At the Chicago 100, Indy Pro Series rookie Logan Gomez wrapped up his first season by putting his name in the IRL record book for having won his first race – by 0.0005 seconds over his teammate, Alex Lloyd. Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Sam had nothing but smiles.
In a thrilling race that alternated between 190 – 192 mph, wheel-to-wheel racing and accidents, suspense was the word of the day, not to mention a surprise winner. Race qualification saw Alex Lloyd on the pole, his 5th, and Wade Cunningham next to him on the starting grid - the 2007 IPS Champion and the 2005 Champion. It appeared these two champs would duke it out, and they did in the beginning.
Also in the field, besides the usual drivers, was a new Andretti, Adam [Mario’s nephew and Michael’s cousin], and a veteran Indy 500 driver, Jimmy Kite, and a third driver for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, one of Sam’s past fastest Pro oval drivers, Travis Gregg. Missing, though, was second in the points standings, Hideki Mutoh, who proved that the IPS is “The fast track to Indy.” Mutoh-san, driving the Formula Dream Panther car number 60, qualified 13th for the IndyCar Series race and finished an amazing 8th in his first Indy car race.
The field of 21 cars for the IPS race got off to the expected start with Alex Lloyd leading the field and Wade Cunningham right behind him. It wasn’t long though before the first of 5 yellows come on when a car spun. When the track went green for lap 8 Cunningham took advantage of the restart and grabbed 1st place away from Alex. On lap 13 Alex was able to get around Wade to regain the lead for 2 laps before Wade took the lead back again on 15, but just for one lap before Alex claimed it back.
It looked like these two might continue their duel for the rest of the race if it weren’t for a second yellow that came out. With a field that included 11 IPS rookies one might think they might be the ones causing all of the accidents but this was not the case. Veteran Chris Festa took himself and Jaime Camara out of the race. That accident happen when Festa cleanly passed Cunningham on the outside but when he was about a car length ahead Chris lost control and his car. He did a 90 degree spin/slide. His car became the top of the "T" and Wade could only hit him, damaging his nose and front wings. Festa's car then headed toward the outer wall to collect Camara and the wall.
Cunningham was able to keep going and headed into the pits to change the nose cone and wings. Then he found himself back in 16th place. It might have been assumed that he would be out of contention for the rest of the day, but champions don’t give up that easily.
In the meantime Jonathon Klein took the lead away from Lloyd for a lap before Alex took it back on lap 18. The race settled down and Lloyd held the lead for the next 23 of the races 67 laps, during which there were two more yellows.
Behind Alex Lloyd, his teammate Logan Gomez had moved into second place after Cunningham and Klein left the front of the pack.
During Lloyd’s long hold of the lead Travis Gregg, who replaced Ryan Justice at the last minute and had to start 21st [last], and Cunningham, who “restarted” back in 16th , made their remarkable charges to the front.
On lap 38 Travis took over 3rd place and held that position through lap 38. At that point Robbie Pecorari and Wade Cunningham muscled their way into 3rd and 4th respectively and moved Gregg back to 5th for lap 39 and 40. Wade took over 3rd from Pecorari for lap 41 before Robbie claimed 3rd back on lap 42, dropping Wade to 4th. On the next lap, 43, Travis was able to pass Wade and move into 4th while Cunningham was then in 5th.
Then on lap 44 veterans Gregg and Cunningham, who had raced safely wheel-to-wheel at California Speedway in the last race of 2005 ,which determined that championship, made contact and both crashed. Wade was making a pass on the high side of Travis and the cars were about even when Gregg's car abruptly drifted up into Cunningham's. Wade's car flipped upside down in the air, landed and then rolled onto its side before sliding to a stop. Wade was able to get himself out of the car.
Gomez, who had settled into 2nd place on lap 23 stayed close behind Lloyd until lap 42 when Logan finally put a move on to test Alex and slipped into the lead for the first time – for just one lap before Alex wanted the lead back. Then on lap 47, after the Gregg – Cunningham accident, Gomez re-passed Lloyd and took over the lead again. They stayed in the order and the question was whether Alex was just waiting patiently for the last lap to put a move on Logan to snatch the lead and the win on the last lap.
It turned out that was Alex’s plan, as there were no Sam Schmidt Motorsports orders regarding who was supposed to win the race, only don’t run into each other. Alex made his move in the last turn on lap 67 and came within 1.65 inches of pulling off his 9th win of the season, but it was Logan Gomez’s race. Gomez turned in the fastest leader lap and Gregg had the fastest race lap with a 192.955 mph. Logan was the 7th different driver to win one of the 16 IPS races this season.
Robbie Pecorari of Team KRA finished 3rd to claim the third podium spot. Brian Stewart Racing’s Bobbie Wilson finished 4th and Mike Potekihen with Apex Racing came in 5th.
As for the season points standings, Lloyd ended up with 652 points. Mutoh kept his 2nd place, Cunningham, driving for AFS Racing, stayed in 3rd and Wilson in 4th. Potekihen, though, moved up and shoved Jamie Camara down and out of 5th.
Congratulations to Tony George, the IRL, IPS and all of the teams and drivers for another great year of great racing on The Fast Track to Indy. It’s time already to start looking forward to the 2008 season. And our special thanks to Brian Stewart Racing’s Harv Sweezie for his inside look at IPS racing throughout the season. |
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