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2010 marked the fifteenth season of the IndyCar Series.
Seventeen rounds would be contested to determine titles for teams and drivers.
The season opened in mid-March at Sao Paulo, Brazil and ended at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Florida in early October. In between these two weekends, there were races held at Saint Petersburg, Barber Motorsports Park, Long Beach, Kansas Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Toronto, Edmonton, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Sonoma, Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Twin Ring Motegi. There were some newsworthy stories for the 2010 season. Perhaps, the biggest was announced on November 5, 2009, when the public was informed that the clothing company IZOD would be the series’ title sponsor. The multi-million dollar agreement was for six years (2010 – 2015). The series also saw the introduction of two new awards:
Teams continued to use the Dallara IR-05 chassis but the Honda engine deal was supposed to end in 2009. However, the contract for Honda to be the series only engine supplier was extended to the 2011 season. The Honda HR7R-HR11R used by entrants is 3.5-liter aluminum alloy V8-engine. The fuel-injected normally-aspirated motor produces 650-horsepower at 10,300-rpm. Finally, early in the year Indy Racing League founder, Tony George resigned. Replacing George as the leader of the series was Randy Bernard. Round twelve of the 2010 Izod IndyCar championship was held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Competitors would race around 2.258-mile thirteen-turn road course for eighty-five laps in an event titled the Honda Indy 200.
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For the tenth time in 2010, Chip Ganassi Racing driver, Dario Franchitti advanced to the ‘Firestone Fast Six.’ Franchitti was second quickest and shared the front row with the pole-sitter, Will Power. He trailed the race leaders, Will Power and Alex Tagliani, for much of the event and took the lead during the final round of pit-stops. Despite pressure from Power, he was able to capture his second victory of the season. |
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Will Power entered Mid-Ohio with a chance of securing the ‘Mario Andretti Road Course Championship’ all had to do was start the race. Despite an accident in practice, Power made it to the ‘Firestone Fast Six’ and qualified on the pole. He led a total of twenty-five-laps and on the last stop exited the pits in second place. Power could not find a way past the leader, Franchitti and captured the runner-up position. |
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The previous round at Edmonton ended in controversy when the on-track winner, Helio Castroneves was black-flagged for a late race pass. Castroneves’ actions after the race resulted in a $60,000 fine. At Mid-Ohio, he was on form and made it to the ‘Firestone Fast Six’ where he qualified sixth. During the race, Castroneves never led a lap but was in contention – he managed to grab the final spot on the podium. |
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Canadian veteran, Alex Tagliani qualified in the back half of the grid – starting fourteenth. During the race, Tagliani was on a different strategy than the other teams and pitted two laps before the first caution. This tactic put him in the lead of the race – in fact, Tagliani led the most laps during the event – thirty of eighty-five-laps. Unable to withstand the challenges from the other front runners, he finished fourth. |
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The driver advancing the most positions during the race was Raphael Matos. Matos drove the No. 2 De Ferran-Luczo-Dragon Racing entry and was gridded nineteenth in the twenty-seven car field. A combination of Matos’ driving and the team’s race strategy allowed him to move up the race order. At the checkered flag, he was in seventh - not his best result of the season but a great effort by all those involved. |
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In qualifying, former Formula 1 driver, Takuma Sato made it to the ‘Firestone Fast Six’ and was the third quickest. The rookie, Sato drove the No. 5 KV Racing Technology Dallara. At the start of the race, he passed the second fastest qualifier, Dario Franchitti and ran in the runner-up position until Franchitti took the spot back. After the first round of pit-stops, Sato tangled with Jay Howard and was forced to retire. |
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Scott Dixon entered the Mid-Ohio event with victories at Kansas Speedway and the Edmonton City Centre Airport and was third in the point standings. Dixon qualified fifth fastest – this was his eighth appearance in the ‘Firestone Fast Six.’ After eighty-five-laps of racing, Dixon was fifth – as he finished behind the point’s leaders, Power and Franchitti he did not improve his position in the title chase. |
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The third member of Team Penske was Australian, Ryan Briscoe who was gridded seventh for the start of the race. During the 2010 season, Briscoe had a victory in the Firestone 550K at the Texas Motor Speedway and was fourth in the Driver’s championship. Finishing behind title contenders – Power, Franchitti and Dixon in sixth place did not improve his position in the Driver standings. |
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| FIN. | START | DRIVER | CAR | ENTRANT | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Dario Franchitti | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Chip Ganassi Racing | 85 | - |
| 2 | 1 | Will Power | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Team Penske | 85 | - |
| 3 | 6 | Hélio Castroneves | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Team Penske | 85 | - |
| 4 | 14 | Alex Tagliani | Dallara IR5 / Honda | FAZZT Race Team | 85 | - |
| 5 | 5 | Scott Dixon | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Chip Ganassi Racing | 85 | - |
| 6 | 7 | Ryan Briscoe | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Team Penske | 85 | - |
| 7 | 19 | Raphael Matos | Dallara IR5 / Honda | DeFerran Luczo Dragon Racing | 85 | - |
| 8 | 10 | Simona de Silvestro | Dallara IR5 / Honda | HVM Racing | 85 | - |
| 9 | 9 | Marco Andretti | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Andretti Autosport | 85 | - |
| 10 | 4 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Andretti Autosport | 85 | - |
| 11 | 15 | Bertand Baguette | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Conquest Racing | 85 | - |
| 12 | 16 | Mario Moraes | Dallara IR5 / Honda | KV Racing Technology | 85 | - |
| 13 | 21 | Alex Lloyd | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Dale Coyne Racing | 85 | - |
| 14 | 13 | Dan Weldon | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Panther Racing | 85 | - |
| 15 | 24 | Vitor Meira | Dallara IR5 / Honda | A.J. Foyt Enterprises | 85 | - |
| 16 | 18 | J.R. Hildebrand | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | 85 | - |
| 17 | 20 | Tony Kanaan | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Andretti Autosport | 85 | - |
| 18 | 12 | Hideki Mutoh | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing | 85 | - |
| 19 | 17 | Adam Carroll | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Andretti Autosport | 85 | - |
| 20 | 25 | Graham Rahal | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Newman Haas Lanigan Racing | 85 | - |
| 21 | 22 | Danica Patrick | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Andretti Autosport | 85 | - |
| 22 | 23 | Francesco Dracone | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Conquest Racing | 82 | - |
| 23 | 27 | Milka Duno | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Dale Coyne Racing | 81 | - |
| 24 | 26 | Jay Howard | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Sarah Fisher Racing | 38 | Accident |
| 25 | 3 | Takuma Sato | Dallara IR5 / Honda | KV Racing Technology | 28 | Accident |
| 26 | 8 | E.J. Viso | Dallara IR5 / Honda | KV Racing Technology | 22 | Accident |
| 27 | 11 | Justin Wilson | Dallara IR5 / Honda | Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | 22 | Accident |
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