Scott Sharp came within four seconds of winning his second Japan Indy 300,
racing the #8 Delphi/Fernandez Racing Panoz/Honda/Firestone challenger to second
place in the Indy Racing League's fourth IndyCar Series contest of the 17-race
season
source:
paddocktalk.com
The veteran, who began the contest in third place stayed with the changing list
of leaders in the eight-caution-plagued 200-lap contest and emerged 3.4612
seconds behind repeat victor Dan Wheldon. "What a great day!" Sharp exulted.
"All in all we had a really good Panoz car all day long and for me it's just so
gratifying. The engineers and guys did a great job today. We made a bunch of
changes before the race and it was right on. This is great momentum to carry
into Indianapolis."
The race began with a caution and ended under yellow, and it was the Panoz
drivers who controlled three of the top five finishing slots.
Behind Sharp, 2004 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race winner Buddy Rice earned third
with his #15 Argent Mortgage/Pioneer Panoz/Honda from 11th on the grid. "We knew
it was going to be a fuel race and we played it out," Rice admitted. "That's why
I kept making pit stops late in the race with the yellow flags and it paid off.
This finish is good for the team entering Indy," Rice's best of the season.
His Rahal Letterman Racing rookie teammate Danica Patrick in the #16 Argent
Mortgage/Pioneer Panoz/Honda began the contest outside the front row and led 32
laps and completed the full distance in fourth place, a feat performed by only
five drivers.