TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Dixon Takes IRL Win In Shortened Race

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: July 13, 2008

GLADEVILLE, Tenn. - Scott Dixon grabbed the lead on Lap 149 and had enough fuel to stay there until rain ended the Firestone Indy 200 with 29 laps left, giving him his third consecutive victory at Nashville Superspeedway and his fourth this season.

Miscommunication kept Dixon from pitting along with leader Tony Kanaan, helping him grab the lead.

"When they called me to pit, or follow Kanaan was the words, I was way past ... there was no coming in," Dixon said as he cradled the trophy Gibson guitar under cover.

"It worked out fantastic. I'm bloody happy for the championship to be honest."

IRL officials hoped to squeeze in at least 101 laps to make the race official with rain on the radar. This race was washed out a year ago and run on Sunday with lots of empty seats.

The third caution of the night came on Lap 139 when the rain finally hit. The cars kept rolling even as fans were asked to evacuate the grandstand immediately due to weather.

They went back to green before the fourth and final caution came on Lap 167.

IRL officials kept the cars rolling until the rain came harder, and the race was red-flagged on Lap 171. Officials checked the radar, which showed heavy rain stretching out far to the west.

Dixon's teammate, Dan Wheldon, finished second. Polesitter Helio Castroneves took advantage of a track cleaned of the rubber chunks chewed off the tires by the concrete track to pass both Danica Patrick and Kanaan. He finished third.

Kanaan wound up fourth with Patrick fifth.

NHRA: Cory McClenathan kept the No. 1 qualifying position in Top Fuel at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were also No. 1 qualifiers for today's elimination rounds.

INDY LIGHTS: Ana Beatriz of Brazil became the first woman to win on the Firestone Indy Lights Series, taking the rain-delayed Sunbelt Rentals 100 at Nashville Superspeedway.

Beatriz is one of five women who have taken part in the series, that started in 2002, to help develop drivers for the Indy Racing League's IndyCar series.

She had finished as high as third three times previously this year.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT