Indy Racing League News

Updated Sunday September 7, 2008 at 10:00am

The latest 50 news items. All links will open in a new window. View Sources

Briscoe takes pole, but has Helio blown title?
Ryan Briscoe claimed his first oval pole in qualifying for IndyCar’s Chicagoland finale, but Team Penske will book-end the grid after title contender Helio Castroneves was stripped of his four-lap average.
9/6/2008 5:32:02 PM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Chicagoland - Qualifying times.
Ryan Briscoe gives Penske pole for IndyCar showdown, but team-mate Helio Castroneves faces relegation to rear of field.
9/6/2008 4:58:35 PM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Castroneves put to back of the grid
Title contender Helio Castroneves has been put to the back of the grid at Chicagoland Speedway for crossing the white line at the edge of the track during his qualifying lap
9/6/2008 4:25:23 PM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Briscoe beats Dixon to Chicago pole
an Briscoe helped his Penske teammate Helio Castroneves’ chances of winning the IRL IndyCar Series title by beating points leader Scott Dixon to pole position for the championship decider at Chicagoland
9/6/2008 3:38:05 PM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Franchitti glad he tried NASCAR
Dario Franchitti insists he has no regrets about his brief fling with NASCAR, despite the injury and sponsorship struggles that interrupted his 2008 season, and says he wouldn’t have changed his decision to try it
9/6/2008 2:47:42 PM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Dixon quickest again in final practice
Scott Dixon remained on top in the final free practice session for the IRL IndyCar Series title decider at Chicagoland
9/6/2008 12:46:34 PM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Dixon fastest in opening practice
Championship leader Scott Dixon got his Chicagoland weekend off to an ideal start by topping the opening practice session
9/6/2008 10:10:50 AM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Wilson tips Dixon to wrap up title
Detroit race winner Justin Wilson believes Scott Dixon is a strong favourite to wrap up the IRL IndyCar Series title in tomorrow’s championship finale at Chicagoland
9/6/2008 8:34:47 AM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Panther thanks longest serving star.
The door may be closing behind him after three seasons, but Panther Racing insists it will always remain ajar for Vitor Meira.
9/6/2008 6:57:23 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

IL: Cunningham joins Integra for finale.
Former Indy Pro Series champion Wade Cunningham has reunited with his title-winning engineer as Integra Motorsports accelerates its 2009 Firestone Indy Lights programme.
9/6/2008 6:17:18 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

New support for Conquest, ‘Tag’ in for ‘09?.
Alex Tagliani appears to be in line for a permanent ride with Conquest Racing in next year’s IndyCar Series, after bring two long-time sponsors to the team.
9/6/2008 4:11:50 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

9/06 :: PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 Daily Trackside Report - Sept. 6, 2008
9/5/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/06 :: The Pit Boss
The complexion of the championship bout changed dramatically with Helio Castroneves’ penalty. So who’s The Pit Boss picking to win the race?
9/5/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/06 :: PEAK Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 Post-Qualifying Transcript
9/5/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/06 :: Title fight: Round 17
Scott Dixon starts second, but his title protagonist, Helio Castroneves, will start from the rear of the 28-car field after driving below the white line “numerous times.”
9/5/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/06 :: Title fight: Round 17
Scott Dixon starts second and Helio Castroneves will join Danica Patrick on Row 2 entering the title-deciding race at Chicagoland Speedway. Ryan Briscoe wins the pole.
9/5/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/06 :: Pit stand changes
Allen McDonald, engineer for the No. 27 car driven by Dario Franchitti during his 2007 IndyCar Series championship season, is the race engineer on the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car.
9/5/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

Castroneves not losing hope of title
While 30 points might seem like a large margin to erase in one race, Helio Castroneves is convinced that it can be done.
9/5/2008 6:02:22 PM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Danica Takes Hot Laps In Madden Cruiser At IMS
After taking the Madden Cruiser into legendary Turn 1 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 70 mph, Danica Patrick has a new appreciation for what her Motorola-sponsored IndyCar Series car can do at 220 mph. Photos | IMS Tickets
9/5/2008 4:09:40 PM   [Indianapolis 500 News Feed]

IL: Chicago showdown for Matos, Antinucci.
Three points separate the two remaining contenders in the Firestone Indy Lights championship as the series heads for tis finale at a track that has never seen the top two divided by more than seven-tenths of a second.
9/5/2008 9:53:58 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Wheldon promises to help Dixon
Outgoing Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dan Wheldon has promised to do all he can to help teammate Scott Dixon win this year’s IndyCar Series crown.
9/5/2008 2:57:18 AM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

9/05 :: Cruising around Speedway
Danica Patrick takes the Madden Cruiser for quite a ride around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with broadcasters John Madden and Al Michaels on board.
9/4/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/05 :: In the notebook
Drivers visit massive Bridgestone Firestone Off-Road Tire plant. … Milka Duno will be featured on MTV. … New tire spec for season finale, and new sponsors for No. 36 car.
9/4/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

Conquest extends Tagliani deal.
Alex Tagliani to remain with Conquest Racing for two more IndyCar Series outings.
9/4/2008 9:25:19 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Tagliani to stay on at Conquest
US single-seater veteran Alex Tagliani will remain with Conquest Racing for the rest of the IRL IndyCar season, including the non-championship Surfers Paradise event - after replacing the injured Enrique Bernoldi in Detroit last weekend.
9/4/2008 7:19:14 AM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Viso looking for luck in HVM’s 200th.
Ernesto Viso hits the track in Chicago as HVM celebrates its 200th race start.
9/4/2008 4:21:46 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Perera bounces back.
Franck Perera joins AJ Foyt Enterprises for the IndyCar Series finale.
9/4/2008 4:16:54 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Chicago ready to crown third champion.
Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves go for glory as the IndyCar Series season draws to a close.
9/4/2008 4:14:02 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

9/04 :: Third = $50k
Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon, former teammates, will compete for third place in the final points-paying race of the season.
9/3/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/04 :: Chicagoland primer
Series championship contenders Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves haven’t won at Chicagoland Speedway, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t scored big on 1.5-mile ovals.
9/3/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/04 :: Views from trackside
IMS Radio Network host Mike King checks in weekly. Today, he invites all IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights fans to watch the stars of the series compete in a charity event.
9/3/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/04 :: Watch race from unique perspective
Watch and listen to the championship battle unfold Sept. 7 from the drivers’ perspective with IndyCar Race Control. You can purchase the live streaming video from the in-car cameras of Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves — and listen to their radio communications. Get it HERE. Don’t be left in the pits.
9/3/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/04 :: Tags, you’re it
Alex Tagliani will return to the seat of the No. 36 Conquest Racing car for the final two races of the season as a replacement for the injured Enrique Bernoldi.
9/3/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

Perera joins Foyt for Chicagoland
Franck Perera is to return to the IRL IndyCar Series with AJ Foyt Racing at Chicagoland
9/3/2008 11:56:47 AM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Dixon excited by Franchitti’s arrival
Scott Dixon has welcomed the arrival of Dario Franchitti at Ganassi and believes the duo will make a ’spectacular’ pairing
9/3/2008 8:09:27 AM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

Ganassi: Wheldon a class act.
Chip Ganassi has sent Dan Wheldon on his way to Panther Racing with a vote of thanks for his contribution to the team’s success.
9/3/2008 6:18:03 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Unity, schedule, 500 swayed Dario decision.
Dario Franchitti has admitted that there were more than a few reasons why returning to the IndyCar Series was too good an opportunity to pass up.
9/3/2008 4:25:02 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Dixon delighted at Dario deal.
Scott Dixon has warmly welcomed the news that the man who beat him to last season’s title, Dario Franchitti, will be his team-mate at Target Chip Ganassi Racing in 2009.
9/3/2008 3:31:23 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Wheldon to join Panther Racing
Dan Wheldon is to join Panther Racing after losing his Ganassi drive to Dario Franchitti
9/3/2008 12:22:30 AM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

9/03 :: Draft choices
Amid technical conversations about camber and shock settings at the racetrack, “Who you going to draft?” was often heard. It’s time for fantasy football.
9/2/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/03 :: An interview with Dan Wheldon and John Barnes
9/2/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/03 :: Scouting mission
Franck Perera will audition for a potential 2009 IndyCar Series ride at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend in the No. 41 ABC Supply Co. car for A.J. Foyt Racing.
9/2/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/03 :: Views from pit lane
ESPN on ABC/ESPN IndyCar Series reporter Jack Arute weighs in weekly with commentary. Today, the only thing missing from Victory Circle at Belle Isle was Paul Newman.
9/2/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

Champion returns, Wheldon to Panther.
The first moves of the IndyCar ’silly season’ have seen Vitor Meira lose out in a three-way shuffle involving former champions Dario Franchitti and Dan Wheldon.
9/2/2008 6:00:37 PM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Franchitti returns to IRL with Ganassi
Dario Franchitti will return to the IRL IndyCar Series next year driving for Chip Ganassi Racing beside Scott Dixon, the team announced on Tuesday
9/2/2008 3:05:43 PM   [IRL news - autosport.com]

IL: Three points separate contenders.
Raphael Matos and Richard Antinucci prepare to decide the closest Indy Lights championship race of all at Chicagoland on the weekend.
9/2/2008 10:52:41 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

Tagliani laments lost top five.
Champ Car veteran Alex Tagliani made his IndyCar Series debut at short notice over the weekend, but was immediately impressed by what he found at Conquest Racing.
9/2/2008 6:49:52 AM   [Crash.Net IndyCar Newsfeed]

9/02 :: An interview with Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Richard Antinucci and Raphael Matos
9/1/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/02 :: Driver musical chairs
Dario Franchitti will take over the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing entry for the 2009 season from Dan Wheldon, who returns to Panther Racing to drive the No. 4 car.
9/1/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

9/02 :: Franchitti in, Wheldon out
Dario Franchitti, who beat out Scott Dixon for the 2007 IndyCar Series championship, will be his teammate for the ‘09 season, replacing Dan Wheldon in the No. 10 entry.
9/1/2008 11:00:00 PM   [IndyCar Series News]

News Sources

If you know of other sources that should be listed here, please contact us.