Indianapolis 2008
ALTHOUGH QUALIFYING ON SATURDAY WAS COMPLETED IN THE DRY, SUNDAY WAS A DIFFERENT MATTER COMPLETELY. THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IKE THREATENED THE PROCEEDINGS. THE ORGANISERS PREPARED TO ADVANCE THE SCHEDULE IF IKE ARRIVED ON CUE BUT IN THE EVENT THEY STARTED ON TIME WITH THE 125'S, DELAYED THE 250'S (EVENTUALLY CANCELLING THAT EVENT) AND, AFTER MASSIVE DRYING OPERATIONS, GOT THE MAIN EVENT AWAY ON TIME IN LIGHT RAIN.
THE RAIN STEADILY WORSENED DURING THE RACE BUT THEN EASED OFF TO BE REPLACED BY GALE-FORCE WINDS. CASEY STONER MADE HIS USUAL GOOD START AND TOOK THE LEAD, SOON RELINQUISHING IT TO NICKY HAYDEN WHO LED FOR MANY LAPS UNTIL VALENTINO ROSSI SQUEEZED PAST.
NICKY HELD ON TO 2ND BUT WAS EVENTUALLY PASSED BY A RESURGENT JORGE LORENZO ALTHOUGH NICKY GOT HIM BACK ON THE HOME STRAIGHT. AT THIS POINT THE RACE WAS RED-FLAGGED BECAUSE OF THE WIND STRENGTH. THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER THE RACE HAD BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS POINT OR WHETHER THE REMAINING 7 LAPS WOULD NEED TO BE RACED OUT IF THE WEATHER IMPROVED.
EVENTUALLY, THE WIND MADE UP THE OFFICIALS' MINDS - IT BLEW OVER A COUPLE OF THE TEAMS' PIT STANDS, HAVING ALREADY DAMAGED THE INFLATABLE PROTECTIVE BARRIERS. SO VALENTINO WAS CROWNED THE FIRST WINNER OF A MOTORBIKE RACE AT THE INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY FOR 99 YEARS! IT WAS GOOD TO SEE NICKY HAYDEN BACK TO HIS BEST, ESPECIALLY AT THIS HIS HOME EVENT, EVEN THOUGH HE STILL WALKS WITH CRUTCHES.
THE TITLE LOOKS ALMOST CERTAIN TO RETURN TO ITALY NOW AS VALENTINO'S LEAD OVER CASEY STONER INCREASED TO 87 POINTS WITH ONLY 4 RACES TO GO. WITH THIS WIN HE TOOK THE OUTRIGHT RECORD FOR VICTORIES FROM GIACOMO AGOSTINI - 69 NOW AND COUNTING.
STARTING GRID
| | | | | |
| 1.
|
Valentino Rossi
|
| 2.
|
Casey Stoner
|
| 3.
|
Jorge Lorenzo
|
| 4.
|
Nicky Hayden
|
| 5.
|
Ben Spies
|
| 6.
|
Randy de Puniet
|
| 7.
|
Andrea Dovizioso
|
| 8.
|
Dani Pedrosa
|
| 9.
|
Tony Elias
|
| 10.
|
James Toseland
|
| 11.
|
Colin Edwards
|
| 12.
|
Alex de Angelis
|
| 13.
|
Loris Capirossi
|
| 14.
|
Sylvain Guintoli
|
| 15.
|
Chris Vermeulen
|
| 16.
|
John Hopkins
|
| 17.
|
Shinya Nakano
|
| 18.
|
Marco Melandri
|
| 19.
|
Anthony West
|
RESULT
| |
| 1.
|
Valentino Rossi
|
| 2.
|
Nicky Hayden
|
| 3.
|
Jorge Lorenzo
|
| 4.
|
Casey Stoner
|
| 5.
|
Andrea Dovizioso
|
| 6.
|
Ben Spies
|
| 7.
|
Sylvain Guintoli
|
| 8.
|
Dani Pedrosa
|
| 9.
|
Chris Vermeulen
|
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Riders :
| |
| Valentino Rossi
|
287
|
| Casey Stoner
|
200
|
| Dani Pedrosa
|
193
|
| Jorge Lorenzo
|
156
|
| Andrea Dovizioso
|
129
|
| Chris Vermeulen
|
117
|
| Colin Edwards
|
109
|
| Nicky Hayden
|
104
|
| Shinya Nakano
|
87
|
Constructors :
|
| Yamaha
|
316
|
| Honda
|
243
|
| Ducati
|
241
|
| Suzuki
|
149
|
| Kawasaki
|
71
|
Race Results posted by
David Little
15th September 2008
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