IZOD IndyCar Series qualifying has just concluded down at Homestead-Miami and Dario Franchitti has struck the first blow this weekend as the championship comes down to the wire. The championship contenders were late on to the track, but Will Power would take pole position from teammate Ryan Briscoe giving him that crucial one point for pole. Not to be out done, Dario would come out and lay down a blistering pace of over 213 mph! This would give Dario the point and reduce Will Power’s championship lead to 11. The final nail in the coffin came when Scott Dixon put his car alongside Dario’s on the front row. The Target team now has a lock on the front row and Will Power has to be feeling a little disturbed at how it all turned out. Full qualifying results are listed below for the Cafe Do Brasil Indy 300.
Pos Driver Team Speed
1. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 213.187mph
2. Scott Dixon Ganassi 212.908mph
3. Will Power Penske 212.580mph
4. Ryan Briscoe Penske 212.158mph
5. Dan Wheldon Panther 211.933mph
6. Justin Wilson Dreyer & Reinbold 211.630mph
7. Ed Carpenter Panther/Vision 211.444mph
8. Tony Kanaan Andretti 211.392mph
9. Takuma Sato KV 211.355mph
10. Helio Castroneves Penske 211.240mph
11. Danica Patrick Andretti 211.013mph
12. EJ Viso KV 210.928mph
13. Mario Moraes KV 210.741mph
14. Bertrand Baguette Conquest 210.738mph
15. Ana Beatriz Dreyer & Reinbold 210.715mph
16. Marco Andretti Andretti 210.698mph
17. Sarah Fisher Sarah Fisher 210.671mph
18. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas 210.629mph
19. Alex Tagliani FAZZT 210.520mph
20. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti 210.030mph
21. Vitor Meira Foyt 210.017mph
22. Alex Lloyd Dale Coyne 209.433mph
23. Raphael Matos De Ferran Dragon 209.311mph
24. Sebastian Saavedra Conquest 209.308mph
25. Simona de Silvestro HVM 208.986mph
26. Hideki Mutoh Newman/Haas 208.579mph
27. Milka Duno Dale Coyne 207.961mph
Holy carp! Dario is well poised to lock Will out! With Dixie also showing strong, the Ganassi boyz can block the track and get Dario Most Lap Led and P1 points. Wouldn’t matter where Power finished, then, Dario would be the one to take Schlongo home. …mmm, wonder what Ms. Judd would think of that thing sitting atop the mantle. :-\
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I smell a stinker brewing. dag gommit. But like Chip said, there is a reason they run the race. They still have to navigate the roving chicane, which with fingers crossed, will be her last start in an Indycar. Maybe it’s Dario’s turn to run out of ethanol, he’s due for one, but it just seems that Ganassi doesn’t do stupid stuff to blow both his feet off when it counts. I think Ganassi has turned the table on RP. Its up to Roger to knock Chips ass down off the top rung. Helio has never been able to seal the deal. Briscoe consistently brain farts his way out of contention. Without any help from his teammates, Will is extremely vulnerable heading into the finale. I just hope it all gets settled on the track and not because somebody soft peddled their way into it. Will is certainly fast on the ovals, but he isn’t nearly as smooth and consistent as Dario. Will gets a little bit sketchy in 3 wide situations.
Advantage: Dario
On the bright side: After this race, every race next year will be the last time we have to watch and hear that obsolete Dallara. It’s a day late and a dollar short to do the ovals any good, but hopefully a new turbo charged package will make the road and streets exciting again. Let the countdown begin!!
Dag gommit.