INDYCAR: Dario Dominates Streets of Long Beach

IndyCar

INDYCAR: Dario Dominates Streets of Long Beach

Target Chip Ganassi driver Dario Franchitti celebrates his return to the IndyCar Series by claiming a dominant win at Long Beach today, followed home by Will Power and Tony Kanaan.

Marshall Pruett | Posted April 19, 2009 Long Beach, CA

SPEEDtv.com's Dario Franchitti owned Long Beach today. Now, and from a bet between Dario and Tony Kanaan that started on SPEEDtv.com, the Brazilian will now have to let his afro grow out until he wins. (Marshall Pruett)

"This one was for my wife Ashley -- it's her birthday today," proclaimed Dario Franchitti, winner of today's Long Beach Grand Prix. After a year spent in NASCAR, the 2007 IndyCar Series and Indy 500 champion need just two races to make his way back to victory circle.

The Scot, starting second, was jumped by pole sitter Will Power at the start and fought his way up from fourth to followed the Aussie until pitting just prior to the first yellow flag. Franchitti would catch another break later, once again pitting just prior to a yellow flag. Franchitti dominated the day, streaking to large leads over the field on every restart, and ultimately led 51 of the 85 lap race. Pole sitter Will Power followed Franchitti, finishing 3.3182 seconds behind in the 85-lap race. It was Dario's first win on a road or street course in the IndyCar Series, and his ninth win overall.

"I got lots of Champ Car street and road course wins, but I haven't had one in the IndyCar Series so to finally get one feels good for all kinds of reasons," said Franchitti. "After everything we went through last year (in a truncated NASCAR program) and then Chip (Ganassi) coming up and saying, 'Hey, do you want to drive my Indy car?' And now we're back here winning together. Having finished second to his cars here twice I said to him last night, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em' and here we are. Thanks to my crew and the whole Target team. It's good to be back and see full grandstands and see a buzz at the track."

Power's race to 2nd wasn't without drama. "We had no radio and no telemetry, so I was doing it off the steering wheel and off the pit board," said Power, driving the No. 12 Verizon Wireless car for Penske Racing. "I'm very happy; second is very good. I feel happy for all the guys. They put a lot of effort in. I really want to thank Roger Penske and Tim Cindric for bringing this car here for me. They've given me a fantastic ride and I can't thank them enough." Today's result was Power's best in the IndyCar Series. His next confirmed race will be with Penske at Indianapolis.

AGR's Tony Kanaan and Danica Patrick came home behind Power, with Kanaan's car looking slightly off-pace all day, while Patrick logged a measured, mature drive to 4th -- an 18 spot improvement. "It was a much better result, obviously, for us and I'm real proud of how we all kept our heads down and made a result out of it instead of getting down," she said. "The Motorola guys did a great job and got me out quickly."

Panther Racing's Dan Wheldon steered the National Guard car to 5th, and Marco Andretti put the third AGR entry in 6th. Series returnee Helio Castroneves finished seventh while his teammate, St. Petersburg winner Ryan Briscoe, came home 13th.

Franchitti now leads the standings after two rounds with 84 points, followed by will Power at 69, his Penske teammate 3rd at 67, Tony Kanaan at 65, and Ryan Hunter-Reay in 5th at 59.

SPEEDtv.com's IndyCar columnists finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd today.

The now famous 'haircut bet,' born from the exclusive columns written by Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan, will see Kanaan grow his hair out until he wins his next race. Read Tony's challenge to Dario HERE, and Dario's acceptance HERE. Look for follow-up columns from the two about their races and their bet next week.

1. Dario Franchitti 85 laps
2. Will Power 85
3. Tony Kanaan 85
4. Danica Patrick 85
5. Dan Wheldon 85
6. Marco Andretti 85
7. Helio Castroneves 85
8. Raphael Matos 85
9. Robert Doornbos 85
10. Alex Tagliani 85
11. Ryan Hunter-Reay 85
12. Graham Rahal 85
13. Ryan Briscoe 85
14. Vitor Meira 84
15. Scott Dixon 84
16. Darren Manning 84
17. Stanton Barrett 84
18. Ed Carpenter 82
19. Mario Moraes Contact
20. Hideki Mutoh 60
21. Mike Conway 51 Contact
22. Justin Wilson 24 Contact
23. EJ Viso 16 Contact

Time of Race: 01:58:47.4658 Avg Speed: 84.491 Lead Changes: 6 Caution Laps: 18
Fastest Lap: 99.424 mph (71.2582 sec) on lap 83 by 6 - Ryan Briscoe