Taylor takes fifth IPS race win

Taylor passed Jeff Simmons and poleman Arie Luyendyk Jr. heading into the first turn on a restart on the 19th lap of the 50-lap race. The ease of the pass - as Luyendyk and Simmons' cars stumbled - surprised Taylor.

"I surprised myself when I was able to take the lead," Taylor said. "From that point on I felt confident. I was able to protect the inside line after that. I just made sure nobody got inside of me."

Simmons, who came back to nip Thiago Medeiros for second place at the line, said his car stumbled on the restart.

"For some reason, my engine seems to load up a lot," Simmons said. "I'd try to get going on the restart and it just dies. It gets to about 7,500 rpms and then it just stays there for a whole lap. I dropped back quite a few positions on that restart, then got back to where I wanted to be and stayed there the rest of the race."

Simmons had one more chance to catch Taylor - a green-white restart after a crash involving Luyundyk and Paul Dana - but couldn't get his car to overcome its balk.

"I just couldn't do anything on the restart," Simmons said. "The engine just kind of died again. I had the distance I wanted, but it just wouldn't pull."

About the only miscalculation Taylor and his Fulmar Panther Racing crew made during the weekend was choosing a race gear for qualifying. Taylor started seventh, but was third behind Luyendyk and Simmons by the sixth lap.

"I felt like the leaders might get away if I stayed back in seventh or eighth too long," Taylor said. "It was important to close that gap as quickly as possible. That's when the real games begin, when you can get up to the front."