IndyCar Series news
Matos fastest in second Toronto session
10 July 2009 / Results / PhotosRaphael Matos has finished Friday at the top of the final classification by setting the fastest lap time in Toronto. The Luczo Dragon driver beat Watkins Glen winner Justin Wilson's time by just under three tenths of a second with Will Power in third and championship leader Scott Dixon falling to eighth.
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| Despite a late shunt, confidence is high in the Luczo Dragon camp |
With the second of this weekend's three practice sessions taking place on Friday, Matos moved from second in the first session to first in the second. Behind the Brazilian, who is currently 13th in the championship, were Watkins Glen winners Justin Wilson and Dale Coyne Racing with series returnee Will Power third for Penske.
Drama occurred in the final two minutes, however, as fastest man Matos lost control of the car and crashed, ending up stationary in the middle of the main straight and bringing a premature end to the session to confirm his fastest time at the top of the pecking order. Just outside the top three was 2009 newcomer Robert Doornbos as the Dutchman led the way for Newman/Haas/Lanigan with team-mate Graham Rahal ninth.
In an NHL sandwich were Briscoe, Franchitti, Castroneves and Dixon in a Penske-Ganassi-Penske-Ganassi formation, with Tony Kanaan's Andretti Green car rounding out the top ten. Seventh placed Castroneves was, like compatriot Matos, also in the wars as contact with the Turn 5 wall resulting in a breaking of his suspension.
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| Championship leader Dixon finishes Friday in eighth position |
The incidents didn't stop there, though, with a mini catalogue of errors to account for; Danica Patrick was the first to pick up damage around Turn 5, spinning on the exit of the corner before slapping the side of the car into the Turn 6 wall and bringing an end to her day. Paul Tracy, one of two Canadians racing at home, ended up in an unlucky 13th position after spinning at the first corner and Marco Andretti - Andretti Green team-mate to Patrick - also touched the Turn 1 wall as a result of spinning.
If that pandemonium wasn't enough for the crowds, however, the qualifying session will be coming up after third practice on Saturday with weather radars predicting a wet day in Toronto.
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