Wheldon Captures Seventh Consecutive Top Ten in Richmond
Untimely Caution Flag Puts National Guard Panther Racing Team Lap Down
Early
RICHMOND, Va. (June 27, 2009) -- Panther Racing driver Dan Wheldon
captured the National Guard team's seventh consecutive Top Ten finish
Saturday during an uneventful race at Richmond International Raceway.
Wheldon, who started 13th, overcame two untimely caution flags to finish
in 10th position.
The result leaves the team in the sixth position in the IndyCar Series
points standings, as the IndyCar Series will hit the road next weekend
at Watkins Glen International Raceway -- the first in a string of
non-oval events.
Wheldon was running in 11th position as the race approached its
mid-point, when he pitted for the second time on Lap 131. A caution flag
just seven laps later when Mike Conway crashed proved costly for the
team, as it put the No. 4 car a lap down to the field. Dan was able to
climb as high as seventh before pitting again on Lap 239, but again the
team was struck by an untimely yellow when the caution came out just
nine laps after the pit stop when Helio Castroneves hit the wall on the
exit of turn two.
Scott Dixon was the race winner with his teammate Dario Franchitti
second and Graham Rahal third. Next weekend's Camping World Grand Prix
at the Glen will be broadcast live on ABC on Sunday, July 5th at 1 p.m.
with additional coverage provided by the IMS Radio Network and Sirius XM
Channel 211.
Panther's No. 4 National Guard car will return to the camo paint scheme
for this event, in honor of the Fourth of July weekend holiday.
Dan Wheldon, No. 4 National Guard Dallara Honda
"It's one of those days, we were a little unlucky here and there with
the caution flags. The National Guard Panther Racing car was really
good on a green racetrack, but once the rubber was down on the track we
didn't have the balance that we needed. Obviously it's a Top Ten and we
can roll the car back on the truck, and that's good, and now we'll start
working towards Watkins Glen."
-credit: pr
