Sarah Fisher Racing’s Ed Carpenter earned his 1st ever victory in IndyCar at the Kentucky Speedway, while Dario Franchitti moved up the standings to take the championship lead.
The Ganassi driver did not only finished in second place but he largely benefited from a collision Will Power had in the pits to gain an 18-point advantage over the Australian with only one race remaining.
Power demise happened when he pitted for the 1st time after having lead every lap thus far and collided with Dreyer & Reinbold Ana Beatriz when he tried to reach his bay.
After some repairs, Power rejoined the race in 23rd but being unable after that to make any real gain, his car lacking the pace needed to get back to the front.
Franchitti, who had started from 11th, slowly moved to the top by pitting late the first time around and then worked on protecting his leading position.
Graham Rahal (Ganassi) was running second late in the race but had to pit with 30 laps to go thus allowing Carpenter to pass and challenge Franchitti whom he beat in a very close finish.
Scott Dixon (Ganassi) finish third ahead of James Hinchcliffe (Newman/Haas) while Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti) completed the top 5 of the day.
Townsend Bell, who was substituting for injured Justin Wilson, moved up more than 15 places to cross the finish line at the 11th place.
IndyCar Kentucky Speedway Results - 200 laps:
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Ed Carpenter Sarah Fisher 1h42m02.7825s
2. Dario Franchitti Ganassi + 0.0098s
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 0.1048s
4. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas + 0.3007s
5. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti + 0.4040s
6. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas + 0.6806s
7. Wade Cunningham Sam Schmidt + 0.7020s
8. Ryan Briscoe Penske + 0.7895s
9. Buddy Rice Panther + 1.0011s
10. Danica Patrick Andretti + 1.0076s
11. Townsend Bell Dreyer & Reinbold + 1.1767s
12. Graham Rahal Ganassi + 1.2320s
13. Charlie Kimball Ganassi + 1.7795s
14. Dan Wheldon Sam Schmidt + 2.0668s
15. Takuma Sato KV + 2.1166s
16. Vitor Meira Foyt + 2.4294s
17. Tony Kanaan KV + 3.0101s
18. Mike Conway Andretti + 3.4607s
19. Will Power Penske + 6.4970s
20. JR Hildebrand Panther + 1 lap
21. James Jakes Dale Coyne + 2 laps
22. Pippa Mann Rahal Letterman Lanigan + 3 laps
23. EJ Viso KV + 8 laps
Retirements:
Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 165 laps
Simona de Silvestro HVM 141 laps
Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 140 laps
Marco Andretti Andretti 140 laps
Dillon Battistini Conquest 124 laps
Helio Castroneves Penske 34 laps
The Ganassi driver did not only finished in second place but he largely benefited from a collision Will Power had in the pits to gain an 18-point advantage over the Australian with only one race remaining.
Power demise happened when he pitted for the 1st time after having lead every lap thus far and collided with Dreyer & Reinbold Ana Beatriz when he tried to reach his bay.
After some repairs, Power rejoined the race in 23rd but being unable after that to make any real gain, his car lacking the pace needed to get back to the front.
Franchitti, who had started from 11th, slowly moved to the top by pitting late the first time around and then worked on protecting his leading position.
Graham Rahal (Ganassi) was running second late in the race but had to pit with 30 laps to go thus allowing Carpenter to pass and challenge Franchitti whom he beat in a very close finish.
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| Ed Carpenter wins by a nose ahead of Dario Franchitti. - (Photo: IndyCar / Bret Kelley) |
Scott Dixon (Ganassi) finish third ahead of James Hinchcliffe (Newman/Haas) while Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti) completed the top 5 of the day.
Townsend Bell, who was substituting for injured Justin Wilson, moved up more than 15 places to cross the finish line at the 11th place.
IndyCar Kentucky Speedway Results - 200 laps:
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Ed Carpenter Sarah Fisher 1h42m02.7825s
2. Dario Franchitti Ganassi + 0.0098s
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 0.1048s
4. James Hinchcliffe Newman/Haas + 0.3007s
5. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti + 0.4040s
6. Oriol Servia Newman/Haas + 0.6806s
7. Wade Cunningham Sam Schmidt + 0.7020s
8. Ryan Briscoe Penske + 0.7895s
9. Buddy Rice Panther + 1.0011s
10. Danica Patrick Andretti + 1.0076s
11. Townsend Bell Dreyer & Reinbold + 1.1767s
12. Graham Rahal Ganassi + 1.2320s
13. Charlie Kimball Ganassi + 1.7795s
14. Dan Wheldon Sam Schmidt + 2.0668s
15. Takuma Sato KV + 2.1166s
16. Vitor Meira Foyt + 2.4294s
17. Tony Kanaan KV + 3.0101s
18. Mike Conway Andretti + 3.4607s
19. Will Power Penske + 6.4970s
20. JR Hildebrand Panther + 1 lap
21. James Jakes Dale Coyne + 2 laps
22. Pippa Mann Rahal Letterman Lanigan + 3 laps
23. EJ Viso KV + 8 laps
Retirements:
Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 165 laps
Simona de Silvestro HVM 141 laps
Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 140 laps
Marco Andretti Andretti 140 laps
Dillon Battistini Conquest 124 laps
Helio Castroneves Penske 34 laps