Wilson Wins At The Glen In His Coyne-Operated Indy Car

Justin Wilson and his Dale Coyne Racing team beat the big boys at Watkins Glen Sunday afternoon. (IndyCar photo by Ron McQueeney)
RacinToday.com
Justin Wilson gave team-owner Dale Coyne his first-ever victory in open-wheel racing when he won Sunday’s Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen IndyCar race.
Wilson got the victory by pulling away from the series’ big boys on a restart with six laps to go.
His victory at the 3.37-mile Watkins Glen International road course, was by 4.9 seconds over second-place Ryan Briscoe of Team Penske. Behind Briscoe at the end was Scott Dixon of the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team.
Wilson scored his victory for the little guys – nobody but Penske or Ganassi drivers have won since Wilson won last year in Detroit while driving for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing – with fine driving and a decision to stash away a set of the faster red-walled Firestone tires for the final stint of the race.
Coyne has been involved in open-wheel racing as a driver and team owner for 25 years and that has been how long it has taken him to visit Victory Lane.
Asked his thoughts about his first victory, Coyne said, “It took too long”.
Wilson said that on his white-flag lap, he “grinned from ear to ear” about the fact that he was about to secure a victory for Coyne.
By finishing third, Dixon moved to the points lead.
He had started the day a point behind teammate Dario Franchitti. He ended the day 19 ahead of Franchitti and Briscoe.
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Results Sunday of the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen IndyCar Series event July 5 at the 3.37-mile Watkins Glen International, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):
1. (2) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
2. (1) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
3. (3) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
4. (13) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
5. (8) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
6. (6) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
7. (10) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
8. (9) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
9. (17) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
10. (11) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
11. (7) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
12. (18) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
13. (15) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
14. (4) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 60, Running
15. (5) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 59, Running
16. (21) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 59, Running
17. (19) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 58, Running
18. (12) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 51, Contact
19. (20) Richard Antinucci, Dallara-Honda, 47, Running
20. (14) Paul Tracy, Dallara-Honda, 29, Contact
21. (16) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 0, Contact
Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 111.915 mph
Time of race: 1:48:24.1947
Margin of victory: 4.9906 seconds
Cautions: 4 caution flags for 10 laps
Lead changes: 8 lead changes among 5 drivers
Lap leaders: Briscoe 1-3, Wilson 4-17, Briscoe 18-20, Wilson
21-40, Castroneves 41, Briscoe 42, Dixon 43, Andretti
44-45, Wilson 46-60.
Point standings: Dixon 313, Franchitti 294, Briscoe 294,
Castroneves 257, Patrick 238, Wheldon 224, Andretti 215,
Kanaan 214, Rahal 197, Wilson 187.
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