Irl Preview:Â suntrust Indy Challenge at Richmond

The tenth date of the IRL IndyCar Series will bewasn't very good in the following years to the
held next Sunday June 22 at the Richmondchampionship, including having to retire early in
International Raceway. The SunTrust Indy2005 race, his worst year to date, and finishing in
Challenge has become one of the most popularthe 11th place in 2006. Nevertheless, last year
and successful races in the "Nascar Country" sincewas definitely better for him and he managed to
it became part of the IndyCar Series in 2001.finish as runner-up in both the SunTrust Indy
Racing fans generally follow this race closelyChallenge race and in the 2007 IRL season.
because four of the past seven drivers that haveBrazilian Helio Castroneves, who is currently in the
won this event have also gone to win thesecond place of the IRL rankings and just 48
championship that same year and the championspoints away from Dixon, also have won Richmond
of the other 3 years had also finished in the toponce in 2005 and has finished in the top 10
positions in Richmond, so there is high chance topositions other four times even though last year
catch a glimpse of the 2008 IndyCar Serieshe ended in the 11th place.
Champion next Sunday.English Dan Wheldon, who celebrated his 30th
The winner of last year's SunTrust Indy Challengebirthday last weekend winning the Iowa Corn Indy
was the Italian 2007 champion Dario Franchitti;250 race, has being competing in Richmond since
however he will not be defending his title this year2002. He won in 2004 and has always
since he's now dedicated full time to the Nascarfinished in the top 10 positions of the RIR
Sprint Cup Series, driving #40 Fastenal Dodge forchallenge. Wheldon currently holds the third
Chip Ganassi Racing team. Therefore, Richmondposition of the IRL rankings.
will have a new winner.However, past statistics to this race might not
This year's IndyCar Series have been dominatedhave such an impact this time because this year's
so far by the IRL 2003 champion from Newrace will represent a new challenge for the drivers
Zealand Scott Dixon, who also races for the Chipsince it has changed its format a bit, introducing
Ganassi Racing team, and he will certainly try tofour lap qualifying for the first time and scheduling
add some points to his total score this time. Dixon50 more laps than previous years to head 300
has won this race only once before, in the samelaps that will reach a 225 miles distance.
year he won his only championship since he isFurthermore, the number of cars competing this
another of those four champions mentionedyear has also increased.
before. However, his performance in Richmond