Username
Password
Miscommunication Brings Victory to Dixon

AP photo
By Andrew Cutler July 13 2008
At first, it looked like a shrewd tactical gamble on the part of the Ganassi Racing squad, leaving Scott Dxion and Dan Wheldon out on-track while the rest of the leaders pitted for fuel as rain threatened to return. Afterwards, we learned that it was a mistake! - But one that yielded victory.

After a brief, light shower forced a caution period just past the half-way mark of the Firstone Indy 200, held on the 1.33 mile Nashville Superspeedway, the teams of all of the leaders were forced to make a call on whether or not the rains would return. Everyone opted  to err on the side of caution, bringing their cars in for fresh rubber and enough fuel to go the rest of the scheduled race distance.

But, somehow, the Ganassi duo didn't get the message and stayed out, inheriting the lead. When the green flag dropped again on lap 151, Dixon and Wheldon streaked off into the distance - and prayed for more rain!

They got their wish 15 laps later. After a further five laps behind the pace car, the IRL threw the red flag and brought the field into pit lane to await developements. After about fifteen minutes, they called the race, handing Dixon his fourth win of the year and his third consecutive win at Nashville.

"It was a miscommunication on the pit call", Dixon admitted afterwards. "That's the only reason that I didn't come in. I was angry for a few laps, but when I saw that rain coming down, I thought, 'Oh, this could work out pretty good.' ''  Had the cars kept circulating - even under yellow - for a few more laps, both he and Wheldon would likely have run out of fuel.

Here are the complete race results:

http://www.indycar.com/stats/boxscores/2008/nashville_07122008.pdf

Earlier in the evening - after a rain delay of nearly two hours - Ana Beatriz notched her first Firestone Indy Lights victory. It was the first win for a woman in the seven year history of the series. 

Bookmark or share this story with: