The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page B3

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR INDYSTAR.COM 1st TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009 B3 auto racing NASCAR SPRINT CUP Rain, strategy give Reutimann 1st win COCA-COLA 600 (TOP FINISHERS) Driver Car 1. David Reutimann Toyota 2. Ryan Newman Chevrolet 3. Robby Gordon Toyota 4. Carl Edwards Ford 5.

Brian Vickers Toyota 6. Kyle Busch Toyota 7. Kasey Kahne Dodge 8. Juan Pablo Montoya Chevrolet 9. Joey Logano Toyota 10.

Matt Kenseth Ford tried to be in front when the event was finally washed out. Reutimann gave it his best shot when, running 14th, he and crew chief Rodney Childers decided not to join the parade of cars following leader Kyle Busch down pit road during a caution for rain 22 laps past the halfway point. Reutimann claimed the lead, with pole sitter Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon following him to the front. He didn't lead a single green-flag lap, but was out front for five laps under caution before the third rain stoppage. Reutimann received a congratulatory call from Stewart, who argued with him and one of his crew members during the second rain delay.

Stewart was upset with how hard Reutimann raced him earlier when Stewart had the faster car, and a longtime Reutimann crew member intervened. Associated Press CONCORD, N.C. David Reutimann stared at the gray sky and silently prayed for one more heavy rain. A gamble had put the journeyman driver in position for his first Sprint Cup Series victory, and so long as the clouds lingered over Lowe's Motor Speedway, it would come in the crown jewel Coca-Cola 600. Reutimann didn't like his chances.

"These things don't ever go our way," the 39-year-old thought. "I don't know why it should now." For most of his nondescript career, Reutimann never got the lucky break. It finally came Monday after 75 races, three rain delays, a spat with Tony Stewart and a two -hour wait. NASCAR declared Reutimann the winner when an ominous weather forecast indicated it TERRY RENNA Associated Press HE'LL TAKE IT: David Reutimann celebrates in victory lane after winning the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 on Monday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Next race: Autism Speaks 400, Dover, 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, WXIN-59. Results: Complete finishing order and points leaders. B5 we'll take it any way we can." With intermittent showers all day Monday, the race was one of strategy, as every driver simply "When you envision yourself winning your first Sprint Cup race, you envision it different. But it's so hard to win these deals, would be impossible to finish the longest race of the season. "It wasn't the prettiest win, but somebody has to win," he said.

INDY 500 EARNINGS A total of $14,315,315 was awarded following Sunday's Indianapolis 500. Race winner Helio Castroneves earned a record $3,048,005. Fin. Driver Earnings 1. Helio Castroneves $3,048,005 BpF FREE AGENT: Danica Patrick's Andretti Green contract expires after this season.

NASCAR and Formula One teams may try to sign her. MATT KRYGER The Star Kravitz 2. Dan Wheldon $1,258,805 3. Danica Patrick $763,305 4. Townsend Bell $445,305 5.

Will Power $345,305 6. Scott Dixon $374,155 7. Dario Franchitti $386,305 8. Ed Carpenter $302,805 9. Paul Tracy $271,805 10.

Hideki Mutoh $301,805 11. AlexTagliani $295,305 12. Tomas Scheckter $280,305 13. Alex Lloyd $270,305 14. Scott Sharp $270,305 15.

Ryan Briscoe $349,755 16. A.J. Foyt IV $271,805 17. Sarah Fisher $270,305 18. Mike Conway $300,555 19.

John Andretti $276,805 20. Milka Duno $301,805 21. VitorMeira $300,305 22. Raphael Matos $308,305 23. Justin Wilson $300,305 24.

E.J.Viso $300,305 25. Nelson Philippe $270,555 26. Oriol Servia $271,805 27. Tony Kanaan $303,305 28. Robert Doornbos $305,555 29.

Davey Hamilton $271,805 30. Marco Andretti $315,305 31. Graham Rahal $305,805 32. Ryan Hunter-Reay $353,305 33. Mario Moraes $301,805 Other awards (TBD) $22,000 Total $14,315,315 HEATHER CHARLES The Star FUTURE DRIVER? 500 winner Helio Castroneves poses with his 11-month-old nephew, Eduardo Castroneves-Asola, at a photo session Monday at the Speedway.

Losing Patrick will cost IRL more in long run. From B1 much as NASCAR is struggling in this economy and the IRL seems to be holding steady during tough times the bottom line is, the stock cars run on Fox while the open-wheelers share time on Versus with my hockey games. Patrick is a hothouse flower who is drawn to the lights, loves the attention, and NASCAR can give her attention in ways the IRL can only begin to imagine. Her merchandise would fly off the shelves. Her face would be seen everywhere.

Without even competing in a race, she would rival Dale Earnhardt Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon in terms of popularity. In the end, could you blame her? How do you ignore the 10-ton elephant in the middle of the room? Just don't let it come down to money, because losing Patrick would cost the IRL even more in the long run. She has become far more than a novelty; she has become a worthy top -tier driver who happens to be female. In 2005, she led the Indy 500 for 19 laps, finished fourth and gave rise to Danicamania. On Sunday, she finished a solid, workmanlike third, and it was no big deal.

Which really is a big deal. "That's good," she said. "I'm doing my job. I'm glad that people are seeing it more like just a good finish from a good driver." It was interesting to read the recent comments from NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, whose unsolicited paternal advice to Patrick was to spend some time learning stock cars by driving in the Nationwide or truck series. Help me here: Did Johnson offer the same kinds of tips to open-wheel drivers Sam Hornish Dario Franchitti and Juan Pablo Montoya before those open-wheel regulars shifted to NASCAR without any stock-car experience? Granted, it would be a daunting transition.

Indy-cars weigh roughly 1,500 to 1,600 pounds. Sprint Cup cars weight about 3,500 pounds. Indy cars have a ton of downforce. Stock cars do not. The Sprint Cup season is a grind, 36 races long.

The IndyCar season is 17 races. We saw how the open-wheel guys struggled: Franchitti went and came back to the IRL, and neither Hornish nor Montoya has made a slightest bit of noise. But for all this talk about whether Patrick is strong enough to handle a longer season or a more unwieldy car, nobody mentions that Stewart, as an example, is hardly a beacon of physical fitness. In a NASCAR triathlon, I'd take Patrick to finish in the top third of the pack. Yes, it would be a major challenge for Patrick or for any open-wheeler making the transition but the more people doubt her, the more likely it is that she'll seize upon the challenge.

Understand, too, that if she makes the move, it will be to one of the four mega-teams: Hendrick Motor-sports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Roush Fenway Racing or Richard Childress Racing. She will not go over there without having the best chances to win. If I was her guide no charge, by the way I'd tell her to do what she's doing: Keep your options open. Listen to NASCAR. Listen to F-l.

Enjoy the courting process. And then come back to the IndyCar Series, where she belongs. She may be a big fish in a smaller pond now, but if she stays, the series has a chance to grow deeper and wider. And by then, she will not only be remembered as the best female driver in history, but as the driver who brought open-wheel racing back to life. Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star.

Call him at (317) 444-6643 or e-mail bob.kravitzindystar.com. Listen to Bob and Eddie White 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WFNI 1070-AM. to the two fractures in his lower back. A.J.

Foyt Racing has not named a replacement, but it will compete this week in Milwaukee. Matos visited Meira in Methodist Hospital on Monday. "It shows who he is," Meira said of his fellow Brazilian. Etc. Tony Kanaan said his second impact in Sunday's crash broke the tub at his back.

It was a 195 mph impact with a hit of 175 Gs. He suffered multiple bruises but no confirmed breaks, although he suspects he has broken ribs. Penske said his team will field Will Power, who finished fifth in the 500, in additional races this season, but not at Milwaukee. Sarah Fisher received the Scott Bray-ton Driver's Trophy for her competitive spirit in the 500. Neither Alex Lloyd nor Ed Carpenter had seen the arrival of their second child as of Monday night.

Their wives are due to deliver at any time. Call Star reporter Curt Cavin at (317) 444-6409. Castroneves Meira likely out for season after serious crash. From B1 mode to do it." Castroneves won't shy from the challenge. "It might be a young man's game, but experience plays a big factor, especially at this place," he said.

"If you still have the fire inside and you're with a competitive team, I think as long as you have fun, you can do it." Castroneves just celebrated his 34th birthday, and Penske figures he could race "another four or five years, for sure." Among the four-time winners, A.J. Foyt was 42 when he won his final 500, Al Unser was 48 and Rick Mears was 39. "Look at Mark Martin beating a lot of young kids and doing so well," Castroneves said of the 50-year-old NASCAR driver. "If you work for it, you can go a long time." With the Indy Racing League's equipment package remaining the same for at least the next two years, Team Penske doesn't figure to lose its competitiveness. It has won 15 500s, including five of the past nine and 39.4 percent it has been involved with (since 1972).

"And we know we're coming back (next year)," Penske joked. Team Penske's check for winning the race was a record $3,048,005 and part of an overall purse of $14,315,315. Second-place Dan Wheldon received $1,258,805 for Panther Racing. Alex Tagliani, who finished 11th, was named Rookie of the Year. The Canadian driver did not earn a starting spot in the race based on time, but he took Bruno Junqueira's seat at Conquest Racing for sponsorship considerations.

Meira out 4-6 months Vitor Meira, who was involved in a crash with Rafael Matos, said he will miss four to six months of racing due Hair Loss Is No Longer It's Optional Microprecision Follicular Grafting Guaranteed GROWING Results Artistically Designed Hairlines Totally Undetectable 6 317-251-0424 800-889-4247 BEFORE AFTER TEAM WORK: Helio Castroneves (center, in car) poses with his race crew and team owner Roger Penske (left, sitting on tire) during a photo session Monday. Castroneves' victory was the 15th at Indy for Team Penske, extending its 500 record. Affordable Fees i 6048 N. Keystone Avenue.