Indycar at Phoenix 2016

 

In the first race at Phoenix Raceway for Indycar since 2005, Scott Dixon led the action packed race for his 39th career Indycar win, tying for third with Al Unser Sr. on the All-Time Indycar wins list.

As the green flag dropped at Phoenix Raceway for the Verizon Indycar Series return, pole sitter Helio Castroneves took the early lead, leading the first 39 laps.  Castroneves surrendered the lead on lap 40 to fellow Penske teammate Juan Montoya when his right front tire went down.  Montoya then held control until lap 95, when his right front tire also went down, giving the lead to Scott Dixon, who took it all the way to victory lane.  

 

Huge night for @CGRTeams first win for us at @phoenixraceway can't thank the team enough.… https://t.co/nKWrJXPJyf

— Scott Dixon (@scottdixon9) April 3, 2016

Phoenix Grand Prix TOP 10

1. Scott Dixon: His 39th Indycar win, tying Al Unser Sr. for third on the all time wins list

2. Simon Pagenaud: Takes over the points lead with 2nd place finishes at St Pete and PIR

3. Will Power: Solid start to his season after missing the first race at St Pete.

4.Tony Kanaan: One of only 2 drivers in the race to have previously won at Phoenix.

5. Graham Rahal:  Highest finishing Honda. (sounds familiar to a lot of races last year.)

6. Josef Newgarden:  A good finish considering A rough pit stop and an incident on track with Charlie Kimball were major setbacks.

7. Max Chilton:  Highest finishing rookie in his first ever oval race. 

8. Sebastien Bourdais:  A good finish considering he hit the wall midway through the race.

9. Juan Montoya:  Had a tire go down while leading and never got back up front.

10. Ryan Hunter-Reay:  Some phenomenal passing had him towards the front but some equally crazy bad luck on two yellows left him in a disappointing 10th place.

 

Different Teams: 6 (Andretti, Penske, Ganassi, ECR, KV Racing, RLL)

Different Countries: 7 (New Zealand, France, Australia, Brazil, US, England, Columbia)

 

 

Fun Facts

 

Cautions: 6

Caution Laps: 46

Lead Changes: 3

Leaders: 3

Average Speed: 139.822

 

 

Next race.  April 17th at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama

Next oval race.....

The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500!!!!!!  May 29th!