Posts Tagged ‘Hideki Mutoh’

IndyCar Series — Mutoh topped competitive Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year field

By Bram • Sep 11th, 2008 • Category: IRL, News, Notes, Your Series. Your Driver.

AGR/Formula Dream IndyCar Series driver Hideki Mutoh (Dana Garrett/IRL)

AGR/Formula Dream IndyCar Series driver Hideki Mutoh (Dana Garrett/IRL)

Hideki Mutoh came into the 2008 IndyCar Series season with the goal of winning Bombardier Learjet Rookie of the Year honors. A 24th-place finish in the season’s first race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March and the fact that many of the nine rookies in the field had considerable experience in high-powered, open-wheel race cars didn’t lend itself to an easy task.

Mutoh persevered, however, and clinched top rookie honors in the season finale Sept. 7 at Chicagoland Speedway, edging Justin Wilson by six points and Will Power by 15.

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IndyCar Series/Firestone Indy Lights — Meijer Indy 300/Kentucky 100 Weekend Preview

By Bram • Aug 5th, 2008 • Category: IRL, News, Notes, Schedules

Brazil\'s Ana Beatriz, driver for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, which has won two of the last three races at Kentucky. Bia currently sits third in Firehawk Cup points. (Dana Garrett/IRL)

Brazil's Ana Beatriz, driver for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, which has won two of the last three races at Kentucky. Bia currently sits third in Firehawk Cup points. (Dana Garrett/IRL)

DIXON CLOSING IN ON 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
BIA LOOKS TO CASH IN ON SSM PAST KENTUCKY SUCCESS
Four races remain in championship battle

With four races remaining in 2008, Scott Dixon holds a 65-point lead over Helio Castroneves. Dan Wheldon is 115 points back, and Tony Kanaan trails by 118. Dixon has five wins this season, while Castroneves has six second-place finishes. Can Dixon extend his lead or will his competitors close the gap?

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Castroneves wins PEAK Motor Oil Pole at Nashville

By Bram • Jul 12th, 2008 • Category: IRL, News, Notes, Results

Dana Garrett/IRLLEBANON, Tenn., Friday, July 11, 2008 - Helio Castroneves won his 24th career IndyCar Series pole at Nashville Superspeedway, extending his series record to seven consecutive seasons with a pole.

Castroneves, who ranks second in points, turned four laps on the 1.33-mile, concrete oval in 1 minute, 31.5320 seconds, 204.519 mph to win his first pole since last September at Belle Isle. The all-time pole leader won it for the first time in seven starts at Nashville.

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Wheldon wins Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer

By Bram • Jun 22nd, 2008 • Category: IRL, News, Results

Steve Snoddy/IRLNEWTON, IOWA, Sunday, June 22, 2008 - Dan Wheldon celebrated his 30th birthday by notching his second victory of the season, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer at Iowa Speedway.
Wheldon took the lead out of a caution flag with 60 laps to go after his team made the decision not to pit. The move paid off, as Wheldon held off Andretti Green Racing drivers Hideki Mutoh and Marco Andretti down the stretch.

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Ten Drivers Pass Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program

By Bram • May 4th, 2008 • Category: IRL, News, Notes, Results

Chris Jones/IRL

INDIANAPOLIS, Sunday, May 4, 2008 - Ten drivers completed all four phases of the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the track opened for the 92nd Running of 500-Mile Race.

Will Power (left) was the quickest among a class of 13 rookies, the most since 1997. The rookies have two days of practice on the historic 2.5-mile oval before the track is opened to all drivers on May 6.

Power’s fastest lap in the No. 8 Aussie Vineyard-Team Australia entry was 40.7804 seconds, 220.694 mph.

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Rookie Orientation Program Opens the IMS Month of May

By Bram • May 4th, 2008 • Category: IRL, News, Notes

Chris Jones/IRL
As Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard waved the the green at 12:02 PM, the Month of May that leads up to the 92nd running of the Indianpolis 500 officailly began the on track phase.

Today was the first of two days of Rookie Orientation Program at the fabled Brickyard. 13 driver were expected to participate. The rookie class for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 take their first laps around the 2.5-mile speedway as they must complete the ROP, a set of four phases of 10 laps each at increasing speeds. The first phase, drivers have to meet a minimum speed of 205.00 MPH increasing each session to a final phase of 215 + .MPH.

Veteran drivers are serving as another set of eyes with the IRL officials , watching corner entry and exits, straightaway handling and giving critque as needed.

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