Strategy error denies Franchitti
Dario Franchitti finished third in the Motegi Champ Car round but a key strategy error by Team Green may have cost him a shot a victory.
Franchitti entered the pits during a full course caution on Lap 45 attempting to gain a strategic advantage under CART's pit stop window rule. But the race unexpectedly went green and Dario and his team-mate Michael Andretti were caught off guard running 50mph in the extended pit lane. They lost a lap to leaders Paul Tracy, Tony Kanaan and Bruno Junqueira and were never able to make it up.
"We knew getting caught with a green pit stop would put you two laps down today, and we ended up with a half-green pit stop," Franchitti said. "It was from the pit lane exit round the corner that we got caught. I was just trying to open the fuel window. Somebody didn't hear the call or see the one-finger sign.
"CART lengthened the pit speed zone for safety and it was the same for everybody," he added. "We didn't hear the call, we took a gamble and made a mistake. We paid for it. We're on top of the points, but I really wanted to win here. It was important for me and it was important for Honda. We're leading the points and I don't want to sound down, but I really wanted to win this race. To lose it on something like strategy really hurts."
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