Hello and welcome back to Indycar Analysis with indycarfan. Sorry it has been awhile but I am here with the Post-Race for the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Somona. I do not have a full box score but the winner of the race was Ryan Briscoe with Will Power in second. Dario Franchitti had a third place finish while most of the championship contenders had troubles.
Helio Castroneves, a championship contender, had troubles early on, but he came back to finish sixth. Another championship contender, Scott Dixon, was having trouble even early on and then took a drive through penalty for driving over his air hose in the pits.
There was a lot of penalties in this race along with some conflict. It was very racy with a lot of passes which means some crashes. With 11 laps to go the top five is Ryan Briscoe, Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dario Franchiti, and Alex Tagliani. The last two championship contenders left in race contention are Will Power in second and Ryan Hunter-Reay in third. In the 180 degree turn 7, fresh off a restart, Alex Tagliani makes a late move on Dario Franchitti for fourth, but goes to far and hits the right rear tire of Ryan Hunter-Reay (third) spinning Ryan out. Ryan then stalls the car and ends up a lap down. There is no question that Ryan Hunter-Reay is furious with Alex Tagliani, but that is not the end of the conflict. Ryan Hunter-Reay gets to restart with the rest of the pack two laps later and a lap down, but in the same place as Alex had done to him, Ryan spun E.J. Viso out sending E.J. to the back of the pack. Both Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alex Tagliani got drive through penalties but at the end of the race, Ryan Hunter-Reay came after Alex and was yelling at him. Alex Tagliani apologized and admitted to his mistake not even bringing up how Ryan Hunter-Reay had spun E.J. Viso out at the next restart. In his interview, Alex Tagliani did mention that Ryan Hunter-Reay had had his fair share of penalyties as well he had. In Ryan Hunter-Reay's interview, he said the it was Tagliani doing what he always did and saying that he should have been more careful since he was driving with championship contenders such a himself. Alex Tagliani also brought up during his interview that he was not being selfish, he was just racing because that is what his job is. Alex says, "Its not that I'm not thinking about it, its just I'm not going to lift because I don't want to pass anybody and I'm afraid and then get passed.", "I really truly hope that one day he will forgive me.", "I take full responsibility...". The way that Ryan Hunter-Reay is putting things, he is saying the it is not important for the drivers like Kathrine Legge for Dragon Racing to even race. He is saying that because they aren't full time and have no chance of championship, they shouldn't race. Back when Rick Mears and A.J. Foyt raced, you barely heard about championship. It was all about the Indy 500 and finishing the best they could. Ryan Hunter-Reay is realizing how hard it is to be at the top and still have to race with every driver. Alex Tagliani is obviously sorry and Ryan Hunter-Reay needs to calm down.
The points leader with three wins is now Will Power with 422 points. Second place in points also with three wins is Ryan Hunter-Reay who has 386 points (-36). Third place in the points with two wins is Helio Castroneves with 381 points (-41). Fourth place in points also with two wins is Scott Dixon with 368 (-54). Fifth place in points with zero wins is the rookie Simon Pagenaud has 337 points (-85).
Thank you and check back soon for Streets of Baltimore Pre-Race and Post-Race along with the Auto Club Speedway season finale and a final 2012 IZOD Indycar Series Post-Season. Thank you for reading!
-indycarfan
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