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Here is an article discussing the Championship Celebration for IndyCar that took place on Tuesday, Sept. 11th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It sounded like a lot of fun..
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Franchitti bathed in spotlight during Championship Celebration
By Dave Lewandowski
indycar.com
Dario Franchitti exited the No. 27 Canadian Club car, which was being staged in Turn 3 at Chicagoland Speedway to make a triumphant entrance for the IndyCar Series' championship presentation, to collect his thoughts and reflect on a grand season.
He thanked members of the Delphi Safety Team, which he had seen too often in August, and paid homage to his Honda-powered Dallara.
"There was a lot of stuff going on in my head," he said. "I was thinking of a lot of different things and a lot of different people, talking to the safety crew. I said, 'Good to see you guys. The car is actually the right way around and has four wheels on it today.'
"But that was just a point to take stock a little bit there and think of what we had achieved."
Indeed, there has been much for the Scott to be thankful. Forty-eight hours removed from being crowned the series champion – his first North American racing title – the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner reaped the rewards of a "dream season."
Franchitti and Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd – along with other drivers, teams and manufacturers – were recognized during the Indy Racing League Championship Celebration at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations division of the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series, presented Franchitti with a $1 million championship bonus check and a mini IndyCar Series championship trophy. A mini IndyCar Series championship trophy also was awarded to Andretti Green Racing owners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree.
Teammates Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti and Jaime Camara presented Franchitti's with a champagne shower during his acceptance speech. In May, it was a cream pie on top of the head during his Indianapolis 500 victory address.
"I should have kept a better eye on them," said Franchitti, who earned an IndyCar Series-record $4,017,583 this season. "The championship mean a lot. It's been kind of elusive. I've been over here 10 years and I've won a lot of races, but to finally win it means a lot. I'm just so happy. To do that and the 500 in one year, I'm really proud."
In addition to the championship bonus, Franchitti accepted the $10,000 Bosch Platinum Award and received a $100,000 diamond-encrusted champion's timepiece from Ritmo Mundo.
IndyCar Series Pet Set With Collar And Leash. Jeff Grahn of Andretti Green Racing accepted the Hitachi Power Tools IndyCar Series Chief Mechanic of the Year Award and its $25,000 prize.
Ryan Hunter-Reay of Rahal Letterman Racing accepted the $50,000 Bombardier LearJet Rookie of the Year Award. Tomas Scheckter of Vision Racing accepted the Xtrac Championship Award and its $5,000 prize.
Lloyd accepted the Firestone Firehawk Cup along with a $5,000 award from Lincoln Electric, the $5,000 prize as the winner of the Oxley Financial Group Lap Leader Award and a $5,000 "Securing Tomorrow Award" from Gregory & Appel Insurance for winning the most races.
"It's really been such a great year for me and for the team," said Lloyd, who won a series-record eight races. "I'm just so appreciative of Sam Schmidt and the entire team for the great job they did for me the whole year. They really made my job easy."
John Roof Jr., chief mechanic for Lloyd's No. 7 Lucas Oil/Isilon/Sam Schmidt Motorsports entry, accepted $5,000 as Mo'sGold Chief Mechanic of the Year.
Hideki Mutoh of Super Aguri Panther Racing won $10,000 as Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year, while Jaime Camara of Andretti Green Racing/AFS Racing Inc., claimed the Sunoco Most Improved Driver and its $10,000 prize for improving the most total positions during the season.
IndyCar Series award winners
Championship driver: Dario Franchitti
Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $5,000): Dario Franchitti
Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (diamond watch valued at $100,000): Dario Franchitti
Canon Championship Award (Prize package valued at $2,000): Dario Franchitti and Jeff Grahn
Championship team: Andretti Green Racing
Championship team sponsor: Canadian Club
Championship general manager: Kyle Moyer
Hitachi Power Tools Chief Mechanic of the Year Award ($25,000 and set of Hitachi Power Tools): Jeff Grahn
Bombardier Rookie of the Year Award ($50,000): Ryan Hunter-Reay
Second place championship driver: Scott Dixon
Second place championship team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Third place championship driver: Tony Kanaan
Third place championship team: Andretti Green Racing
BOSCH Platinum Award ($10,000 for highest-finishing driver using Bosch spark plugs): Dario Franchitti
Xtrac Championship Award ($5,000 for driver who won most Xtrac Awards during 2007): Tomas Scheckter
Manufacturer Recognition Awards: Honda, Firestone, Ethanol, Delphi, Dallara, Xtrac, and K&N Filters
Delphi Safety Team Award: Phil Casey
Indy Racing League Achievement Award: Chad Head
Indy Pro Series award winners
Championship driver (mini Firehawk Cup): Alex Lloyd
Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $4,000): Alex Lloyd
Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (watch valued at $25,000): Alex Lloyd
Lincoln Electric Company Championship Driver Award ($5,000): Alex Lloyd
Championship team (mini Firehawk Cup): Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Lincoln Electric Company Championship Team Award (welding product): Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Mo'sGold Chief Mechanic of the Year: John Roof Jr.
Second place championship driver: Hideki Mutoh
Second place championship team: Super Aguri-Panther Racing
Lincoln Electric Company Second Place Championship Team Award (welding product): Super Aguri-Panther Racing
Third place championship driver: Wade Cunningham
Third place championship team: AFS Racing Inc./Andretti Green Racing
Lincoln Electric Company Third Place Championship Team Award (welding product): AFS Racing Inc./Andretti Green Racing
Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year ($10,000): Hideki Mutoh
The Oxley Financial Group Lap Leader Award ($5,000): Alex Lloyd
Gregory & Appel "Securing Tomorrow" Award ($5,000): Alex Lloyd
Sunoco Most Improved Driver ($10,000): Jaime Camara
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Franchitti bathed in spotlight during Championship Celebration
By Dave Lewandowski
indycar.com
Dario Franchitti exited the No. 27 Canadian Club car, which was being staged in Turn 3 at Chicagoland Speedway to make a triumphant entrance for the IndyCar Series' championship presentation, to collect his thoughts and reflect on a grand season.
He thanked members of the Delphi Safety Team, which he had seen too often in August, and paid homage to his Honda-powered Dallara.
"There was a lot of stuff going on in my head," he said. "I was thinking of a lot of different things and a lot of different people, talking to the safety crew. I said, 'Good to see you guys. The car is actually the right way around and has four wheels on it today.'
"But that was just a point to take stock a little bit there and think of what we had achieved."
Indeed, there has been much for the Scott to be thankful. Forty-eight hours removed from being crowned the series champion – his first North American racing title – the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner reaped the rewards of a "dream season."
Franchitti and Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd – along with other drivers, teams and manufacturers – were recognized during the Indy Racing League Championship Celebration at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations division of the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series, presented Franchitti with a $1 million championship bonus check and a mini IndyCar Series championship trophy. A mini IndyCar Series championship trophy also was awarded to Andretti Green Racing owners Michael Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree.
Teammates Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti and Jaime Camara presented Franchitti's with a champagne shower during his acceptance speech. In May, it was a cream pie on top of the head during his Indianapolis 500 victory address.
"I should have kept a better eye on them," said Franchitti, who earned an IndyCar Series-record $4,017,583 this season. "The championship mean a lot. It's been kind of elusive. I've been over here 10 years and I've won a lot of races, but to finally win it means a lot. I'm just so happy. To do that and the 500 in one year, I'm really proud."
In addition to the championship bonus, Franchitti accepted the $10,000 Bosch Platinum Award and received a $100,000 diamond-encrusted champion's timepiece from Ritmo Mundo.
IndyCar Series Pet Set With Collar And Leash. Jeff Grahn of Andretti Green Racing accepted the Hitachi Power Tools IndyCar Series Chief Mechanic of the Year Award and its $25,000 prize.
Ryan Hunter-Reay of Rahal Letterman Racing accepted the $50,000 Bombardier LearJet Rookie of the Year Award. Tomas Scheckter of Vision Racing accepted the Xtrac Championship Award and its $5,000 prize.
Lloyd accepted the Firestone Firehawk Cup along with a $5,000 award from Lincoln Electric, the $5,000 prize as the winner of the Oxley Financial Group Lap Leader Award and a $5,000 "Securing Tomorrow Award" from Gregory & Appel Insurance for winning the most races.
"It's really been such a great year for me and for the team," said Lloyd, who won a series-record eight races. "I'm just so appreciative of Sam Schmidt and the entire team for the great job they did for me the whole year. They really made my job easy."
John Roof Jr., chief mechanic for Lloyd's No. 7 Lucas Oil/Isilon/Sam Schmidt Motorsports entry, accepted $5,000 as Mo'sGold Chief Mechanic of the Year.
Hideki Mutoh of Super Aguri Panther Racing won $10,000 as Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year, while Jaime Camara of Andretti Green Racing/AFS Racing Inc., claimed the Sunoco Most Improved Driver and its $10,000 prize for improving the most total positions during the season.
IndyCar Series award winners
Championship driver: Dario Franchitti
Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $5,000): Dario Franchitti
Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (diamond watch valued at $100,000): Dario Franchitti
Canon Championship Award (Prize package valued at $2,000): Dario Franchitti and Jeff Grahn
Championship team: Andretti Green Racing
Championship team sponsor: Canadian Club
Championship general manager: Kyle Moyer
Hitachi Power Tools Chief Mechanic of the Year Award ($25,000 and set of Hitachi Power Tools): Jeff Grahn
Bombardier Rookie of the Year Award ($50,000): Ryan Hunter-Reay
Second place championship driver: Scott Dixon
Second place championship team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
Third place championship driver: Tony Kanaan
Third place championship team: Andretti Green Racing
BOSCH Platinum Award ($10,000 for highest-finishing driver using Bosch spark plugs): Dario Franchitti
Xtrac Championship Award ($5,000 for driver who won most Xtrac Awards during 2007): Tomas Scheckter
Manufacturer Recognition Awards: Honda, Firestone, Ethanol, Delphi, Dallara, Xtrac, and K&N Filters
Delphi Safety Team Award: Phil Casey
Indy Racing League Achievement Award: Chad Head
Indy Pro Series award winners
Championship driver (mini Firehawk Cup): Alex Lloyd
Herff Jones Championship Driver Award (ring valued at $4,000): Alex Lloyd
Ritmo Mundo Championship Driver Award (watch valued at $25,000): Alex Lloyd
Lincoln Electric Company Championship Driver Award ($5,000): Alex Lloyd
Championship team (mini Firehawk Cup): Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Lincoln Electric Company Championship Team Award (welding product): Sam Schmidt Motorsports
Mo'sGold Chief Mechanic of the Year: John Roof Jr.
Second place championship driver: Hideki Mutoh
Second place championship team: Super Aguri-Panther Racing
Lincoln Electric Company Second Place Championship Team Award (welding product): Super Aguri-Panther Racing
Third place championship driver: Wade Cunningham
Third place championship team: AFS Racing Inc./Andretti Green Racing
Lincoln Electric Company Third Place Championship Team Award (welding product): AFS Racing Inc./Andretti Green Racing
Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year ($10,000): Hideki Mutoh
The Oxley Financial Group Lap Leader Award ($5,000): Alex Lloyd
Gregory & Appel "Securing Tomorrow" Award ($5,000): Alex Lloyd
Sunoco Most Improved Driver ($10,000): Jaime Camara