Sharp Ends Winless Drought
Former IRL Champion Scott Sharp ended a 40-race winless streak to take the victory in today's Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway
The 37-year-old took the lead on lap 134, passing points leader Dan Wheldon, and never relinquished his lead to the end, fending off fierce challenge from Victor Meira, who finished second.
Wheldon, early favourite to take the win, was beaten through pitstops and finished third, ahead of Alex Barron in fourth and Helio Castroneves in fifth.
Pole-sitter Danica Patrick had a bad race, first surrendering the lead to Tony Kanaan on the opening lap, then stalling at the pits on lap 71, and then running into gearbox problems, finishing 16 laps down on the leader, in 16th place.
Defending series Champion Tony Kannan led the first 25 laps of the race but his right rear suspension failed on lap 99, making it his third retirement this season.
Sharp's win, his first since 2003, is the second for team Delphi Fernandez Racing at Kentucky, after last year Adrian Fernandez took the honours.
Pos Driver Make-Engine Laps 1. Scott Sharp Panoz-Honda 200 2. Vitor Meira Panoz-Honda 200 3. Dan Wheldon Dallara-Honda 200 4. Alex Barron Dallara-Toyota 200 5. Helio Castroneves Dallara-Toyota 200 6. Buddy Lazier Dallara-Chevy 200 7. Sam Hornish Jr. Dallara-Toyota 200 8. Kosuke Matsuura Panoz-Honda 200 9. A.J. Foyt IV Dallara-Chevy 200 10. Jimmy Kite Dallara-Toyota 200 11. Tomas Enge Dallara-Chevy 200 12. Patrick Carpentier Dallara-Toyota 200 13. Ryan Briscoe Panoz-Toyota 200 14. Buddy Rice Panoz-Honda 199 15. Jaques Lazier Panoz-Toyota 197 16. Danica Patrick Panoz-Honda 184 17. Roger Yasukawa Dallara-Honda 174 18. Dario Franchitti Dallara-Honda 169 19. Bryan Herta Dallara-Honda 144 20. Tony Kanaan Dallara-Honda 99 21. Tomas Scheckter Dallara-Chevy 82 22. Ed Carpenter Dallara-Toyota 67 23. Scott Dixon Panoz-Toyota 27
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