The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Sep
16th
Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
In a race won by Ed Carpenter, who had been one of its principal leader all thru the night, Andretti's Ryan Hunter-Reay won the 2012 IndyCar championship in one exciting race presented at the 2-mile oval in Fontana.
As it had been the case in at least the two previous seasons finale, Will Power (Penske) was unable to hold his own and dramatically crashed on lap 54. Still, in order to win the championship, Hunter-Reay had to finish at least in sixth.
Ironically, Power dropped the rear of his car and crashed into the safer barrier at the same time he was passing Hunter-Reay who was fortunate not to be caught up in the accident also.
Team Penske managed to patch-up Power's car and send him back on the track to get in more points. For the Australian, it was not an easy task driving his car around the track. With 60 laps down, Power managed to do an extra 12 laps to gain a position.
Hunter-Reay now needed to finish fifth rather than sixth to secure the crown.The Andretti Autosport driver was able to climb to fifth when Alex Tagliani (BHA) suffered an engine failure.
During a restart after an unusual red flag caused by the crash of Tony Kanaan, Hunter-Reay found himself under pressure from Scott Dixon, who he let past, and Takuma Sato, who he battled for a couple of laps before the Japanese driver lost control and crashed on the second-last lap, sealing Hunter-Reay's triumph by moving him up to fourth and bringing the race to an end.
Carpenter took the race followed by Ganassi's Dario Franchitti. Dixon completed the podium ahead of Hunter-Reay and Helio Castroneves (Penske).
IndyCar event Fontana Results - 250 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy 2h57m36.6565s
2. Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 1.9132s
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 2.6091s
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 3.0477s
5. Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy + 4.1933s
6. Graham Rahal Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 5.4381s
7. Takuma Sato Rahal Dallara-Honda + 1 lap
8. Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 1 lap
9. Katherine Legge Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 1 lap
10. Charlie Kimball Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 1 lap
11. JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy + 2 laps
12. James Jakes Coyne Dallara-Honda + 2 laps
13. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 3 laps
14. Wade Cunningham Foyt Dallara-Honda + 4 laps
15. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 4 laps
16. Josef Newgarden Fisher Dallara-Honda + 6 laps
17. Ryan Briscoe Penske Dallara-Chevy + 6 laps
18. Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy + 10 laps*
19. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR Dallara-Chevy + 19 laps
Retirements:
Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda 229 laps
Sebastian Saavedra AFS/Andretti Dallara-Chevy 118 laps
Rubens Barrichello KV Dallara-Chevy 107 laps
Justin Wilson Coyne Dallara-Honda 80 laps
Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy 66 laps
EJ Viso KV Dallara-Chevy 65 laps
Simona de Silvestro HVM Dallara-Lotus 16 laps
* Not running at finish
As it had been the case in at least the two previous seasons finale, Will Power (Penske) was unable to hold his own and dramatically crashed on lap 54. Still, in order to win the championship, Hunter-Reay had to finish at least in sixth.
Ironically, Power dropped the rear of his car and crashed into the safer barrier at the same time he was passing Hunter-Reay who was fortunate not to be caught up in the accident also.
Team Penske managed to patch-up Power's car and send him back on the track to get in more points. For the Australian, it was not an easy task driving his car around the track. With 60 laps down, Power managed to do an extra 12 laps to gain a position.
 |
| Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2012 IndyCar Champion. (Photo: IndyCar) |
Hunter-Reay now needed to finish fifth rather than sixth to secure the crown.The Andretti Autosport driver was able to climb to fifth when Alex Tagliani (BHA) suffered an engine failure.
During a restart after an unusual red flag caused by the crash of Tony Kanaan, Hunter-Reay found himself under pressure from Scott Dixon, who he let past, and Takuma Sato, who he battled for a couple of laps before the Japanese driver lost control and crashed on the second-last lap, sealing Hunter-Reay's triumph by moving him up to fourth and bringing the race to an end.
Carpenter took the race followed by Ganassi's Dario Franchitti. Dixon completed the podium ahead of Hunter-Reay and Helio Castroneves (Penske).
IndyCar event Fontana Results - 250 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy 2h57m36.6565s
2. Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 1.9132s
3. Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 2.6091s
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 3.0477s
5. Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy + 4.1933s
6. Graham Rahal Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 5.4381s
7. Takuma Sato Rahal Dallara-Honda + 1 lap
8. Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 1 lap
9. Katherine Legge Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 1 lap
10. Charlie Kimball Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 1 lap
11. JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy + 2 laps
12. James Jakes Coyne Dallara-Honda + 2 laps
13. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 3 laps
14. Wade Cunningham Foyt Dallara-Honda + 4 laps
15. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 4 laps
16. Josef Newgarden Fisher Dallara-Honda + 6 laps
17. Ryan Briscoe Penske Dallara-Chevy + 6 laps
18. Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy + 10 laps*
19. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR Dallara-Chevy + 19 laps
Retirements:
Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda 229 laps
Sebastian Saavedra AFS/Andretti Dallara-Chevy 118 laps
Rubens Barrichello KV Dallara-Chevy 107 laps
Justin Wilson Coyne Dallara-Honda 80 laps
Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy 66 laps
EJ Viso KV Dallara-Chevy 65 laps
Simona de Silvestro HVM Dallara-Lotus 16 laps
* Not running at finish