Newman-Haas-Lanigan's Justin Wilson took his first victory today at the Belle Isle circuit in Detroit after Helio Castroneves was penalized after allegedly blocking the Briton earlier in the race.
Before that controversial call by the officials, Castroneves looked as though he was about to take his second win of the season and his third at Detroit.
Right from the start, Scott Dixon and Castroneves had pulled away distancing themselves from the rest of the field until Dixon decided to make an early visit to the pit under a yellow while the majority stayed on the track.
By the time the Ganassi driver came back out on the track, he had fallen down to the 18th spot, a long way out from Castroneves.
Wilson had passed Servia for second in the pits and he launched an immediate attack on Castroneves when racing resumed. The Brazilian held on to the lead, but his defensive tactics attracted the ire of the race officials, and he was ordered to allow Wilson past.
He duly obeyed the instruction, allowing Wilson to sweep past on lap 73.
Wilson and Castroneves finished way up in front of third place Tony Kanaan, followed by KV Racing's Oriol Servia, Scott Dixon and Rahal Letterman's Ryan Hunterreay in sixth.
Bruno Junqueira had another great race for Dale Coyne with seventh, in front of Wilson's teammate Will Power.
Bad luck for Tomas Scheckter after his Luczo Dragon car broke a half-shaft on the opening lap and also for returnee Alex Tagliani, whose Conquest Dallara had gearbox problems in the early stages.
Race Results:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan 87 laps
2. Helio Castroneves Penske + 4.4058
3. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green + 17.6815
4. Oriol Servia KV + 26.5468
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 27.7185
6. Ryan Hunter-Reay Rahal Letterman + 28.2688
7. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne + 28.6815
8. Will Power KV + 28.8776
9. Ryan Briscoe Penske + 35.5244
10. AJ Foyt IV Vision + 38.1040
11. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green + 38.3811
12. Darren Manning Foyt + 44.4662
13. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan + 47.8028
14. Ed Carpenter Vision +1:01.2770
15. Mario Moraes Dale Coyne + 1 lap
16. Danica Patrick Andretti Green + 1 lap
17. Vitor Meira Panther + 4 laps
18. Marco Andretti Andretti Green + 6 laps
19. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold + 11 laps
20. Dan Wheldon Ganassi + 23 laps
21. Tomas Scheckter Luczo Dragon + 31 laps
22. Alex Tagliani Conquest + 33 laps
23. Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold + 41 laps
24. EJ Viso HVM + 55 laps
25. Jaime Camara Conquest + 71 laps
Before that controversial call by the officials, Castroneves looked as though he was about to take his second win of the season and his third at Detroit.
Right from the start, Scott Dixon and Castroneves had pulled away distancing themselves from the rest of the field until Dixon decided to make an early visit to the pit under a yellow while the majority stayed on the track.
By the time the Ganassi driver came back out on the track, he had fallen down to the 18th spot, a long way out from Castroneves.
Wilson had passed Servia for second in the pits and he launched an immediate attack on Castroneves when racing resumed. The Brazilian held on to the lead, but his defensive tactics attracted the ire of the race officials, and he was ordered to allow Wilson past.
He duly obeyed the instruction, allowing Wilson to sweep past on lap 73.
Wilson and Castroneves finished way up in front of third place Tony Kanaan, followed by KV Racing's Oriol Servia, Scott Dixon and Rahal Letterman's Ryan Hunterreay in sixth.
Bruno Junqueira had another great race for Dale Coyne with seventh, in front of Wilson's teammate Will Power.
Bad luck for Tomas Scheckter after his Luczo Dragon car broke a half-shaft on the opening lap and also for returnee Alex Tagliani, whose Conquest Dallara had gearbox problems in the early stages.
Race Results:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Justin Wilson Newman/Haas/Lanigan 87 laps
2. Helio Castroneves Penske + 4.4058
3. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green + 17.6815
4. Oriol Servia KV + 26.5468
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 27.7185
6. Ryan Hunter-Reay Rahal Letterman + 28.2688
7. Bruno Junqueira Dale Coyne + 28.6815
8. Will Power KV + 28.8776
9. Ryan Briscoe Penske + 35.5244
10. AJ Foyt IV Vision + 38.1040
11. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green + 38.3811
12. Darren Manning Foyt + 44.4662
13. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan + 47.8028
14. Ed Carpenter Vision +1:01.2770
15. Mario Moraes Dale Coyne + 1 lap
16. Danica Patrick Andretti Green + 1 lap
17. Vitor Meira Panther + 4 laps
18. Marco Andretti Andretti Green + 6 laps
19. Buddy Rice Dreyer & Reinbold + 11 laps
20. Dan Wheldon Ganassi + 23 laps
21. Tomas Scheckter Luczo Dragon + 31 laps
22. Alex Tagliani Conquest + 33 laps
23. Milka Duno Dreyer & Reinbold + 41 laps
24. EJ Viso HVM + 55 laps
25. Jaime Camara Conquest + 71 laps
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