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Tuesday, 2 September, 2008 12:30 PM
Justin Wilson
wins the Detroit Indy Grand Prix after a controversial call
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Justin
Wilson celebrates his win at the Comerica Bank Winners Circle.
DETROIT
– McDonald's
driver Justin Wilson won his fifth IndyCar/Champ Car series victory
at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on Sunday. Helio Castroneves
was in the lead with 17 laps remaining. Officials made the call
that Castroneves was blocking Wilson. Castroneves was penalized
and Wilson was given the lead, which he kept all the way to the
finish.
Wilson's
win was the 150th for Firestone overall and the third for Newman-Haas-Lanigan
Racing at Belle Isle. Since 2005, Wilson has won at least one race
per season. His past wins include Toronto and Mexico City in 2005,
Edmonton in 2006 and Assen (Netherlands) in 2007.
"It
was a very interesting day," said Justin Wilson after winning
the Detroit Indy Grand Prix. "Off the start, we just try to
max the pace, save fuel and keep up with the guys in front. Once
the yellow came out, everyone was a bit unsure which was the right
way to go. We opted to stay out. It paid off so I was pleased about
that. My team did a fantastic job. It's great to finally get a win."
Helio
Castroneves was very upset about the call that officials made. There
isn't even a blocking rule in the IndyCar series rule book. The
decision is up to the race stewards.
"I
was pushing a lot exactly like Sonoma," said Helio Castroneves
after finishing behind Wilson. "I had a great strategy. Car
was awesome. We did everything we could to win this race. My point
of view it's a situation that's very unusual. When you drive like
that under pressure, I was really going for it. We did lap times
close to qualifying times. I was having a lot of fun. Great pit
stops. I was very proud of the whole organization."
Since
Castroneves finished second, he lost 10 points in the standings.
Now, he is 30 points behind points leader Scott Dixon. The very
last race of the season is at Chicagoland Speedway where the championship
winner will be decided. If Castroneves would have won in Detroit,
he would only be 20 points behind Dixon.
"I
knew if I didn't do that, probably he has nothing to lose,"
said Castroneves. "He's not battling for the championship.
He's just battling for a win. I'm very surprised with the call.
My opinion on that, I have to say is if you're gonna put rules,
you gotta start from the beginning not towards the end. It was all
of a sudden. Now, I gotta give the position for him. Wait a minute.
Next lap, I was already three cars away from him. It was just unusual
call."
Castroneves
had the fastest car in practice for the Detroit Indy Grand Prix.
However, Dixon won the pole. Both drivers started the race 1-2.
Dixon who was leading, made a pit stop on lap 18 while the other
drivers stayed on the track.
"I
don't think it was much of a race to be honest," said Scott
Dixon at the conclusion of the race. "It was pretty pitiful.
The car was quicker than anybody's. We were saving a top of fuel
up front. Changed pretty quickly when we got to about half tank.
I think I was about the only person that pitted. It's just a hard
situation when you're at that point and nobody else pits."
Dixon
only needs to finish in eight place or better next week to clinch
the title.
"I
think my anger or whatever is just from frustration," Dixon
said. "I think clearly we had the quickest car. Nobody was
going to touch that."
It
was Justin Wilson's first race on Detroit's Belle Isle. Wilson started
in four place for Sunday's race.
"From
my position, he slid a little bit through 10-11-12," said Wilson
about Helio Castroneves having to give up his lead. "As we
went into took 12, I got some great traction. Before we even got
to full power, I was inching beside him. By the time we hit the
brakes and went axle to axle, I'm on the inside, it's pretty clear
cut. To my surprise, he came over, came over more and came over
more to the point I had to just back out. It was pretty severe.
I was upset on the radio complaining to my team. They said, 'calm
down. IndyCar has seen it and they know how bad it was so they're
going to make a call.'"
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Justin
Wilson and his car are pushed into the winner's circle.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Confetti
is released as Wilson gets out of his car.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Wilson
and his team pose for a team picture.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Wilson
completes turn 12 during the race.
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