NickFalzone
6th June 2008, 04:27
Not really a fan of crashes (fortunately TMS has good passing), but if you are this is the race to watch. There's 28 drivers on track, the most since 2002:
http://www.indycar.com/news/2008/texas/images/texaschart-inside-06052008.jpg
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Aside from the traditional 33 starters in the Indianapolis 500, the last time there were 28 cars entered in an IndyCar Series race was at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 15, 2002.
That's the car count for the Bombardier Learjet 550k on the high-banked 1.5-mile oval June 7. In that 2002 race, won by Sam Hornish Jr. over Helio Castroneves by 0.0096 of a second, 16 cars were running at the finish. Texas also hosted 28 cars in the June and September 1998 races. There were 27 in the June and October 2001 events, and 26 in the June 1997 and October 1999 races.
"This year, with so many more cars entered and being so competitive, I think you'll see a much bigger pack of cars racing," A.J. Foyt Racing driver Darren Manning said. "The turns are more open than they are at a place like Kansas so there'll be more side-by-side racing. Running under the lights gives the race more atmosphere. It's not that much different for the drivers because the lighting is so good on the track, but all-around it should be a great night of racing for the fans."
This will be the 19th IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Three in a row for Penske?
"I always look forward to going to Texas because the crowd for our race is the second-largest of the season, and racing under the lights is always a lot of fun," said Castroneves, who is second in the championship standings. "The high banking and smooth racing surface allows us to go full throttle all the way around the track and provides some great side-by-side racing for the fans.
"I've been fortunate enough to win at Texas twice, and I must say that it's one of the best victory lanes anywhere with the cowboy hat and pistol presentation. Last year's race didn't turn out the way we hoped, as I made contact with a loose tire from an accident. However, given our past success at the track, I expect this season's visit to the Lone Star State to turn out differently."
Notable
Spectators can receive free cholesterol screenings and diabetes education at the Vision Racing Wellness Tour Mobile Marketing Unit in the TMS midway from 4-9 p.m. June 7. … Marco and John Andretti will be making the 1,001st and 1,002nd open-wheel racing starts in family history. Mario has 536, Michael 330, John 76, Marco 37 and Jeff 21. … Conquest Racing, which returned to the IndyCar Series this year, competed in three previous IndyCar Series races at TMS. Laurent Redon posted the best finish of fourth in June 2002. ... The Firestone Firehawk tire specification is new to Texas Motor Speedway but is race-proven at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Kansas Speedway. This version features sidewall construction changes from '07 and new compounds for the left side to provide more grip.
Before Ryan Briscoe's maiden IndyCar Series victory June 1 at The Milwaukee Mile, Team Penske's last victory came at Texas in 2007 with Hornish. Castroneves, who won in 2006 and '04, has led 214 laps in nine starts.
http://www.indycar.com/news/2008/texas/images/texaschart-inside-06052008.jpg
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Aside from the traditional 33 starters in the Indianapolis 500, the last time there were 28 cars entered in an IndyCar Series race was at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 15, 2002.
That's the car count for the Bombardier Learjet 550k on the high-banked 1.5-mile oval June 7. In that 2002 race, won by Sam Hornish Jr. over Helio Castroneves by 0.0096 of a second, 16 cars were running at the finish. Texas also hosted 28 cars in the June and September 1998 races. There were 27 in the June and October 2001 events, and 26 in the June 1997 and October 1999 races.
"This year, with so many more cars entered and being so competitive, I think you'll see a much bigger pack of cars racing," A.J. Foyt Racing driver Darren Manning said. "The turns are more open than they are at a place like Kansas so there'll be more side-by-side racing. Running under the lights gives the race more atmosphere. It's not that much different for the drivers because the lighting is so good on the track, but all-around it should be a great night of racing for the fans."
This will be the 19th IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Three in a row for Penske?
"I always look forward to going to Texas because the crowd for our race is the second-largest of the season, and racing under the lights is always a lot of fun," said Castroneves, who is second in the championship standings. "The high banking and smooth racing surface allows us to go full throttle all the way around the track and provides some great side-by-side racing for the fans.
"I've been fortunate enough to win at Texas twice, and I must say that it's one of the best victory lanes anywhere with the cowboy hat and pistol presentation. Last year's race didn't turn out the way we hoped, as I made contact with a loose tire from an accident. However, given our past success at the track, I expect this season's visit to the Lone Star State to turn out differently."
Notable
Spectators can receive free cholesterol screenings and diabetes education at the Vision Racing Wellness Tour Mobile Marketing Unit in the TMS midway from 4-9 p.m. June 7. … Marco and John Andretti will be making the 1,001st and 1,002nd open-wheel racing starts in family history. Mario has 536, Michael 330, John 76, Marco 37 and Jeff 21. … Conquest Racing, which returned to the IndyCar Series this year, competed in three previous IndyCar Series races at TMS. Laurent Redon posted the best finish of fourth in June 2002. ... The Firestone Firehawk tire specification is new to Texas Motor Speedway but is race-proven at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Kansas Speedway. This version features sidewall construction changes from '07 and new compounds for the left side to provide more grip.
Before Ryan Briscoe's maiden IndyCar Series victory June 1 at The Milwaukee Mile, Team Penske's last victory came at Texas in 2007 with Hornish. Castroneves, who won in 2006 and '04, has led 214 laps in nine starts.