Jul 2, 2008 - 9:45 AM
1 shoutJuly 8, 2007 Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York Race 10 of 17 in the 2008 IndyCar Series season
TV: ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Length: 60 laps Race length: 204 miles Track length: 3.37-mile road course
Qualifying record: Helio Castroneves, 136.634 mph, 2007 Race record: Scott Dixon, 116.183 mph, 2007
DRIVERS TO WATCH ----------------
Marco Andretti Team: Andretti Green Racing 2008 Points: 211 (7th)
Finished ninth at Richmond in the last race; was involved in a late-race crash with Ed Carpenter and finished 21st at Milwaukee; finished third in the 92nd Indianapolis 500; was involved in an accident in last year's Indy race and wound up 24th; finished 11th in last year's IndyCar Series standings; recorded career-best six top-five finishes, with best result of second at Iowa and Michigan; currently sits seventh in the standings; opened the season by running second at Homestead; was 25th at St. Petersburg and 18th at Japan before bouncing back with a fifth at Kansas; finished fifth here last year.
Ryan Briscoe Team: Team Penske 2008 Points: 210 (8th)
The Australian captured his first career win at Milwaukee, a week after being in the spotlight for wrecking Danica Patrick on pit road in the Indianapolis 500; started seventh and finished fifth in last year's Indianapolis 500 for Luczo Dragon Racing; followed up first win by running third at Texas; took over at Penske this season for Sam Hornish Jr., who left the IRL for NASCAR; finished 21st in 2006 IndyCar standings while driving a limited schedule with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing; made four starts that season, finishing third at Watkins Glen in debut with team; also recorded a ninth-place finish at Nashville; finished 19th in 2005 IndyCar standings for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, with a best finish of eighth at Nashville; ran 10th at the 2005 Indy 500; did not run this race last year.
Helio Castroneves Team: Team Penske 2008 Points: 308 (2nd)
Opened the year by finishing fourth at Homestead and second in St. Petersburg and Japan; took fourth at Kansas; finished fourth in the Indy 500, fifth at Milwaukee and second at Texas; sits second in the standings, 43 points behind Scott Dixon; finished sixth in the standings last year, 191 points behind champion Dario Franchitti; captured a series-record seven poles last season, but managed to win just once - at St. Petersburg; recorded six top-fives and 11 top-10 finishes last season; in 101 career IRL starts, has 12 wins, 78 top-10s and 24 poles; became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 two years in a row (2001-02) since Al Unser won in 1970 and 1971; is only the fifth driver in Indianapolis 500 history to win in consecutive appearances; finished last in this race last year.
Scott Dixon Team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing 2008 Points: 351 (1st)
Became the first driver from New Zealand to win the Indy 500; also won at Texas to open a 43-point lead atop the standings; opened the season with with a solid win at Homestead, but had mechanical issues at St. Petersburg and finished 22nd; bounced back with thirds in Japan and Kansas; ran second to Briscoe at Milwaukee; finished as an unlucky runner-up in the 2007 season, 13 points behind Dario Franchitti, after running out of fuel on the final lap of the final race; failed to win an unprecedented fourth straight race at Michigan when he was involved in a spectacular six-car accident that sent Franchitti's car airborne; had four wins last season and was a runner-up five times; bounced back from the DNF at Michigan by finishing second to Tony Kanaan at Kentucky; enjoyed a stretch of three straight wins early in the season; took the checkered flag at Mid-Ohio; also won at at Nashville after starting on the pole to became the first repeat winner there; started his winning streak on July 8 at Watkins Glen; has won all three races held here.
Tony Kanaan Team: Andretti Green Racing 2008 Points: 269 (4th)
Picked up first win on the season at Richmond; wrecked during the Indy 500 and finished 29th, then bounced back to run third at Milwaukee and fifth at Texas; ran eighth at Homestead to open the season, but rebounded to claim third place at St. Petersburg, fifth at Japan and second at Kansas; finished 2007 season strong and wound up third in the standings, 61 points behind Franchitti; had a series-best five wins last year - at Motegi, Milwaukee, Michigan, Kentucky and Belle Isle; started second at the Indianapolis 500, but finished a disappointing 12th; finished fourth three times - at Watkins Glen, Richmond and Mid-Ohio; captured pole at Kansas, yet finished 15th last season; won the 2004 IndyCar Series championship; finished second in the 2004 Indy 500 to Buddy Rice.
Danica Patrick Team: Andretti Green Racing 2008 Points: 220 (5th)
Has become one of the most recognizable female athletes in the United States - especially after winning her first race at Japan in her 50th start; became the first woman to win a race in a major auto racing series; followed by finishing 19th at Kansas with mechanical problems; started the season by running sixth at Homestead and 10th at St. Petersburg; finished 22nd in the Indy 500 after a pit road incident with Ryan Briscoe; posted a second-place finish at Detroit last year; finished seventh in the final standings with four top-fives and 11 top-10s; started second at Sonoma but finished sixth; was involved in an accident and finished 16th at Kentucky; struggled to a disappointing seventh-place finish at Michigan; posted her second consecutive top-five finish with a fifth place showing at Mid-Ohio; took third at Nashville prior to that; ran 11th here last year.
Dan Wheldon Team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing 2008 Points: 299 (3rd)
Finished fourth at Texas and Milwaukee after running 12th in the Indianapolis 500; kicked off the season by running third at Homestead, 12th at St. Petersburg and fourth in Japan; entered the Indy 500 having won at Kansas; finished fourth in the final standings last year with two wins and a pole at Homestead-Miami; recorded six top-fives and 11 top-10 finishes; won the 2005 championship with a series-record six victories; last year finished out of the top five for a six-race stretch prior to Detroit; in 86 career starts has 14 wins, 66 top-10s and five poles; finished second in the final standings in 2004 and 2006; won the 89th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 from 16th starting position; ran seventh in this race last season.
2007 Top 10 ----------- 1. Scott Dixon (9) 2. Sam Hornish Jr. (6) 3. Dario Franchitti (27) 4. Tony Kanaan (11) 5. Marco Andretti (26) 6. Buddy Rice (15) 7. Dan Wheldon (10) 8. Kosuke Matsuura (55) 9. Darren Manning (14) 10. Jeff Simmons (17)
Past Winners ------------ 2007 Scott Dixon 2006 Scott Dixon 2005 Scott Dixon
From the Bleachers
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savbyroy
Do it, do it, do it.... I see a "transition" team coming out on top this weekend.
Jul 1 7:55 PM
