mile-long straight and grabbed a lead he would not lose.
IRL Sao Paulo Results
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Will Power Penske 2h00m57.7112s
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti + 1.8581s
3. Vitor Meira Foyt + 9.7094s
4. Raphael Matos Luczo Dragon/de Ferran + 10.4235s
5. Dan Wheldon Panther + 10.8883s
6. Etc.
photo: IndyCar
Due to massive rainfalls, the race had to be halted for nearly 45 minutes before the action could resume between Power, his Penske team-mate Ryan Briscoe and Andretti's Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Power ultimately emerged on top ahead of Hunter-Reay while Briscoe crashed out of the lead. Vitor Meira completed the podium.
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| Photo: IndyCar |
Right from the start, the event was marked with incidents like when former F1 driver Takuma Sato (KV Racing) punt Scott Dixon (Ganassi) into a spin. Helio Castroneves (Penske) then collected Dixon's stranded car, although both were able to resume after repairs - unlike Sato.
The biggest crash happened when another KV Racing's driver, Mario Moraes rode over the back of Marco Andretti and remained perched on top of the Andretti's Dallara through the first chicane
Meanwhile, Fazzt Racing's Alex Tagliani was hanging on to second until lap 19, when Hunter-Reay dived ahead at the last corner.
Most of the field pitted when the yellow was called to retrive Milka Duno's parked Dale Coyne car on lap 21, but HVM's rookie Simona de Silvestro stayed out and gained the lead. But Hunter-Reay overtook Franchitti for second and then grabbed the lead from de Silvestro on the next lap.
Unfortunatly for Tagliani, Dan Wheldon (D&R) tagged the rear of his car at the end of the back straight and sent the Canadian into Kanaan, ending Fazzt's debut.
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Hunter-Reay and Power were among a group of drivers who decided to return to slicks during the pace car laps prior to the restart and the American swift progress back through the field proved that slicks were now the right choice.
The Penske duo quickly chased down Hunter-Reay. After the ensuing fight between Briscoe and Hunter-Reay, the Australian braked too late into Turn 5 and skated into the tyres.
At the restart, Hunter-Reay edged away from Power, the Penske driver reeled the leader back in and with four minutes on the clock he slipped down the inside at the end of the mile-long straight and grabbed a lead he would not lose.
IRL Sao Paulo Results
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Will Power Penske 2h00m57.7112s
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti + 1.8581s
3. Vitor Meira Foyt + 9.7094s
4. Raphael Matos Luczo Dragon/de Ferran + 10.4235s
5. Dan Wheldon Panther + 10.8883s
6. Etc.
photo: IndyCar