April 19, 2009 – J. R. Hildebrand started off the Firestone Indy Lights Grand Prix of Long Beach race just like he did the season opening St. Petersburg race – on the pole!
Then he led the first half of the race through the streets of Long Beach just as he did the streets of St. Pete. But unlike at St. Pete, J. R. stayed in front and led every one of the rest of the remaining laps at Long Beach to claim the winner’s trophy.
What was different this time was that Hildebrand, driving for AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing, did not get jumped on the either of the two restarts during the race as he did at St. Pete. Lesson learned. He was not going to let anyone get past him at Long Beach and he didn’t.
On the podium with J. R. was rookie Richard Philippe, driving for Genoa, who claimed 2nd place and Sam Schmidt Motorsports’ rookie James Hinchcliffe in 3rd.
Although Hinchcliffe, who started 2nd held that spot on the first lap of the race, was passed on the second lap by Philippe, who had qualified 4th, they both stayed put in 2nd and 3rd for the remaining 43 laps at Long Beach.
As all three-podium finishers showed, it is hard to pass on the 11-turn streets of Long Beach.
Richard Philippe, who had his first podium finish this season, comes from France with significant experience at the age of 19. Not surprising, he started out karting at a young age of 8. By 2005 he won the Formula BMW USA championship with 3 wins, including the IMS race before the F1 USGP.
And yes, that was Jonathan Summerton who won that IMS race in 2004 at the age of 16. However, Philippe reset the youth record by winning at age 15! Just watch this year’s group of rookies.
Richard also added to his experience over the last three years by running in the Champ Car Atlantic series, the Renault World Series and the Formula 3 Euroseries.
As for Junior Strous, who grabbed both wins at St. Pete, Long Beach was a race he would just as soon forget. On lap 2 an electrical fire shot big flames out of engine part of his car right behind him as he quickly moved off to the side of the track and stopped his car and bailed out. He was unharmed, but finished 25th in the field of 25.
When the drivers points were totaled at the end of the race, Strous was still in the lead with 107, Jonathan Summerton, with his 4th place finish after starting 16th, closed up to 104. [OK, Summerton made it look like passing wasn’t so hard, but it was and is at Long Beach.] J. R. Hildebrand’s win moved him into 3rd with 100 points. J. R.’s showing pushed James Hinchcliffe down to 4th, but still his 98 points shows the top four squeezed into a 9 point spread.
Hang on till next weekend when they all hit Kansas Speedway where passing will be a lot easier and the speeds higher.
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