Dario Franchitti uses a daring fuel conservation strategy plan to nab his second IndyCar championship as Dixon and Briscoe pit for a splash of fuel with moments to go.
He looked set for a third place finish for most of the day, but as Briscoe and Dixon needed a splash of fuel, Franchitti's economy run surprised the entire field and earned him a 2nd IndyCar title. (LAT)
Ryan Briscoe led more than half the race, made several daring passes and did everything right while Scott Dixon turned the fastest lap of the race, had excellent pit work and never put a wheel wrong.
Yet neither could combat Dario Franchitti’s measured pace and the rare circumstances that allowed him to pretty much steal the 2009 IndyCar title.
In the first ever IRL race on an oval without a lap of caution, pole-sitter Franchitti parlayed good strategy with good fortune to capture the Firestone 300 and his second IndyCar crown.
The savvy 36-year-old veteran from Scotland took the lead with six laps left and cruised to his fifth victory of ’09 to beat teammate Dixon by 11 points and Briscoe by 12.
But, as it turned out, the 17th and final race of an exciting season-long battle between three drivers was decided long before those closing laps.
Early on, with Briscoe and Dixon chasing each other around the 1.5-mile oval like two dogs in heat, Franchitti and his Target/Ganassi team opted for the sensible strategy: Conserve fuel and hope for the best.
What happened is that all 200 laps were contested under the green flag at an average speed of 201.420 mph and, because of his good mileage mode, Franchitti was able to make one less pit stop (three to four) than his rivals.
“It was like 2007 when I had to save fuel and just stick with our strategy,” said Franchitti, referring to his first championship duel with Dixon that came down to the last lap when the latter ran out of fuel.
“I got pretty far behind those two in that first stint because the car was really a handful and that’s when we decided to take that strategy. My car got better after that but we were in that fuel conservation mode and I had to run as lean as possible.”
It was a tough thing for Briscoe to comprehend since he led 103 laps (securing two points) and had himself on point for his first major championship.
“It sucks to lose to fuel mileage and I cannot believe there wasn’t one caution,” said Briscoe, forcing a smile and shaking his head. “Scott and I were driving our asses off and that was one of the best races I’ve ever driven.
“I really thought we were looking good until after my last stop and the team told me that Dario might be able to make it the rest of the way. That was tough to hear.”
Dixon, who entered the finale as the leader with a 5-point edge over Dario and eight on Briscoe, also attempted to grin through his disappointment.
“Man, that’s twice Dario has beat me on mileage,” said the two-time IRL champ after finishing third. “It was about halfway through the race when they told me that Dario was going to an alternate strategy and save fuel.
“You’ve got to give them credit, they put out there and they tried it and it’s fantastic for the Target team. To finish second in the championship sucks but sometimes you’ve got to take it on the chin.”
That trio were the only drivers on the lead lap of a race run in 90-degree heat in front of another sparse Homestead crowd.
Tony Kanaan, who turned down a chance to join Ganassi this year, charged from 15th to fourth to end a terrible season on an upbeat note and Helio Castroneves came home fifth after starting 11th.
“Tony and I were joking that we finished 1-2 in the other race,” said the three-time Indy 500 winner. “But those other three guys were on a different track.”
Results Saturday of the Firestone Indy 300 IndyCar Series event at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):
