Franchitti Wins At Infineon

SONOMA, Aug. 23, 2009: Dario Franchitti became the second driver to lead an IndyCar Series race from flag to flag and closed ground in the tight fight for the IndyCar Series championship.

Franchitti won the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway, while Ryan Briscoe's runner-up finish gave him the championship points lead by four over Franchitti. It's the 13th time the championship points lead has changed in the 14 races this season.

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing rookie Mike Conway posted a career-high third place and Mario Moraes also had a career best with a fourth place. Both drivers overtook Hideki Mutoh's No. 27 Formula Dream car on Lap 73, who nonetheless ran to the checkers for his second consecutive fifth place.

Franchitti and Briscoe were clear of the first-lap jumble that entangled seven mid-pack cars in Turn 2. Scott Dixon, the points leader who started 10th in the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, wasn't as fortunate. Though Dixon's No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car continued after the hit and run and he weaved from 15th on the 2.303-mile, 12-turn Infineon Raceway to 10th place (until literally being bumped to 13th on the white flag lap). Dixon's finish moves him to third in the championship standings, 20 points behind Briscoe.