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SunTrust Indy Challenge Preview

Jun 24, 2008 - 7:35 PM

June 28, 2008
Richmond International Speedway 
Richmond, Virginia
Race 9 of 17 in the 2008 IndyCar Series season

TV: ESPN2, 8 p.m. 

Length: 250 laps 
Track length: 3/4 mile 
Race length: 187.5 miles

DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------

Marco Andretti
Team: Andretti Green Racing
2008 Points: 189 (8th)

Finished third at Iowa last week after running 19th at Texas; 
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 sixth 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 12th here last year.


Ryan Briscoe
Team: Team Penske
2008 Points: 195 (6th)

The Australian secured his first career win at Milwaukee, a 
week after being in the spotlight for wrecking Danica Patrick on 
pit road in the Indianapolis 500; finished seventh at Iowa last
week; 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: 268 (2nd)

Had his worst finish of the season last week at Iowa, running 
14th; 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, 48 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 100 career IRL starts, has 12 wins, 77 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 11th in this race 
last year.


Scott Dixon
Team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
2008 Points: 316 (1st)

Became the first driver from New Zealand to win the Indy 500; 
finished fourth at Iowa last week after winning at Texas; has 
a 48-point lead atop the standings; opened the season 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; 
finished second at this race last year.


Tony Kanaan
Team: Andretti Green Racing
2008 Points: 216 (4th)

Wrecked with 40 laps remaining and finished 18th at Iowa last
week; also 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; 
finished fourth here last season.


Danica Patrick
Team: Andretti Green Racing
2008 Points: 192 (7th)

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; finished in sixth at Iowa last week; 
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 seventh here last year.


Dan Wheldon
Team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing
2008 Points: 267 (3rd)

Won his second race of the season last week at Iowa, and now 
sits 49 points behind Dixon for first place in the standings;
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 15 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 third in this race last season.


2007 Top 10
-----------
 1. Dario Franchitti (27)
 2. Scott Dixon (9)
 3. Dan Wheldon (10)
 4. Tony Kanaan (11)
 5. Buddy Rice (15)
 6. Danica Patrick (7)
 7. Tomas Scheckter (2)
 8. Scott Sharp (8) 
 9. Vitor Meira (4) 
10. Ed Carpenter (20) 

Past Champions
--------------
2007  Dario Franchitti
2006  Sam Hornish Jr. 
2005  Helio Castroneves
2004  Dan Wheldon
2003  Scott Dixon 
2002  Sam Hornish Jr. 
2001  Buddy Lazier