Polesitter Ryan Briscoe (Penske) won the Texas IZOD IndyCar event presented under the lights at the Texas Motor Speedway by barely edging Danica Patrick (Andretti Motorsports).
Patrick, who has had her ups and downs since the start of the 2010 season, became Briscoe’s main rival yesterday during de second part of the race but the Australian was able to stay on top to earn his first win of the year.
Andretti Autosport was able to put another driver on the podium as Marco Andretti emerged the winner after a hard fight battle with Scott Dixon (Ganassi).
Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (Ganassi), who had been dominant through much of the race, was not able to maintain the pace and finished in fifth while Will Power (Penske), much like what happened a week ago in Indianapolis, was the victim of a failed fuel gamble and finished a distant 14th.
Briscoe and Power had pretty much lead the race until the first pitstops but Franchitti then took over as Briscoe lost time and emerged in fifth. Franchitti and Power then took command until the terrifying crash of Simona de Silvestro (HVM) on lap 97.
Unfortunately for Power, he collected debris under his car during the caution and had to make an additional stop for repairs. His chances for a good showing were then lost.
Briscoe, now second, began chasing Franchitti but everything came to a stop on lap 129 due to a series of accidents involving Mario Moraes (KV), Helio Castroneves (Penske) and Conquest driver Bertrand Baguette.
Danica Patrick momentarily took the lead, when she pitted a lap earlier, as Briscoe got back up to speed, but she could not hang on for long before Briscoe inched past to reclaim first place.
As they hit traffic, Briscoe started to build an advantage again, eventually winning by 1.4 seconds.
Alex Tagliani (FAZZTRacing) finished 18th, having started from the 20th spot. During his last stop, the Canadian hit one of his crewman as he was leaving his box. To make matters worse he was penalized for brigning along a refuelling piece out of the pits.
IndyCar Texas Results
Pos Driver Team Gap
1. Ryan Briscoe Penske 228 laps
2. Danica Patrick Andretti + 1.4629s
3. Marco Andretti Andretti + 2.3162s
4. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 3.0770s
5. Dario Franchitti Ganassi + 7.5882s
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti + 8.0664s
7. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti + 13.9390s
8. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne + 14.3084s
9. Dan Wheldon Panther + 15.0859s
10. Vitor Meira Foyt + 15.8250s
11. EJ Viso KV + 18.8687s
12. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas + 23.0449s
13. Tomas Scheckter Dreyer & Reinbold + 1 lap
14. Will Power Penske + 1 lap
15. Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher + 1 lap
16. Raphael Matos De Ferran Dragon + 2 laps
17. Mario Romancini Conquest + 2 laps
18. Alex Tagliani Fazzt + 3 laps
19. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold + 3 laps
Retirements
Helio Castroneves Penske 129 laps
Mario Moraes KV 129 laps
Bertrand Baguette Conquest 129 laps
Milka Duno Dale Coyne 116 laps
Simona de Silvestro HVM 97 laps
Takuma Sato KV 56 laps
Jay Howard Sarah Fisher 37 laps
IndyCar Standings- After Texas
Pos. Driver Points
1. Dario Franchitti 246
2. Will Power 243
3. Scott Dixon 235
4. Helio Castroneves 211
5. Ryan Biscoe 208
Patrick, who has had her ups and downs since the start of the 2010 season, became Briscoe’s main rival yesterday during de second part of the race but the Australian was able to stay on top to earn his first win of the year.
Andretti Autosport was able to put another driver on the podium as Marco Andretti emerged the winner after a hard fight battle with Scott Dixon (Ganassi).
Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (Ganassi), who had been dominant through much of the race, was not able to maintain the pace and finished in fifth while Will Power (Penske), much like what happened a week ago in Indianapolis, was the victim of a failed fuel gamble and finished a distant 14th.
Briscoe and Power had pretty much lead the race until the first pitstops but Franchitti then took over as Briscoe lost time and emerged in fifth. Franchitti and Power then took command until the terrifying crash of Simona de Silvestro (HVM) on lap 97.
Unfortunately for Power, he collected debris under his car during the caution and had to make an additional stop for repairs. His chances for a good showing were then lost.
Briscoe, now second, began chasing Franchitti but everything came to a stop on lap 129 due to a series of accidents involving Mario Moraes (KV), Helio Castroneves (Penske) and Conquest driver Bertrand Baguette.
Danica Patrick momentarily took the lead, when she pitted a lap earlier, as Briscoe got back up to speed, but she could not hang on for long before Briscoe inched past to reclaim first place.
As they hit traffic, Briscoe started to build an advantage again, eventually winning by 1.4 seconds.
Alex Tagliani (FAZZTRacing) finished 18th, having started from the 20th spot. During his last stop, the Canadian hit one of his crewman as he was leaving his box. To make matters worse he was penalized for brigning along a refuelling piece out of the pits.
IndyCar Texas Results
Pos Driver Team Gap
1. Ryan Briscoe Penske 228 laps
2. Danica Patrick Andretti + 1.4629s
3. Marco Andretti Andretti + 2.3162s
4. Scott Dixon Ganassi + 3.0770s
5. Dario Franchitti Ganassi + 7.5882s
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti + 8.0664s
7. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti + 13.9390s
8. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne + 14.3084s
9. Dan Wheldon Panther + 15.0859s
10. Vitor Meira Foyt + 15.8250s
11. EJ Viso KV + 18.8687s
12. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas + 23.0449s
13. Tomas Scheckter Dreyer & Reinbold + 1 lap
14. Will Power Penske + 1 lap
15. Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher + 1 lap
16. Raphael Matos De Ferran Dragon + 2 laps
17. Mario Romancini Conquest + 2 laps
18. Alex Tagliani Fazzt + 3 laps
19. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold + 3 laps
Retirements
Helio Castroneves Penske 129 laps
Mario Moraes KV 129 laps
Bertrand Baguette Conquest 129 laps
Milka Duno Dale Coyne 116 laps
Simona de Silvestro HVM 97 laps
Takuma Sato KV 56 laps
Jay Howard Sarah Fisher 37 laps
IndyCar Standings- After Texas
Pos. Driver Points
1. Dario Franchitti 246
2. Will Power 243
3. Scott Dixon 235
4. Helio Castroneves 211
5. Ryan Biscoe 208