Backstretch Motorsports

WEST ALLIS, WIS. (Saturday, May 30, 2009) - Team Penske drivers will start at opposite ends of the grid for the May 31 ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 at The Milwaukee Mile. Defending race winner Ryan Briscoe will start first after winning his fifth career IndyCar Series pole, while Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will start 20th after crashing during PEAK Performance Pole Qualifying.

Briscoe recorded a four-lap qualifying average of 1 minute, 26.7966 seconds, 168.394 mph to earn his first pole since the 2008 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway. Graham Rahal will start second at Milwaukee for the second consecutive season after a qualifying effort of 168.117 mph.
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Sunday, April 26, 2009) - Reigning IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon earned his first victory of the 2009 season, taking the checkered flag in the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway .7104 of a second ahead of Helio Castroneves.

The win was the third in a row at the track by a Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver. [read more...]

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Sunday, April 19, 2009) - Dario Franchitti drove a strong race and benefitted from two well-timed pit stops to win the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The victory was the ninth of Franchitti’s career and the 25th for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

Franchitti started second but lost two spots in the first turn of the 85-lap race. He moved back up to second on Lap 15 before pitting on Lap 16. The stop for tires and fuel proved to be fortuitous as contact by Mike Conway brought out a full-course caution two laps later. As the rest of the field cycled through pit stops, Franchitti took the lead on Lap 32. [read more...]

Monday Feb 23, 2009 — Today’s IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines

1. (Pictured) Champions pose with sand-sculptured trophy prior to Open Test: IndyCar Series champions Scott Dixon (2008), Dario Franchitti (2007), Dan Wheldon (2005) and Tony Kanaan (2004) posed with a large sand sculpture of the IndyCar Series championship trophy as the series prepares for the start of the 2009 season, which will begin and end with races in Florida. (IndyCar Series photo)

Twelve Firestone Indy Lights rookies test
Four IndyCar Series rookies set for first test
Vision Racing brings back Firestone Indy Lights team

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Montagny, Kanaan, Andretti Set for Petit Le Mans; Montagny, Kanaan to Drive at Laguna Seca

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 12, 2008) - Andretti Green Racing (AGR) announced today that IndyCar Series drivers Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti will join Franck Montagny in the #26 XM Radio Acura for the 11th running of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Kanaan will also join Montagny for the final race of the season at Laguna Seca.

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SONOMA, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008 - Helio Castroneves snapped the longest winless streak of his career to move closer to his first IndyCar Series championship.

Castroneves, who hadn’t won since April 2007 - a span of 30 races, took the checkered flag in the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County at Infineon Raceway to claim a victory in a record-setting eighth consecutive season. The 13th win of his IndyCar Series career allowed Castroneves to shave 35 points from his deficit in the championship standings. He trails Scott Dixon, who finished 12th, by 43 points with two races remaining.

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Monday Aug 18, 2008
Today’s IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines
1. Four remain eligible for IndyCar Series title
2. Matos in familiar territory
3. Potekhen returns at Infineon

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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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GLADEVILLE, Tenn., Saturday, July 12, 2008 - Scott Dixon didn’t have the best car Saturday night at Nashville Superspeedway, but he did have the best strategy. Dixon elected to stay out on a late caution to take the lead, and took the win in the rain-shortened Firestone Indy 200.

Dixon grabbed the lead on Lap 149 and had enough fuel to stay in the top spot until rain ended the race with 29 laps left, giving him his third consecutive victory at the Nashville Superspeedway and his fourth this season.

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RICHMOND, Va., Saturday, June 28, 2008 - Tony Kanaan claimed his first victory of the 2008 IndyCar Series season, winning the SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Raceway by 4.7691 seconds over Helio Castroneves.

Kanaan, starting from the pole, led 166 of the 300 laps to claim his 13th career victory and his first since Belle Isle in September 2007.

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