TEAM REPORTS (BELLE ISLE) - TARGET TEAM HEADS TO DETROIT WITH INDYCAR CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
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THIS WEEKEND’S INDYCAR ACTION: Target Team drivers Scott Dixon (No.9 Target Honda-powered Dallara) and Dan Wheldon (No.10 Target Honda-powered Dallara) take on the 2.125 mile temporary street course at Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan. This weekend’s inaugural IndyCar Detroit Indy Grand Prix presented by Firestone will be the Target team’s 95th race in the IndyCar Series since 2000. Sunday’s event will be the 16th race in 17-race 2007 season.
VENUE: The IndyCar series takes to the 2.125 mile 14-turn configuration on the temporary street course at Belle Isle just near downtown Detroit, Michigan. The Indycars will battle for 90 laps / 191.25 miles on the 982-acre island in the Detroit River. Belle Isle is managed by the Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation and was home to the Detroit Grand Prix from 1992-2001, utilizing a temporary street circuit that was constructed specifically for the grand prix. This will be the first event at the venue for the IndyCar Series.
TV RACE BROADCAST AIR DATE: 3:30 pm (ET) Live on ABC, Sunday, Sept. 2nd, 2007
CATCH IT LIVE ON THE WEB: The Indycar.com website features LIVE video streaming in addition to LIVE timing & scoring, audio from the IMS Radio Network, a chat feature and links to other videos. Streaming video also will be available live for all practice and qualifying sessions from Belle Isle.
FRIDAY PRACTICE: Scott Dixon spun and had some mechanical damage on the first lap of practice on Friday morning, but was able to return to practice and post the fourth quickest time. Dan Wheldon was 15th in the first practice. In the afternoon practice session, Dixon set the third fastest lap time (1:13.7286 sec / 101.073 mph) while Dan Wheldon was 14th overall.
Single-lap qualifying followed by the Firestone Fast Six session are scheduled for Saturday at 11:45 am ET.
TWO TO GO! Only two races remain in the 2007 IndyCar Series season. This weekend the Target team takes on the Raceway at Belle Isle for 90 laps on a refurbished Detroit Belle Isle street circuit. The 1.5 mile oval at Chicagoland Speedway will host the season finale.
With the win last weekend at Sonoma, Scott Dixon regained the IndyCar championship lead by four points (560 points) over rival Franchitti (556 points). Tony Kanaan is third in the standings and has 498 points in the battle for the series crown, while Target teammate, Dan Wheldon remains fourth in the standings with 414 points and Sam Hornish Jr. (409 points) rounds out the top five.
A LOOK AT DETROIT IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR: The Target team first raced at Detroit in 1990 with driver Eddie Cheever. In 12 races at the Raceway at Belle Isle in Detroit, the TCGR has had 21 starts, two pole positions (JP Montoya in both 1999 & 2000), led a total of 166 laps, and one win in 1998 with driver Alex Zanardi aboard a Honda-powered Target car.
TCGR MILESTONES: Scott Dixon’s win at Sonoma last week gave the driver of the no.9 Target car a total of 10 wins with the Target team in 93 race starts, surpassing Jimmy Vasser’s total of nine wins with the team in 111 starts. Juan Montoya has 11 wins while Alex Zanardi has the most victories by a TCGR driver with 15 wins (in 51 starts). The team also has six race wins in the 2007 season. That is the best win total they have ever had in an IndyCar season, and the most since 1999 (in CART)
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Highlights this season include three pole positions and six race wins. The Target team has lead 837 laps of a possible 2564. Dan Wheldon has a pole position and a pair of victories while Dixon has amassed two poles, three consecutive wins and had a record streak of 28 consecutive races in which he was running at the finish (an IndyCar Series record).