Sam Hornish Jr secured his third victory of the season of Indy Racing League after surpassing to Gil de Ferran when they only reduced two returns for the end, and adjudging this way the SunTrust Indy Challenge, disputed in the Richmond International Raceway.
Hornish Jr surpassed to Of Ferran, that led 168 of the 250 programmed returns, when these two arrived at the first curve. After it escapes, Hornish Jr accelerated in the last meters to the maximum and crossed the line of impact almost two seconds of advantage on the present champion of CART.
“My rivals pressed to me enough during the beginning of the race, but soon when the tires began to be worn away my car behaved well and I could attack”, said Hornish Jr, “As much I I eat all my I equip we were very trusting. This victory returns to us to approach the championship”, ended up saying the IRL champion.
On the other hand Gil de Ferran confirmed the theory of Hornish Jr “the car was really very well in the beginning, but soon I began to lose, to lose and to lose…”, Gil explained, “Manages to maintain me in the track, but I could not contain to Sam. Its maneuver was very clean and I could not make nothing to prevent it”, commented resigned Gil de Ferran.
Also the Brazilian Felippe Giaffone finished third party returning to add important points. In this occasion, Giaffone battled with a car (G-FORCE) very unstable and difficult to lead throughout all the race. Whatsoever, the talent of the Brazilian could more and Felipe realized another outstanding action for the equipment Mo Nunn Racing.
South African the Scheckter Takings, pilot revelation of this season, reached the fourth position after starting off very back. Takings, considered like a pilot very quick, reckless and prone to the errors, this time did not miss and pocketed several points. Perhaps Scheckter would have rotted to reach the leadership of the race of not seeing itself obstructed by a straggler. For its landlord and teammate the race did not finish well. Cheever Jr was touched with Laurent Redon and both finished against the wall.
The experimented one To Unser Jr concluded fifth, whereas Airton Dare, Richie Hearn, Jeff Ward, Robby McGehee and Alex Barron completed the ten first classified.
Unlike the occurred thing in Pikes Peak, the spectacle offered in Richmond was entertained, with many ambles and an impressive amount of accidents. Altogether there were eight yellow flags that occupied 94 returns of race.
The first surprise of the race arrived at few returns of the beginning. The leader of the championship, Castroneves Helium, lost the control of his Dallara when he persecuted to his companion Of Ferran striking the internal wall of Richmond. Its car was seriously damaged, although the mechanics of Penske reparón and Castroneves returned to track 55 returns behind the leader. “The car was going away a little back. Honestly I believed to be able to control the car, but it was not thus…”, commented Helium.
The list of accidents did not finish there. Billy Boat, Scott Sharp, George Mack, Jon Herb, SARAH Fisher, Laurent Redon and Eddie Cheever Jr also proved the wall of concrete. Whatsoever, the most dramatic moment was lived in pits, when the car of Buddy Lazier caught fire spectacularly. Luckily the flames were dissipated, although the fire was of considerable proportions.
With the victory of Hornish Jr the championship is put to red the alive one. Castroneves follows of leader with 280 points, Gil de Ferran with 277 and Hornish Jr adds 256 units. Felippe Giaffone stays quarter with best car G-FORCE.

To see result of the race