The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page D6

D6 TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2008 ist THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR INDYSTAR.COM INDIANAPOLIS 500 DIVIDING THE PIE The previous overall purse record was last year's $10,668,815. Here's the breakdown this year: BIGGEST JUMPS, BIGGEST DROPS Buddy Lazier improved 15 places from his starting position, while Tony Kanaan dropped 23 places. DRIVERS AT 10-LAP INTERVALS Tony Kanaan: -23 Buddy Lazier: 15 Start Driver Winnings 1. Scott Dixon $2,988,065 Finish position 2. Vitor Meira $1,273,215 3.

Marco Andretti $782,065 4. Helio Castroneves $482,815 5. Ed Carpenter $399,665 6. Ryan Hunter-Reay $328,065 7. Hideki Mutoh $307,115 8.

Buddy Rice $311,415 9. Darren Manning $301,815 10. Townsend Bell $275,315 11. Oriol Servia $302,065 12. Dan Wheldon $366,815 13.

Will Power $300,565 14. Davey Hamilton $270,315 15. Enrique Bernoldi $300,565 16. John Andretti $300,315 17. Buddy Lazier $327,015 18.

Mario Moraes $303,415 19. Milka Duno $300,315 20. Bruno Junqueira $301,215 21. A.J. Foyt IV $311,815 22.

Danica Patrick $301,915 23. Ryan Briscoe $312,315 24. Tomas Scheckter $270,315 25. Alex Lloyd $272,065 26. E.J.

Viso $301,565 27. Justin Wilson $302,065 28. Jeff Simmons $270,000 29. Tony Kanaan $331,215 30. Sarah Fisher $277,215 31.

Jaime Camara $300,565 32. Marty Roth $300,315 33. Graham Rahal $312,065 Other awards $21,000 Total $14,406,580 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 Race Fewer seats were unoccupied at Speedway. From D1 commanding performances. Dixon's check, to be shared by Ganassi Racing, bested the previous mark of $1,761,740 awarded to Buddy Rice's team in 2004.

The bump was the result of the Indy Racing League's increased financial commitment to the Indy-Car Series for 2008. Rookie Graham Rahal, who finished last in the race, received $312,065. All full-season participants were guaranteed $300,000. Dixon padded his bonus by leading 115 of the 200 laps, the most by a winner since Juan Pablo Montoya in 2000. "It was a dream month," Dixon said.

"The only thing we didn't get to win was the bloody pit stop competition (which was canceled)." Patrick-Briscoe feud The image of Patrick making a beeline for Ryan Briscoe's car after their pit road contact on the 172nd lap might live as long as she competes. But the real question is, what happens this weekend in Milwaukee? And will there be a fallout from the tension at Andretti Green Racing? Kanaan felt he sacrificed his chance to win to prevent a crash with teammate Marco Andretti after Andretti staged an aggressive move in the third turn of the 106th lap. Kanaan's otherwise harmless spin put him in the path of Fisher, who hit him so hard that both their races ended. Neither was injured. Kanaan said after the race that Andretti made "a stupid move," and he refused to back down from his assessment Monday.

He also wasn't pleased that Andretti sent a text message as a first step to speaking about the incident. Kanaan expects the issue to be resolved professionally. "I'm not going to create problems; we have a championship to win, either for me or the team," he said. "We're going to talk, get frustrated a little and get over it." COOLER HEADS PREVAIL: Indy Racing League security officer Charles Burns catches up with driver Danica Patrick as she angrily walked down pit road toward Ryan Briscoe on Sunday. The two drivers were eliminated after they made contact coming out of the pits.

The Star bleachers, but this was rock solid," Dixon said. Kanaan not only saw new life in the event, he felt the energy of the fans. "The crowd was crazy," he said. "Very supportive." Speedway president Joie Chit-wood described a virtually perfect day, from a low military flyover that hit the national anthem note on cue to the race's drama. "It had everything we'd ever want, from all the great story lines to positive press to unification," he said.

"The crowd was fantastic and (the people) were everywhere. "I don't think we'd change a single thing from 6 a.m. on. That's why you come back to the Indy 500 for 20 years in a row." More awards Ryan Hunter-Reay, who finished sixth, was named Rookie of the Year. Runner-up Vitor Meira received the Scott Brayton Driver's Trophy, presented since 1997 to the driver who best exemplifies the character and racing spirit of the late Scott Brayton.

Call Star reporter Curt Cavin at (317) 444-6409. "It had everything we'd ever want, from all the great story lines to positive press to unification. The crowd was fantastic and (the people) were everywhere." JOE VITTI The Star Most of the seats were occupied, and there might have been the largest infield contingent the event has seen in decades. "I think you always see sometimes there are some spaces in the An energized crowd Speedway officials don't announce crowd figures for events, but Sunday was an increase over past years "by a ton," as Dixon described it. Joie Chitwood, Speedway president The Star is No.

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