In a race where the only certainty was not knowing what bizarre event would happen next, pending the outcome of various protests made by different teams Ryan Hunter-Reay won the MoveThatBlock.com Indy 225 IZOD IndyCar race held today at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.
The race started under a leaden sky and less than auspicious circumstances when on the first lap Mike Conway spun coming out of a turn, collecting Graham Rahal in the process as both crashed into the inside wall just past turn four. Following a six-lap caution, the race resumed only to come under caution when Helio Castroneves spun in almost the same spot as Conway, although unlike Conway and Rahal he was able to continue albeit numerous laps down.
Once the action picked up again, there was little action to speak of outside of pole sitter Dario Franchitti dominating the field, putting numerous competitors a lap down with ease including Will Power who entered the race second in the season point standings behind Franchitti. After the field had completed its first round of pit stops, Franchitti reassumed the lead just in time for a lengthy yellow flag for rain, starting on lap 75 and lasting until lap 106.
At which point things started becoming surreal.
Shortly after the restart, Tomas Scheckter tried an ill-advised move on the outside of Marco Andretti and Tony Kaanan, who was holding the inside line. Scheckter bumped Andretti, damaging his car's right rear suspension and forcing him into Kaanan, who careened wildly into the inside retaining wall, his car catching the tire barrier there and flipping over. Kaanan, despite being upside down, was unhurt and had several choice words for Scheckter and Andretti.
As the green flag was waving on lap 119, before crossing the start-finish line Franchitti and second-place Takuma Sato's cars came together, Franchitti suffering the worst of it as his car spun and smacked the inside wall, thus ending his day. Although the replay strongly indicated Franchitti moved left into Sato, Franchitti blamed Sato for the accident. Somewhat surprisingly, Sato later said the accident was indeed his fault. JR Hildebrand was caught up in the mess, finishing his race far earlier than had been planned.
Hunter-Reay assumed the lead and held it for a few dozen laps, albeit not in the dominating fashion that Franchitti had enjoyed prior to his accident. Scott Dixon briefly took over the lead during the second and final round of pit stops for everyone, followed by Power who had managed to get back on the lead lap and took advantage of having topped off with fuel just before the earlier caution for rain had ended. The gamble was that the rain would resume, with the race being called at that time with Power in the lead. It didn't play out that way, Power surrendering the top position to Sato on lap 179 when Power had to come in for his final pit stop.
Hunter-Reay reassumed the lead on lap 192 and looked set for a win, albeit not an easy one, when the rain returned on lap 206. The cars remained on the track, as the moisture was light and it was hoped would end in time for the race to resume at least a few laps prior to its scheduled 225 lap length.
The moisture didn't end.
The race resumed anyway.
Chaos ensued.
Despite the protests of drivers and team owners that the track was too wet to resume racing, INDYCAR president of competition and racing operations Brian Barnhart, who is also the Race Director for the IZOD IndyCar Series, gave the order for the race to resume at lap 215. As the cars were coming up to speed, Danica Patrick spun in the rain. The result was a clump of damaged cars, including Power's which at the time was in fifth. In front of the mayhem, Oriol Servia and Dixon both scooted past Hunter-Reay before at lap 217 first the yellow, then red flag was displayed.
A furious Power leapt out of his car, subsequently making an obscene gesture in the direction of Barnhart and when corralled by a pit reporter calling on Barnhart to be fired on the spot. Shortly thereafter, on Twitter Kaanan offered to pay any fine Power may eventually incur from his actions. Meanwhile, Barnhart and company debated what to do about what had just happened. After twenty minutes, it was decided that since the race should not have been resumed, it would be declared over and the field would be set as it was at lap 215, giving Hunter-Reay the win. At least tentatively, as protests were threatened by various teams after the race.
On a rare Sunday when IndyCar had the American auto racing world to itself, with NASCAR postponed because of rain and the NHRA having an off weekend, it would have been a perfect time for a memorable race. Today's event fits said category. Unfortunately, not for any competition on the track.
The next race in the IZOD IndyCar series is Sunday, August 28th at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.
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