IndyCar- Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

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DanicaFan

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Race 13 of 17

Race - Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

Location - Infineon Raceway - Sonoma, CA

Date - Sunday, August 22nd

Time & TV Schedule - 5:00PM Eastern -Green Flag -5:50PM Eastern -Versus

Course Type - 2.303 Mile Road Course

Distance - 75 Laps / 172.725 Miles

Practice Sessions - Friday, August 20th -6:00-7:00PM Eastern - Saturday, August 21st -2:30PM -3:30PM Eastern - Warm-Up Session, Sunday, August 22nd - 1:15-1:45PM Eastern

Qualifications - Saturday, August 21st - 5:30 -7:00PM Eastern

2009 Pole Sitter - Dario Franchitti -Lap Time - 1:16.7987 / Speed - 107.955mph

2009 Winner - Dario Franchitti

**Note - All times listed in Eastern Time. California is 3 hours behind.
 
Here is a map of the track layout..

infineonraceway_all.gif
 
2009 Race Summary

Total Laps -75 - Green Laps -68 - Caution Laps -7
Race Time -1:49:23
Average Speed -94.745mph
Lead Changes - 4 among 2 drivers
Best Lap - #3 Helio Castroneves (lap35) -105.156mph (78.8427sec)
Most Improved - #18 Justin Wilson -15 positions -started 22nd - finished 7th
 
I hear Simona De Silvestro is starting to give Danica some competition. Did I hear correct she finished 7th (according to last Sunday's broadcast on WindTunnel) in the last Indy car race? I see Danica finished 21th only 2 positions ahead of Milka, not good. JMO but I think Danica has figured out she can make more money making commercials and doing endorsements than racing and it's a hell of a lot safer than going 200mph in an Indy car. Which for me is sad because I really like Danica, but something has changed with her. Must be her driving for Jr. now she's racing like him, it's just a job.
 
blue92 said:
I hear Simona De Silvestro is starting to give Danica some competition. Did I hear correct she finished 7th (according to last Sunday's broadcast on WindTunnel) in the last Indy car race? I see Danica finished 21th only 2 positions ahead of Milka, not good. JMO but I think Danica has figured out she can make more money making commercials and doing endorsements than racing and it's a hell of a lot safer than going 200mph in an Indy car. Which for me is sad because I really like Danica, but something has changed with her. Must be her driving for Jr. now she's racing like him, it's just a job.
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Simona finished 8th at Mid-Ohio. Yes, Simona is doing good this year. Her results dont show her talent. She is on a 1 car, low budget team so she has done very well. She has even impressed Scott Dixon too, so that shows you she has some potential.
 
blue92 said:
I hear Simona De Silvestro is starting to give Danica some competition. Did I hear correct she finished 7th (according to last Sunday's broadcast on WindTunnel) in the last Indy car race? I see Danica finished 21th only 2 positions ahead of Milka, not good. JMO but I think Danica has figured out she can make more money making commercials and doing endorsements than racing and it's a hell of a lot safer than going 200mph in an Indy car. Which for me is sad because I really like Danica, but something has changed with her. Must be her driving for Jr. now she's racing like him, it's just a job.
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DanicaFan said:
Simona finished 8th at Mid-Ohio. Yes, Simona is doing good this year. Her results dont show her talent. She is on a 1 car, low budget team so she has done very well. She has even impressed Scott Dixon too, so that shows you she has some potential.
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Danica did have a big run at Texas, but if you look at the whole picture, the problem is Andretti Autosport. They've been off, really off, the past couple seasons (minus a win by TK earlier this year and a podium finish for Danica at Texas). I bet if they were performing the way they were 4-5 years ago, Danica wouldn't have ventured over to NASCAR to start with. Perhaps she's opening up more doors in case Andretti Autosport doesn't get their program turned around soon?
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
Danica did have a big run at Texas, but if you look at the whole picture, the problem is Andretti Autosport. They've been off, really off, the past couple seasons (minus a win by TK earlier this year and a podium finish for Danica at Texas). I bet if they were performing the way they were 4-5 years ago, Danica wouldn't have ventured over to NASCAR to start with. Perhaps she's opening up more doors in case Andretti Autosport doesn't get their program turned around soon?
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Ryan Hunter Reay drives for them as well and he won at Long Beach and sits 6th in points only about 5 points behind Helio. I wouldnt say Andretti's team is that horrible.
 
wilson89 said:
Ryan Hunter Reay drives for them as well and he won at Long Beach and sits 6th in points only about 5 points behind Helio. I wouldnt say Andretti's team is that horrible.
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6th in points is nowhere near the caliber they were at a few years ago... I never said they were horrible, I just said they're underperforming.

If Andretti Autosport was getting podium finishes every week (like Ganassi and Penske) and Danica's getting good enough equipment to finish top-five every week like she used to, she doesn't consider NASCAR/ARCA. End of story.
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
6th in points is nowhere near the caliber they were at a few years ago... I never said they were horrible, I just said they're underperforming.

If Andretti Autosport was getting podium finishes every week (like Ganassi and Penske) and Danica's getting good enough equipment to finish top-five every week like she used to, she doesn't consider NASCAR/ARCA. End of story.
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Not even close. She is clearly going to go where the money is. This is precisely why she is so over-exposed. If she were dominating the IRL and she thought she could make more in NA$CAR she'd take off. Of course, this really isn't a criticism, I mean, if you could make a few more million a year in another series you'd go there - right?

-Dave
 
Dionysius said:
Not even close. She is clearly going to go where the money is. This is precisely why she is so over-exposed. If she were dominating the IRL and she thought she could make more in NA$CAR she'd take off. Of course, this really isn't a criticism, I mean, if you could make a few more million a year in another series you'd go there - right?

-Dave
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I disagree. If she was winning in IRL, the thought of leaving a very comfortable situation (or complicating a great situation) doesn't enter her head.
 
I dont know I mean we seen both Hornish and Franchitti dominate then go to Nascar because they could make a bigger pay check running 30th then winning the championship in the Indycar Series.
 
Dionysius said:
Not even close. She is clearly going to go where the money is. This is precisely why she is so over-exposed. If she were dominating the IRL and she thought she could make more in NA$CAR she'd take off. Of course, this really isn't a criticism, I mean, if you could make a few more million a year in another series you'd go there - right?
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i don't think it's that simple. she cleary sees the irl as a dead or dying series and is planning for the future. i'd say that is a major factor in trying nascar. of course, money is always a major factor also. <g>

wilson89 said:
I dont know I mean we seen both Hornish and Franchitti dominate then go to Nascar because they could make a bigger pay check running 30th then winning the championship in the Indycar Series.
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people keep wanting to put dario in the same class as hornish and other open wheelers who came to nascar and failed or were just average (at best) when he never got a fair trial. he didn't even last a year because of lack of sponsorship, not his driving talent. he did as well as montoya did his rookie year in the races he drove, and given a fair chance would have probably had just as successful a career in nascar, maybe better. as for the reason he came to nascar, i think he and michael were on the outs over a bit of favoritism being shown to marco. understandable but not a good situation to be in if you're one of the best drivers in the irl.
 
Check out Tony Kanaan's car for this weekend's race. It is real nice!

tonykanaaninfineon.jpg
 
Here is the entry list for the race..

Car# & Driver / Car Name / Team

#2 Raphael Matos / HP DeFerran Dragon / DeFerran Dragon Racing
#3 Helio Castroneves / Team Penske / Team Penske
#4 Dan Wheldon / National Guard Panther Racing / Panther Racing
#5 Takuma Sato / Lotus-KV Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#6 Ryan Briscoe / Team Penske / Team Penske
#7 Danica Patrick / Team GoDaddy.com / Andretti Autosport
#8 EJ Viso / PDVSA-KV Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#9 Scott Dixon / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#10 Dario Franchitti / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#11 Tony Kanaan / Team 7-Eleven-Dr.Pepper Cherry / Andretti Autosport
#12 Will Power / Verizon Team Penske / Verizon Team Penske
#14 Vitor Meira / ABC Supply Co. AJ Foyt Racing / AJ Foyt Enterprises
#18 Milka Duno / CITGO / Dale Coyne Racing
#19 Alex Lloyd / Boy Scouts of America / Dale Coyne Racing
#22 Justin Wilson / Team Z-Line Designs-DRR / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#24 JR Hildebrand / Trans Systems-DRR / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#26 Marco Andretti / Team Venom Energy / Andretti Autosport
#32 Mario Moraes / KV Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#34 Francesco Dracone / Halkin Jet-LaPasta.biz / Conquest Racing
#36 Bertrand Baguette / Conquest Racing-RACB / Conquest Racing
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / Team IZOD / Andretti Autosport
#77 Alex Tagliani / FAZZT Race Team / FAZZT Race Team
#78 Simona De Silvestro / Team Stargate Worlds-HVM / HVM Racing
#02 Graham Rahal / NHR-Quick Trim / Newman Haas Racing
#06 Hideki Mutoh / Formula Dream-Panasonic / Newman Haas Racing
 
Here are the results of practice session 1..

Rank / Car# & Driver / Lap Time / Speed

1. #10 Dario Franchitti / 1:18.2970 / 105.889
2. #12 Will Power / 1:18.3011 / 105.884
3. #77 Alex Tagliani / 1:18.5661 / 105.526
4. #9 Scott Dixon / 1:18.6070 / 105.472
5. #22 Justin Wilson / 1:18.6161 / 105.459
6. #26 Marco Andretti / 1:18.6270 / 105.445
7. #02 Graham Rahal / 1:18.6513 / 105.412
8. #6 Ryan Briscoe / 1:18.9155 / 105.059
9. #4 Dan Wheldon / 1:18.9209 / 105.052
10. #06 Hideki Mutoh / 1:18.9551 / 105.007
11. #3 Helio Castroneves / 1:18.9727 / 104.983
12. #2 Raphael Matos / 1:19.0260 / 104.912
13. #24 JR Hildebrand / 1:19.0385 / 104.896
14. #32 Mario Moraes / 1:19.0876 / 104.831
15. #11 Tony Kanaan / 1:19.0976 / 104.817
16. #37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 1:19.3044 / 104.544
17. #8 EJ Viso / 1:19.4275 / 104.382
18. #34 Bertrand Baguette / 1:19.5047 / 104.281
19. #14 Vitor Meira / 1:19.6061 / 104.148
20. #5 Takuma Sato / 1:19.6500 / 104.090
21. #19 Alex Lloyd / 1:19.8831 / 103.787
22. #78 Simona De Silvestro / 1:19.9798 / 103.661
23. #7 Danica Patrick / 1:19.9946 / 103.642
24. #36 Francesco Dracone / 1:22.5665 / 100.414
25. #18 Milka Duno / 1:23.9309 / 98.781
 
Here are the groups for qualifying tomorrow..

Group 1

#2 Raphael Matos
#3 Helio Castronves
#5 Takuma Sato
#6 Ryan Briscoe
#7 Danica Patrick
#8 EJ Viso
#14 Vitor Meira
#22 Justin Wilson
#24 JR Hildebrand
#34 Bertrand Baguette
#36 Francesco Dracone
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay
#78 Simona De Silvestro

Group 2

#4 Dan Wheldon
#9 Scott Dixon
#10 Dario Franchitti
#11 Tony Kanaan
#12 Will Power
#18 Milka Duno
#19 Alex Lloyd
#26 Marco Andretti
#32 Mario Moreas
#77 Alex Tagliani
#02 Graham Rahal
#06 Hideki Mutoh
 
The 6 moving on from Group 1 are.

#3 Helio Castroneves
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay
#22 Justin Wilson
#78 Simona De Silvestro
#6 Ryan Briscoe
#2 Raphael Matos
 
The 6 moving on from Group 2 are..

#12 Will Power
#10 Dario Franchitti
#9 Scott Dixon
#77 Alex Tagliani
#11 Tony Kanaan
#4 Dan Wheldon
 
The Firestone Fast 6 are..

#3 Helio Castroneves
#10 Dario Franchitti
#77 Alex Tagliani
#12 Will Power
#9 Scott Dixon
#6 Ryan Briscoe
 
Here is the starting grid..

Row 1

#12 Will Power / 108.337
#3 Helio Castroneves / 108.284

Row 2

#10 Dario Franchitti / 107.752
#77 Alex Tagliani / 107.384

Row 3

#6 Ryan Briscoe / 107.379
#9 Scott Dixon / 107.190

Row 4

#22 Justin Wilson / 107.750
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / 107.489

Row 5

#11 Tony Kanaan / 107.230
#2 Raphael Matos / 107.156

Row 6

#78 Simona De Silvestro / 106.644
#4 Dan Wheldon / 106.527

Row 7

#34 Bertrand Baguette / 106.945
#06 Hideki Mutoh / 106.952

Row 8

#8 EJ Viso / 106.727
#02 Graham Rahal / 106.939

Row 9

#5 Takuma Sato / 106.687
#26 Marco Andretti / 106.810

Row 10

#24 JR Hildebrand / 106.612
#32 Mario Moraes / 106.630

Row 11

#14 Vitor Meira / 106.408
#19 Alex Lloyd / 106.235

Row 12

#7 Danica Patrick / 105.751
#18 Milka Duno / 100.741

Row 13

#36 Francesco Dracone / 102.071
 
AndyMarquisLive said:
Milka Duno outqualified someone?
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No, not technically. She gained the 24th spot because she was in Group 2 and they fall in the even starting positions. Francesco was the slowest qualifier in the 1st group, so he got the got the 25th spot on the grid.
 
VaDirt said:
Damn, Danica's back there in Duno territory!
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Yeah but think about this...5 MPH separate Milka and Danica and less than 3 MPH separate Danica and the pole-sitter. While Danica did horrible in qualifying this week she at least has a clue on how to get over and let the faster traffic through. Danica will be lapping Milka's sorry ass every 15 laps or so or possibly 5 or 6 times by the end of the race :eek: .

As much as I dislike Danica at least she does not deserve to be completely removed from the series due to complete and utter incompetence.
 
Dionysius said:
Yeah but think about this...5 MPH separate Milka and Danica and less than 3 MPH separate Danica and the pole-sitter. While Danica did horrible in qualifying this week she at least has a clue on how to get over and let the faster traffic through. Danica will be lapping Milka's sorry ass every 15 laps or so or possibly 5 or 6 times by the end of the race :eek: .

As much as I dislike Danica at least she does not deserve to be completely removed from the series due to complete and utter incompetence.
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You are right about that. I was, however, mentioning not so much for the speed, but just the fact she's back there in Duno land, especially given the little tiff they had a couple years ago:D
 
VaDirt said:
You are right about that. I was, however, mentioning not so much for the speed, but just the fact she's back there in Duno land, especially given the little tiff they had a couple years ago:D
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Yeah...now that you mention that it is a pretty funny situation. Cat fight anyone?
 
The warm-up session is now complete. Man, I was hoping Danica would have found more speed. Again in P23. Oh well, means nothing come race time.

Here are the results..

sonoma2.jpg
 
OK, that has to be the worst start I've ever seen, and IRL has some crappy starts.
 
yep, so much for the field closing up before the start. i saw 3 distinct groups.
 
blue92 said:
I thought they took her out (probation) for the rest of the season for going too slow. Danica up to 14th, nice
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No, probation means she can race, but they have their eyson her and and she can't be too slow. Don't know what they're dragging their feet on though....she gotsta go.
 
WTF 3 laps left and they go to commercial? Dammit 10th to 16th because of some idiot ran into her.
 
Danica was running a great race until that idiot Sato takes her out, that's twice this weekend! What a bunch of crap.
 
DanicaFan said:
Danica was running a great race until that idiot Sato takes her out, that's twice this weekend! What a bunch of crap.
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I was thinking the same thing. Started what, 24th? Was running 11th I think when Sato ran her over.
 
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