Target Chip Ganassi Racing Iowa Advance Notes
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[/media-credit]Race: Iowa Corn Indy 250 (Saturday, June 23 at 10:00 PM ET, NBC Sports Network)
Track: Iowa Speedway (.875 mile oval)
Location: Newton, IA
NOTES/NEWS
Follow Team Target on Twitter: Continue to follow @TCGRTeams for official updates from Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR).
Making History Together: Minneapolis-based Target celebrates its 23rd anniversary in motorsports with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2012. Since its formation, Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) has amassed 88 victories and nine titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), including four Indianapolis 500 victories (2000, 2008, 2010, 2012). The 2012 season includes two full-time entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti and a full-time entry in the NASCAR Sprint Car Series (NSCS) for 1999 CART Champion and 2000 Indianapolis 500 Winner Juan Pablo Montoya. Team Target continues to feature some of the world’s most accomplished race car drivers.
Iowa Qualifying Races: The starting lineup for Saturday night’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 will be determined by three heat races. The first race will determine even-numbered positions from 10th down, while the second race will determine odd-numbered positions from ninth down. The third race will include the top-eight drivers from practice, with the winner of that race securing the pole.
Managing Director Mike Hull on Iowa: “It’s great to be going to Newton, Iowa with our Target cars, but this time it will be on Saturday night. The track is 0.875-miles in length, so it will have plenty of short-track action. Just like Texas, the aero rules have been carefully chosen to put the cars back into the drivers’ hands. The short-oval aerodynamic packageutilized at the Milwaukee Mile this past weekend will be employed; however, there will be a reduced rear wing main plane angle without “wicker” trim allowed. The drive-style will require real throttle input from the drivers as they go through a full fuel load. The other tweak will be that Scott and Dario’s grid positions will be determined by how they finish in the qualifying heat races – real “old school” Saturday night action will be had by all. See you there.”
TCGR at Iowa: TCGR drivers have made 10 starts at Iowa, earning two wins (2008: Dan Wheldon; 2009: Franchitti), one pole (2007: Dixon), three podiums, six top-fives and eight top-10 finishes. In those 10 starts, Team Target drivers have led 402 of 2,500 laps (16%).
Running circles: Since 1990, Indy cars have visited oval tracks 212 times. In those 407 starts, TCGR drivers have accumulated 45 victories, 44 poles, 161 top-fives and 260 top-10s on ovals. Out of a possible 84,365 laps for all Team Target starts on ovals, TCGRdrivers have completed 75,336 laps (89.2%).
Leading the pack: In 407 starts on ovals since 1990, TCGR has led 10,133 laps out of a possible 43,902 laps (23%). So far this season, TCGR has led 272 of the 653 laps run on ovals (41.6%).
Honda Power: Honda remains second in the manufacturer point standings with 63 points, six markers behind Chevrolet. Lotus remains third with 32 points.
There’s an App for that: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM recently re-launched an updated mobile application, which is one of the first for the high-velocity world of racing. The application brings fans updated driver and event information, and exclusive content in one centralized and expansive mobile experience, bringing to life the rich heritage and legendary success of CGRT. The unique mobile application conveys the high-octane rush of the racing experience for a team that competes at the highest levels in three series – NSCS, IZOD IndyCar Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports CarSeries. Click here to visit the iTunes Application store and download the CGRT mobile app.
SCOTT DIXON AND THE NO. 9 TARGET TEAM
Dixon on Twitter: Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 9 Target Honda by following Dixon’s personaltwitter account, @scottdixon9.
Connected: Fans can check out Dixon’s season-long blog throughout the 2012 campaign on www.Racer.com.
Milwaukee Recap: Dixon qualified 11th, but started the No. 9 Target Honda 21st as the result of a 10-spot grid penalty for an unapproved engine change prior to the event weekend. He quickly began moving through the field and pitted during a caution on lap 67. While running third and going back to green after a caution on lap 108, Dixon was served a drive-through penalty for passing a car before the green flag on what turned out to be an aborted restart. After serving the penalty, Dixon rejoined the field in 17th. The team would eventually finish in 11th. Following the race, INDYCAR Race Control acknowledged the penalty was a mistake, but the No. 9 team was still credited with 11th.
