Vernay goes flag-to-flag in Sonoma
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| J. K. Vernay |
| Bob Heathcote/AR1.com |
Sam Schmidt Motorsports' ace J.K. Vernay started from pole and was never headed as he led the 40-lap Carneros 100 Indy Lights race from flag-to-flag Sunday at Infineon Raceway. Charlie Kimball was 2nd and James Hinchcliffe 3rd.
Vernay, in the No. 7 Lucas Oil machine, held off Hinchcliffe and later Kimball on two restarts and made it look easy, setting the fastest lap on the way. It was the 5th win of the year from the French rookie.
Vernay extended his point lead to 71 over James Hinchcliffe with just three oval races left on the schedule.
Vernay's hope is that he can win the title and then get a shot at IndyCar in 2011.
Results
|
Rank |
No | Name | Laps | Gap | Diff | Best Lap Time | Comment |
| 1 | 7 | JK Vernay | 40 | –.—- | –.—- | 1:24.9443 | Running |
| 2 | 26 | Charlie Kimball | 40 | 3.4245 | 3.4245 | 1:25.0753 | Running |
| 3 | 2 | James Hinchcliffe | 40 | 7.1338 | 10.5583 | 1:25.4625 | Running |
| 4 | 10 | Gustavo Yacaman | 40 | 4.6532 | 15.2115 | 1:25.6106 | Running |
| 5 | 11 | Pippa Mann | 40 | 8.0484 | 23.2599 | 1:26.1898 | Running |
| 6 | 8 | Juan Pablo Garcia | 40 | 1.5842 | 24.8441 | 1:26.3855 | Running |
| 7 | 22 | Adrian Campos Jr | 40 | 1.2546 | 26.0987 | 1:25.8296 | Running |
| 8 | 36 | David Martinez | 40 | 3.5028 | 29.6015 | 1:26.5074 | Running |
| 9 | 28 | Joel Miller | 40 | 5.3659 | 34.9674 | 1:26.6739 | Running |
| 10 | 4 | Giancarlo Vilarinho | 40 | 1.9607 | 36.9281 | 1:26.9599 | Running |
| 11 | 49 | Philip Major | 40 | 0.5724 | 37.5005 | 1:26.7031 | Running |
| 12 | 18 | Rodrigo Barbosa | 40 | 4.0623 | 41.5628 | 1:26.6890 | Running |
| 13 | 40 | Dan Clarke | 37 | 3 laps | 3 laps | 1:25.4816 | Mechanical |
| 14 | 77 | Alex Ellis | 26 | 11 laps | 14 laps | 1:26.1586 | Mechanical |
| 15 | 29 | Sebastian Saavedra | 10 | 16 laps | 30 laps | 1:25.6381 | Contact |
| 16 | 27 | Martin Plowman | 6 | 4 laps | 34 laps | 1:26.3572 | Contact |
Race Statistics
Winner's average speed: 88.638
Time of Race: 1:02:21.4252
Margin of victory: 3.4245 seconds
Cautions: 2 for 5 laps
Lead changes: 0
Lap Leaders: Vernay 1 – 40
Point Standings: Vernay 412, Hinchcliffe 341, Kimball 327, Plowman 320, Saavedra 284, Clarke 241, Wilson 234,Yacaman 234, Major 223, Campos 219.