2007 Archive
2007 Archive |
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Martin Truex Jr. Wins the Pole for the Dickies 500 |
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| Busch Series | |
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Kevin Harvick Wins the O'Reilly Challenge 300 |
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Carl Edwards Clinches the 2007 Busch Championship |
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Chicagoland Speedway September 9 , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Depending on whom you ask, this year’s IndyCar season ended with a bang or a sputter. With only three points separating championship contenders Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, the Hollywood scripted battle for the title came down to the final corner of the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Heading into the last two turns of the event Dixon looked set to capture his second IndyCar title, but unexpectedly ran out of fuel in the final turn allowing Franchitti to take the checkered flags and the $1,000,000 championship bonus. More | |
The Raceway at Belle Isle September 2 , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Dario Franchitti’s title slump finally ended during an eventful penultimate lap at the Detroit Indy Grand Prix. Following a frustrating weekend at Sonoma where Franchitti nearly collected a win, but instead collected teammate Marco Andretti, Franchitti was happy to limp across the finish line ahead of championship rival Scott Dixon. Before the accident Franchitti chased Dixon in the closing stages of the event and threatened to take third position. More | |
Kentucky Speedway August 11th , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Dario Franchitti tested his luck for the second consecutive time this season in a bizarre accident during the cool-down lap of the Meijer Indy 300 held at Kentucky Speedway. The Scotsman did not realize the race had ended after the drop of the checkered flags and kept his foot on the accelerator. Ahead of Franchitti was Kosuke Matsuura who had slowed after crossing the finish line. More | |
Michigan International Speedway August 5th , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Roughly one decade ago the Indy Racing League was barraged with criticism concerning chassis safety. Dario Franchitti and his Dallara chassis put lingering critics to rest on lap 143 of the Firestone Indy 400 after a horrendous accident sent the Scotsman flipping over several competitors before landing on his roll hoop. The accident took place after Dan Wheldon mounted a challenge for the lead on lap 121. More | |
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course July 22 , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| A flurry of controversy and surprises marked the IndyCar Series’ inaugural foray to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for The Honda 200. On the Thursday leading up to the event Rahal Letterman Racing announced that it was replacing driver Jeff Simmons in its Ethanol-sponsored entry with former Champ Car pilot Ryan Hunter-Reay, who went on to qualify ahead of teammate Scott Sharp and recorded a respectable finish in the top ten. More | |
Nashville Superspeedway July 15 , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| After back-to-back victories Scott Dixon may ask team owner Chip Ganassi to run the Energizer livery more often. When the Target Chip Ganassi Racing crew debuted the striking blue Dallara at Watkins Glen during the 2006 season Dixon left the track with another win in his pocket. Coming off his third consecutive win at The Glen just one week ago, Dixon recorded his second victory of 2007 after strapping into his Energizer Dallara for the first time this season. More | |
Watkins Glen International July 8 , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Despite setting a new track record en route to his third consecutive Watkins Glen pole position, Helio Castroneves was unable to stop history from repeating itself during the Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix. For the third year since its inception, Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon emerged victorious after Castroneves started from point. With pressure from Dixon and championship leader Dario Franchitti, Castroneves attempted to build a gap over the competition during the early stages of the event. More | |
Richmoand International Raceway June 30, 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Nature continued to comply with Dario Franchitti’s 2007 IndyCar campaign by washing out qualifying for the SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Raceway and handing the Scotsman the pole by virtue of points. Franchitti maximized pole position and turned 250 near flawless laps in his Canadian Club Dallara. Andretti Green Racing’s championship leader only gave up the lead momentarily during the first set of pit stops allowing teammate Tony Kanaan to head the field for a few laps before retaking the lead at the restart and dominating the rest of the event. More | |
Iowa Speedway June 24, 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| As the IndyCar circus arrived in Iowa for the inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250 drivers and crews were dumbfounded by the Rusty Wallace-designed 7/8 miles bullring. Though it outwardly resembled smaller ovals, such as the Milwaukee Mile, the tiny tri-oval drove like a super speedway with drivers lapping flat out in excess of 180 mph. Like the track, the event drew puzzled faces from the drop of the green. Pole-sitter Scott Dixon led the field through the first lap while an accident in the second turn involving Dan Wheldon and Tomas Scheckter set the tone for the rest of the race. More | |
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IndyCar Series |
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Sam Hornish Jr. Takes the Checkered Flag |
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Sam Hornish Jr. Wins the Bombardier Learjet 550K |
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| Craftsman Truck Series | |
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Todd Bodine Wins the Sam's Town 400K |
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The Milwaukee Mile June 3, 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Following Dario Franchitti’s Indy triumph Andretti Green Racing carried its momentum into the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 where Tony Kanaan scored his second win this season over the Scotsman. Despite an AGR 1-2, teammates Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick did not fare as well. While Andretti ran a quiet race that ended with contact on lap 209, Patrick had the Milwaukee fans on their feet during the first half of the race. After IndyCar legend A.J. Foyt gave the eighteen “girls and boys” the command to start engines, pole winner Helio Castroneves cleanly led the field into the first turn. More | |
May 27, 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Jaws dropped across Indianapolis when Dario Franchitti set a four-lap average of 225.191 miles per hour on Pole Day for the Indianapolis 500. Franchitti’s time remained atop the charts for hours and withstood attacks from fan favorites such as Sam Hornish Jr. and Dan Wheldon. When Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan eclipsed Franchitti’s time late in the day many fans were not surprised to see the Scotsman shuffled to the outside of the first row. Instead, inquiries concerning Wheldon and Hornish filled the air. Despite driving for one of the Indy Racing League’s top three teams, the road and street course specialist was not touted as a race day favorite. More | |
Kansas Speedway April 29 , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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Dan Wheldon Dominated the Kansas Indy 300 |
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Dan Wheldon Wins the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 |
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Dan Wheldon In Victory Lane |
Twin Ring Motegi April 21 , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Indy came early this year, at least for Kosuke Matsuura who boldly proclaimed that the Indy Japan 300 was his Indianapolis 500 in terms of prestige and pride during the week leading up to the race. While Matsuura qualified in the first half of the grid the Japanese driver would go on to disappoint fans on the opening lap. In addition to Matsuura, Danica Patrick turned heads with a strong qualifying performance that placed her on the outside of the second row. As defending race winner Helio Castroneves led the eighteen-car field into the first turn and the Japanese fans peered down the front straight Matsuura backed his car into the turn 2 retaining wall. Panther Racing’s fortunes did not improve as teammate Vitor Meira went on to become the second retiree of the race due to handling issues. More | |
Streets of St. Petersburg April 1 , 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| One week after Dan Wheldon’s dominant performance at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Florida fans were treated to another crushing display by a red and white Dallara at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Instead of Wheldon’s Target livery, Helio Castroneves crossed the finish line in his familiar Penske Racing colors to claim his first victory of the season after taking pole for the event. Though Castroneves’s win was no surprise, the Brazilian won the same event last year, the weekend yielded some unexpected performances. More | |
Homestead-Miami Speedway March 24, 2007 Race Recap by Esteban Morales |
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| Heading into this season’s opening Ethanol Indy 300 a few announcements raised some eyebrows in the Indy Racing League paddock. Following last year’s methanol and ethanol cocktail, the IRL will run all rounds on pure ethanol this year. Familiar teams and faces such as Beck Motorsports, Sarah Fisher, and Alex Barron have returned to the scene while sportscar newcomer Milka Duno looks forward to making her IRL debut later this season. More | |
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credit: Doug Garner |
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2007 IndyCar Season Green Flag |
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| NEXTEL Cup |
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Jeff Burton Wins the Samsung 500 |
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Jeff Burton Passes Matt Kenseth on the Final Lap |
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Jeff Gordon Leads the Field to the Green Flag |
| Busch |
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Matt Kenseth Wins the O'Reilly 300 |
Bombardier Learjet 550K 
Samsung 500