Cafes Do Brasil Indy 300

[Anubis]

Ok, so we're still a week out, but the Motegi thread was posted a week before the race, so I figured I could justify it. Plus it's the title decider and we need time to argue, um, discuss things.

Credit to DanicaFan for the format. I feel a tiny bit mean borrowing it, but it's meant in a good natured way (see footnote) and I'm assuming he'll be too preoccupied with Dover most of the weekend anyway, so figured I'd fill in for him and get the ball rolling.

So, season finale time. Faites vos jeux...

Race 17 of 17

Race - Cafes Do Brasil Indy 300

Location - Homestead-Miami Speedway

Date - Saturday, October 2nd

Time & TV Schedule - 6:00 PM Eastern - Green Flag 7:00 PM -Versus
Course Type - 1.5 Mile Oval

Distance - 200 Laps / 300 Miles

Practice Sessions - Friday, Oct 1st -1:30PM-2:30PM & 7:30PM -8:15PM Eastern

Qualifications - Friday, Oct 1st - 4:45PM - 6:00PM Eastern

2009 Pole Sitter - Scott Dixon - 210.073

2009 Winner - Dario Franchitti

Track layout :-



2009 Race Summary

Total Laps - 200 / Green Flag Laps - 200 / Caution Laps - 0
Race Length - 1:28:28
Average Speed - 201.420 mph
Best Lap - 210.073mph - #9 Scott Dixon -Lap 105
Most Improved - #27 Hideki Mutoh - 13 positions - started 19th - finished 6th

Can't find an official entry list at the moment, although Ana Beatriz has been confirmed at D&R

Here's an assumed entry list. Corrections welcomed if you know of any.

#2 Raphael Matos / HP DeFerran Dragon / DeFerran Dragon Racing
#3 Helio Castroneves / Team Penske / Team Penske
#4 Dan Wheldon / National Guard Panther Racing / Panther Racing
#5 Takuma Sato / Lotus-KV Racing Technolgy / KV Racing Technology
#6 Ryan Briscoe / Team Penske / Team Penske
#7 Danica Patrick / Team GoDaddy.com / Andretti Autosport
#8 EJ Viso / PDVSA -KVRT Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#9 Scott Dixon / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#10 Dario Franchitti / Target Chip Ganassi Racing / Target Chip Ganassi Racing
#11 Tony Kanaan / Team 7-Eleven / Andretti Autosport
#12 Will Power / Verizon Team Penske / Verizon Team Penske
#14 Vitor Meira / ABC Supply Co.-AJ Foyt Racing / AJ Foyt Enterprises
#18 Milka Duno / CITGO / Dale Coyne Racing
#19 Alex Lloyd / Boy Scouts of America / Dale Coyne Racing
#20 Ed Carpenter / Panther-Vision-Fuzzy's Vodka / Panther Racing
#22 Justin Wilson / Z-Line Designs-DRR / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#24 Ana Beatriz / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing / Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
#26 Marco Andretti / Team Venom Energy / Andretti Autosport
#32 Mario Moraes / KV Racing Technology / KV Racing Technology
#34 Bertrand Baguette / RACB Conquest Racing / Conquest Racing
#36 Tomas Scheckter? / CWE -Conquest Racing / Conquest Racing
#37 Ryan Hunter-Reay / Team IZOD / Andretti Autosport
#77 Alex Tagliani / FAZZT Race Team / FAZZT Race Team
#78 Simona De Silvestro / Team Stargate Worlds HVM / HVM Racing
#02 Graham Rahal / NHR - Quick Trim / Newman Haas Racing
#06 Hideki Mutoh / Formula Dream-Panasonic / Newman Haas Racing

Predictions? Will Sato finish TWO races in a row? Will Carpenter finally win one? Will Helio crawl round and win on fuel mileage again just to annoy anthonyvop? Will we have a huge argument about crowd numbers? What will you know who do? How will we all cope during the off season?

Footnote :-
If DF gets a bit upset that I've nicked "his" thread, it's all meant in jest, I promise. I'm declaring a moratorium on being mean to him personally, as it doesn't actually achieve anything and he's probably a nice guy in reality, even if I can't comprehend his level of enthusiasm.

[beachbum]

Footnote :-
If DF gets a bit upset that I've nicked "his" thread, it's all meant in jest, I promise. I'm declaring a moratorium on being mean to him personally, as it doesn't actually achieve anything and he's probably a nice guy in reality, even if I can't comprehend his level of enthusiasm.

Thanks Hornet, but don't worry about DF. He is off at another forum doing his usual stuff.

[SoCalPVguy]

Ok, so we're still a week out, but the Motegi thread was posted a week before the race, so I figured I could justify it. Plus it's the title decider and we need time to argue, um, discuss things.

Credit to DanicaFan for the format. I feel a tiny bit mean borrowing it, but it's meant in a good natured way (see footnote) and I'm assuming he'll be too preoccupied with Dover most of the weekend anyway, so figured I'd fill in for him and get the ball rolling....

You forgot to add your prediction so I'll "help" you ...

Hornet picks danica to get pole, win the race by 18 laps and be elected President.

You're welcome.

[Dr. Krogshöj]

I think Sarah Fisher Racing will be back.

[GRW1983]

I believe that the entry list will be the same 25 cars as Motegi, with Ana Beatriz replacing Paul Tracy in the #24 D&R car, and Tomas Scheckter replacing Roger Yasakawa in the #36 Conquest car. Plus, Sarah Fisher in the #67 will be back, as well as Ed Carpenter in the 2nd Panther car. So, by my reckoning, the entry list will be 27 for the season finale.

PS. Mike Conway will be at Homestead, but has decided to make sure he is 100% fit before he makes a return to the cockpit. He could have raced in Miami, but felt it wasn't worth the risk for one race. He'll be back next season and plans to be in IndyCar for many years to come.

[Anubis]

Prediction wise, it would be nice to see Carpenter win one, as his previous outings have certainly shown promise, but I guess it'll be the usual suspects up front. Dario has to go for it and Power can't really afford not to stick with him, so they're either going to dominate or crash into each other! From the Danica perspective, her stats here are mixed. Qualifies reasonably well with an average of 7.75, but has always fallen back to a lower finish, with an average of 13.5, which suggests she can't really race at this track. I shall leave that one teed up...

Personally, I'll cheering for (and then doubtless shouting at) Sato, as well as Carpenter and Baguette. Toss up between Wheldon and Wilson from the English standpoint, which I think Wilson shades by being such a class act. Wheldon just puts my teeth on edge for some reason.

[Easy Drifter]

With the latest news it doubtful Simona will have a car there as HVM have apparently lost their shop. Thanks for the info Tony.
It would be a super guesture if Sarah would put Simona in her other car if HVM do not appear. Sarah is such a super person she just might do it.

[beachgirl]

With the latest news it doubtful Simona will have a car there as HVM have apparently lost their shop. Thanks for the info Tony.
It would be a super guesture if Sarah would put Simona in her other car if HVM do not appear. Sarah is such a super person she just might do it.

Maybe if we start contacting SFR now?

[Easy Drifter]

Speed is reporting Simona will be in the Dreyer and Rienbold #24.
Only on the scroll on the bottom of the Speed Report.
Might be more on Wind Tunnel.
Don't know where that leaves Ana.

[Easy Drifter]

My bad. I need to get new glasses. The announcement was about Ana not Simona