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Faulkner spins and wins at Portland

Ireland's Damien Faulkner survived an opening lap spin and another off-track excursion to win a rain-soaked Dayton Indy Lights race at Portland on Sunday

Faulkner, who won on his oval debut at Texas in April, gave his Dorricott Racing team its third straight victory at Portland. He was one of four frontrunners involved in a multiple pile-up on the opening lap at the infamous Festival Curves.

As his team mate and polesitter Townsend Bell led the field into the turn, contact was made with front row starter Dan Wheldon and his PacWest team mate Mario Dominguez. Faulkner escaped in third place, trailing Kristian Kolby (Conquest Racing) and Luis Diaz (Telmex). Dominguez retired on the spot, while Bell and Wheldon each rejoined the race a lap down after pit stops for repairs.

After a four-lap caution period for the incident, Faulkner slipped past Diaz for second on lap five and began to pressure Kolby. As the duo negotiated Turn Four on lap 11, both drivers slithered off but managed to continue in position in front of Rudy Junco (Mexpro). He moved to third after Diaz and rookie Matt Halliday (Conquest Racing) had both spun off. Six laps later, Kolby went off course again, but this time Faulkner stayed on track to take the lead.

As Kolby spun at Turn Eight, bringing out the day's third and final caution, Faulkner cruised past for the lead and was never challenged again.

"It wasn't as easy as it looked," said Faulkner. "The track was very slippery. The first corner was a mess. Townsend and I braked late and certainly later than Dan. I think somebody hit me from behind and spun me around. Townsend, I believe, spun by himself. I don't know what happened to him.

"I managed to stay out of the gravel trap but I was going backwards so I selected first gear and, before the car stopped, I had spun it around. I was able to hound Kolby down to where it was getting pretty close. I think I was quicker than him," he added.

Faulkner headed Junco home by 16secs, while Derek Higgins (Mexpro) recovered from two spins of his own to finish third. Higgins has now cut Bell's advantage at the top of the points table in half. Bell leads the standings with 71 points, Higgins is second with 66 and Faulkner has jumped to third with 55.

Damien Faulkner, Dorricott, 38 laps
Rudy Junco, Mexpro, +16.134s
Derek Higgins, Mexpro, +20.501s
Matt Halliday, Conquest, +28.936s
Rolando Quintanilla, Roquin, +58.388s
Townsend Bell, Dorricott, +1m16.412s

Townsend Bell, 71
Derek Higgins, 66
Damien Faulkner, 55
Mario Dominguez, 51
Dan Wheldon (R), 47
Kristian Kolby (R), 45

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