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ONE Sport's David Turner on US radio - Source: ONE Sport -
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Friday dawned in Miami to an amazing 32c and clear blue skies at 9am so it was going to be a hot one both on and off the track. In fact later in the day it topped 35c at around 1pm and stayed like that until 7pm.
A very full on day for the Firestone Indy Lights Class and for Wade Cunningham with a massive work load with practice, qualifying and the race - more on that later.
Indy Car also had plenty on and in the first two practice sessions the teams faced, Scott topped the timesheets. He went quicker in the afternoon session than the morning one.
Qualifying provided all the normal tension and the outcome was the 28th Indy Car Series Pole Position for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Dario Franchitti is on pole with a time of 1:40.5378 for the combined four lap average that forms qualifying, plus of course that bonus point. Our boy Scott was second with a time of 1:40.7620 and his fourth front row in 2009, and Ryan Briscoe rounded out the top three with1:40.8027.
So what does it mean? Who knows, other than the three championship contenders are all there so the series really will go to the wire.
Helio Castroneves became a casualty. He crashed heavily in the turn two wall in the closing minutes of practice 2. That meant he started qualifying in the back-up car and will start the race from11th with a time of 1:41.5103.
The scene is really set for the race and the championship. With Team Target Chip Ganassi taking out the front row, the battle for those race laps and extra bonus points could be pretty interesting.
In other Indy Car Series news Jay Howard, who was seen in New Zealand a few years ago in the Toyota Racing Series, announced a four-race deal to run a second Sarah Fisher Racing Team car in the Indy Car series in 2010 so the series is still looking in great form.
Now for Wade.
He started from second for the twilight Firestone Indy Lights race and drove great early on. He lead for several laps until the first of three race yellows.
Restart went well, back in the lead but sadly for Wade the car
faded back to finish sixth in the 67-lap race. He certainly needs a
break to get into the main game next year after that outstanding
drive at Indy back in May.
One of my highlights of the day was doing a guest spot on the IMS
Radio Network across the USA and the World via the Internet. IMS
radio produce many radio events on the series plus podcasts as well
(I recommend them for all the good news each week during the
season. They run an hour and they really keep you informed on the
series).
It was great to meet the very knowledgeable Mike King (the host) and expert driver Davey Hamilton (co-host) - quite interesting becoming a guest rather than a producer I have to say (all is forgiven Geoff, Bob and Robert). We even had listeners from New Zealand text and email us during the show with several from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - well done if that was you.
It was a great experience and they are both really great guys
who also speak very highly of Scott and his future. They rate him
as one of the best the sport has seen in recent times. So take note
New Zealand we have not seen the last of Scott in any way, shape or
form as one of our countries leading sportsmen yet, That's for
sure!!
They enjoyed having me so much I might be back to do the Indy Car
Weekly show on Monday as well oh dear, better practice a bit.
That pretty much rounded out the day and the scene is set for a
great one tomorrow. The team here at Homestead Miami Speedway have
done a great job - the track looks great and the place has a real
buzz to it. Until tomorrow enjoy your racing and enjoy the race on
ONE Sport.
Powerbuilt Tools Motorsport has full coverage of the
deciding Indy Car Series race. TV ONE, 2.30pm Sunday.
