Power Regains Series Lead After Japan Runner-Up Result
Team Penske’s Will Power in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Honda earned a solid second-place finish on Sunday to take control of the IZOD IndyCar Series championship and claim the series road course title in the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi.
It was a solid day overall for Verizon Team Penske. Throughout the day Powers was in second position behind race leader Scott Dixon. Powers on the restart and start did everything they could get into first position but it just wasn’t possible. Powers said, “we tried everything we possibly could to get Dixon, but he was very aggressive and he really deserved the win. It was a good day for us points-wise in the championship, but I’m really not worried about points right now. I just need to keep finishing in front of the 10 car (Franchitti) the rest of the way and we’ll be fine. We’ll keep chipping away like we have been.” The result moved Power into the series lead by 11 points with just two races remaining in the 2011 season.
Meanwhile, Team Penske’s other two drivers, Helio Castroneves (22nd- place finish) and Ryan Briscoe (20th-place finish), encountered problems that hampered their results in a race dubbed “The Final” as it marked the last IndyCar race run at Twin Ring Motegi.
Team Penske will swing back into action on Sunday, October 2 with the Kentucky Indy 300 at the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway oval. Live coverage of the race will begin at 2 p.m. ET on VERSUS.
Keselowski Scores Third Win of Season at Chicagoland
A full schedule of double-duty driving didn’t hurt Brad Keselowski, who won Saturday’s Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway in a prelude to his debut in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The win is the 15th series win for the Penske Racing driver and the ninth since joining the storied organization in 2009.
Following Saturday’s result, Keselowski and the No. 22 team remain seventh in the Nationwide Series owner point standings.
“We were able to just execute on pit road and have good stops with a fast racecar. It truly is a team sport. Today was a team victory. Good strategy. Good execution. Fast car. We didn’t make any mistakes and a lot of times that’s what this sport is about. It was a really strong showing here” said Keselowski.
The No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge team will enjoy a week off before visiting Dover International Speedway on Saturday, October 1 for the OneMain Financial 200. Live coverage will begin at 3:30 pm ET on ESPN2. The race will also be heard on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 90.
Hornish Posts First Top-Five Finish of Season at Chicago
Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the No. 12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge Challenger in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS), finished fifth Saturday afternoon in the Dollar General 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. The event marked the eighth NNS race of 2011 for Hornish and his fifth start in the Alliance Truck Parts Dodge. Saturday’s result was the first top-five of the season for Hornish.
“I’m really happy for Penske Racing,” said Hornish. Hornish will next compete for Penske Racing in the No. 12 Alliance Truck Parts Dodge at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, October 14 in the Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage.
Chicagoland Speedway Cup Race Postponed Until Today
After six hour rain delay, NASCAR decided to postpone the GEICO 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway until today. The race has been rescheduled for Monday, September 19 with a starting time of 11:00 a.m. local (12 noon ET). The race will be televised on ESPN live, on MRN Radio affiliates and on SIRIUS-XM NASCAR Channel 90. The engines will be fired at 10:54 a.m. with the green flag expected to be displayed at 11:03 a.m. CT.
Shell-Pennzoil Dodge driver Kurt Busch will start the 267-lap/400.5-mile battle from the third position while Miller Lite Dodge driver Brad Keselowski will line up from the sixth starting spot.
