The ruling champion of the Indy Racing League, Sam Hornish Jr, secured a fascinating victory in the third date of the IRL, disputed in the superoval of Fontana, California. The champion by hand obtained the triumph after an exciting race of 400 miles of duration, defining the first position in the last curve of the drawn up one after a vibrant hand with Jacques Lazier, of the Menard equipment `s.
The third date of the Indy Racing League so was entertained as the previous one, disputed in Phoenix. The ambles were very well in this edition, in which luckyly many incidents were not registered, as I know feared to begin with six newcomer ones in grilla.
One you see plus the strategy was the main factor at the time of defining the most important positions. The majority of the equipment decided on similar tactics, and many of their pilots entered to the Pits at the same time as the other.
The race was almost always in the hands of the six main candidates: Eddie Cheever Jr, Scheckter Takings, Sam Hornish Jr, Jacques Lazier and Gil de Ferran. This last one, along with their companion Castroneves Helium, did not count on winning cars, unlike which it happened in Phoenix where they obtained one-two for Penske. Of Ferran it was able to gain several positions to pure talent, finishing quarter with his Dallara Chevrolet. Castroneves could recover until finishing fifth. Even, the Brazilian lost almost thirty seconds in the Pits, when its motor Chevy V8 paused unexpectedly.
The race began to pure action with Sam Hornish Jr. and Jeff Ward battling by the leadership of the squad. Anyway, the positions varied constantly from first to the last one. Of entrance it was demonstrated that both pilots of the equipment Red Bull Cheever Racing counted on excellent cars and a motor rendidor Infiniti (Nissan), the other motorist of the category along with Chevrolet.
With 50 completed returns Sam Hornish Jr he was the leader, followed of Eddie Cheever Jr, Scheckter Takings, Scott Sharp, Helium Castroneves and Gil de Ferran. For that then, Hornish Jr were accumulated almost nine seconds to its favor.
With the course of the returns, the engineers of Infiniti began to worry about the reliability about the motors about Cheever Jr. and Scheckter. It is known that the trustworthiness of this impeller is quite doubtful, and if we added the vertiginous rate to him imposed by the pilots of Red Bull Cheever Racing, the reasons to worry were than sufficient more.
Lamentably what it was expected happened, and not of the best way for the Sheckter South African. In the heat of it curves his car remained without power, and the Japanese Hideki Noda ahead took it dragging it until the wall to both. The impact was violentísimo, especially the one of Noda. To make matters worse, its car began to catch fire after the shock although luckyly it was aided in time and it did not suffer injuries, like Sheckter Takings. A true pain for the young promise, since it had realized a shining race.
For their Cheever companion also the things were complicaron. To ten returns of the end it left by motor breakage when it circulated first. It was in evidence throughout the race that the American veteran demanded more of the account his impeller. Also its attempt was worth, and it was not much what it needed to raise itself with the victory.
Without Cheever Jr in track, the race was into the hands of Jacques Lazier of wonderful action. Lazier battled with Hornish Jr until the end, although the champion was able to surpass it in the last return to pure anger, even clearing the car of Lazier to almost 350 km/h. An unforgettable definition.
The French Laurent Redon, ex- pilot of the European F3000, finished in rewarding 3º put saving the honor of the Infiniti mark. Redon battled like true an experienced one in ovals next to the ruling champion of CART, Gil de Ferran, and its Castroneves companion.
On the other hand, the 400 of California meant the official debut of the Team Rahal in the series IRL. With the unique intention to prepare itself for the 500 miles of Indianapolis, Jimmy Vasser concluded ninth with Dallara Chevrolet, after dividing 16º. A result than more encouraging.
After this race, Hornish Jr consolidates in the championship with 141 points, followed by Castroneves with 115, Of Ferran with 112, J. Lazier with 80 and Eliseo Salazar with 77 points.
Lamentably the Chilean credit did not have a good day in California finishing in opaque 15º put.

To see result of the race