Race Report: Honda Indy 225 at Pikes Peak
The
Honda Indy 225 at Pikes Peak International Raceway had more than one
team scratching their collective head as they tried to get a handle
on the one mile oval, located south of Colorado Springs.
A.J. Foyt IV and A.J. Foyt's ABC Supply team never did find the
right combination. They withdrew after 38 laps to place 21st in the
225 lapper.
"We have trouble on the hot, slick short tracks," said Foyt IV, who
qualified the ABC Supply Dallara/Chevrolet in the 19th position. "We
were fighting a push all weekend. We tried everything but I couldn't
keep the car down."
The
frustration level was high throughout the two-day event. Handling is
the key to running well at PPIR and many teams were searching for
the right combination with few finding it as only two cars finished
on the lead lap behind winner Dan Wheldon.
"I have trouble getting Anthony to run a lower line," said the
senior Foyt. "If you run high and get in that loose stuff, you get
the build-up on your tires and you might as well forget it...it's
like driving on ice. We just had a bad weekend but at least we
didn't wreck."
Winner Dan Wheldon was followed by Sam Hornish and Tony Kanaan, the
only other drivers to finish on the lead lap. Rounding out the top
five were Helio Castroneves and Vitor Meira, one lap down.
The next event is the Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix at Infineon
Raceway Sunday, August 28. It will be televised live on ESPN
starting at 3:30 p.m.
NOTES & QUOTES: Honda Indy 225
A.J. Foyt IV: No. 14 ABC Supply Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone
A.J.
Foyt IV on the shift in power: "I think the Chevy power
definitely improved it. I mean, it didn't cure all of our problems,
but I think it definitely helped us out a little bit. Now we need to
just start massaging the rest of the problems out of it. I think
we've done well doing that here lately. So hopefully we can do it
for the rest of the year...We noticed we had problems with -- well,
it's not just the engine, but setup and all that. We just figured
here at the end of the season we needed to try to make a change, get
a couple good finishes for our team and our sponsor. We just needed
to get a good finish. Our guys work way too hard for us to be
running in the back all the time. I think my grandpa was kind of
willing to do anything to get us up in the front. I think it
definitely helped. We were in sixth at one point, racing good,
racing hard all day. Really glad we made the switch." (taken from
Aug. 17 IndyCar Teleconference) .
No. 14 to carry in-car camera: The No. 14 ABC Supply
Chevrolet will have an in-car camera this weekend for the second
time this season.
At Kentucky last week, A.J. IV started 12th for his best
start this year and finished 9th matching his career-best result
which he first achieved at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March. It is
his second top-10 finish of the season. He is currently 17th in the
Drivers' standings.
The Honda Indy 225 will be televised live Sunday afternoon at
3:30 p.m. Eastern time on ABC-TV
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