The Naples Daily News from Naples, Florida • 27

Tuesday May 29 2007 7C Auto racing NASCAR IRL Daily Srau FORMULA ONE McLaren Wb investigated for possible violation Andretti leaves seat again second Indy win in three yens Danica Patrick was competitive all day and finished eighth and Tony Kanaan led a race-high 83 laps before an accident relegated him to 12th place Franchitti stood on die speedway's main straightway Monday morning posing for the traditional winners photographs with actress wife Ashley Judd team members sponsors and others He later attended the annual victory dinner to receive SL645333 in prize money from a record race purse of nearly $107 million Franchitti fowled surprised when told of the decision by his boss and friend the Scotsman said 1 think when your heroes stop driving tough But I think the right choice for him He really enjoys being a team owner and bloody good at Andretti doubted his mind about returning to driver's seat become a lot more involved with the team than I ever have said Andretti who cb-owns AGR with Kim Green aqd Kevin Savoree 1 really felt that I needed to be there at the end of because we just weren't done I just really feel sd to be there pushing to make sure we -get everything right and done and just to try to help Kim and Kevin as much as I can "Now that rve committed more time to that it makes it even more difficult to do both sides of Andretti said last year his focus was on Marco was in the car to try to help him with my experience and stun like that so it was a little he said Franchitti is impressed by Andretti's career To me Michael doesn't need to win a 500 to prove anything" Franchitti said one of die best drivers rve ever seem Even yesterday when I was coining hack through the pack he's as hard to race as ever The fact that he win at this place has nothing to do with hb skill behind the INDIANAPOLIS Michael Andretti will leave the driver's seal to focus on running Andretti Green Racing after finishing a 13th in the 500 second retirement of career cones after hb 16th and apparently last at Indy than any Andretti other non-win ning driver Tm glad I did what I Andretti said Monday about his last two races at Indy "It was all good but I was going crazy this month I just felt there were a lot of things I could have been doing for the team and I da So then it just distracts you It's just too stressful and too Michael die son of 1969 Indy winner Mario Andretti and a longtime open-wheel star retired following die 2003 May classic He returned to the Indy 500 last year to race against hb then 19-year-old son Marco Michael finished third and Marco second that year with Sam Homish Jr passing die youngster on the final straightaway to continue die saga of dismal Andretti hick at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the win by grandfather Michael who said he came back this year for no other reason than to try to finally win a 500 was never a factor in strange event a truncated race interrupted by a 3-hour rain delay and then cut 34 laps abort by more rain His son who again had a shot at winning the race led three times for 13 laps He wound up after a spectacular ana crash that included a jh the infield grass upside dowa He was not injured Sunday all bad for die Andrettis though as AGR driver Dario Franchitti gave the team its cJtModatadPraM PARIS Formula One team McLaren is being investigated for a posable rule breach at die Monaco Grand Prix after Fernando Alonso finished first ahead of McLaren teammate Lewis Hamil-fton World motorsporfs governing body FIA said hi a atnwn -londay it was reviewing evidence Bom Sunday nee Alonso finished seconds ahead Ji bi Hamilton who was told by McLaren to slow down was obviously dose to me and I was told to take it said Sunday the end of die day I am a rookie I am in my first season in Formula One and I have finished second fin only my first Monaco Grand Prix so I really cant complain nfve got No 2 on my car I am the eaNoi 2 Hamilton's fifth straight top--1' three finish in his debut FI season helped him share with Alonso the top spot in the standings at 38 points McLaren leads die championship with 75 "points ahead of Ferrari with 56 FIA said McLaren was being investigated for posable breach of die International porting Code" the' rules that gov- em world motorsport The code states it will punish fraudulent conduct or any wact prejudicial to die interests of gny competition or to die inter- ests of motor sport generally" McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said he ashed Hamilton to slow down because of the tight street circuit of Monte Carlo lot of people in England will feel there some favoritism or penalty that is given to Lewis but we are scrupulously fair at all times in the grand prix Dennis said in The Daily Teleions "I Monday edition Casey Mean celebrates after winning the Nextel Cup series' Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord NC on Sunday night Associated lYess Unusual suspects steal show at Coca-Cola 600 RACE RESULTS Franchitti wins $L6 million in record Indy 500 purse 34 (43) Kenny Walace Chevrolet engine 288 $84358 35 (1 9) David GiHemt Font 268 $1 1 Ml 4 36 (3) Bfertt Sad Dodge 2615112020 37 (13) David Ragan Font accident 218 $128028 38 (22) BiK Bliott Ford accident 218 $103249 38 (1) Ryan Newman Dodge engine 172 $158108 48 (23) Data Janett Toyotn mglnn 82 $0851 8 41 (32) Jiff Gordon Chevrolet accident 61 $138341 42 (42) Jeff Groan Chevrolet accident 52 $91328 43 (38) Greg Biffle Font accident 48 $101490 RacaStatbtki Thau rflbw 4 hours minutes 27 seconds i afUtonry: 9561 seconds i Hags 13 for 52 laps lead Onager 29 among 15 drives Lag Leaden: KNewman 1-18 KuJusdi 11-112 8Vicfcen 113rl35 JCyBusch 126-128 i Johnson IX T-Stewat 131 LYdey 132 Cidwards 133 8B8ott 134 6U 135-174 KuBusdi 175-178 8VU 160-163 JJohnson 184-204 8Vktas 205223 JJotaaon 224228 ILXinseth 227-248 JJohnson 244-252 JJMayfield 253255 ILKatsetti 256267) JJohnson 268274 MKen-setti 278281 JJohnson 262291 8 Rudd 292 JJohnson 293-298 MKenseth 297-318 JJohnson 311-338 TStewart 339-392 DEamhvdt Jr 398 DJIamIJn 394 CMcars 395-408 -Laadwe Immmy (Drive Timas Lead laps LedhKu Busdi 2 times for 107 laps JJohnson 8 times for laps WMm 4 times for 76 bps TStewart 2 times far 55 laps MJtenseth 4 times for 50 laps RJiewman 1 time for 10 laps CMewrst 1 time for 6 taps Ky Jusch 1 lima for 4 laps LMayfMt 1 time fcr 3 iqs 8-BSott 1 dm for 1 tags DJtanin 1 time for 1 lap JYeley 1 time for 1 lap Diamhadt Jr 1 time for 1 lap MkxH 1 time for 1 lap CEdwards 1 time for 1 Print Stmdhge 1 JJjordon 1921 2 JJohnson 1788 8 MJCansith 1714 4 DJfanin 1382 8 JJurton 1377 8 Titewat 13X 7 ICHarvick Ml 8 8 CEdwards M14 KuJusch 1302 18 CJOwyar 1378 Associated tews INDIANAPOLIS Dario Franchitti collected mine in race winnings from hb Indianapolb 500 victory than he had from any other full season of hb career Eranchitti's victory in race which was shortened rain to 415 miles from a record purse of nearly $107 million The prize package was announced Monday nigfrt at die annual victory dinner The previous record was $103 million last year Franthitti a 34-year-oid native of Scotland had finished seventh and sixth in the two previous years at Indy and had ms best-previous earnings year in 1998 with $L4 million when he won three races on the CART circuit Sunday's race was interrupted by rain for three hours shortly after the midway point with Tony Kanaan Franduttfs best friend and Andretti Green Racing Associated Press CONCORD NC Kyle dud at die placard on the urn and joked his name had spelled wrong It had been 10 years since Petty was last invited to a post-race news conference and me drivers surrounding him weren't exactly regular attendees Abo crashing the party was Casey Mean who ended four-years of frustration with his Nextel Cup victory and JJ Yeley who put a firm grip on his seat with the highest nnirii of his career longest event of the season was a true race of attrition four former champions finished 30th or worse Sunday night's CocfrCola 600 leaving an odd cast of characters as the final five driven standing think when you look at the top three or four I would say ail team efforts We had Doming to said whose thirdjplace finish best since 1997 600-mile race nobody does it by think this a great why thb is a team sport important the teams are" It took planning strategy and a lot of hick for Mean Yeley Petty Reed Sorenson and Brian' Vickers to steal the show All five scored their best finish of the season stretching their fud farther than die top teams in NASCAR to jumble the scoring tower at Motor Speedway Tony Stewart Dale Earnhardt Jr Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson winner of five of foe right races at Lowe's all to stop for gas in die closing laps and assumed everyone else would too When the othen didn't it created confusion for the drivers accustomed to collecting top-five I was second manT Earnhardt who wound up eighth didn't know those guys stayed out I would have ratiier finished third or second like we should have But some of those guyi can afford to It frustrated teammates Stewart and Hamlin who should have a combined six or so wins this Season but instead remain win-lesa after each gave up the lead in die dosing lapa to take two seconds worth of gas Stewart wound up sixth Hamlin was ninth "You hate fuel-mileage grumbled Mike Ford crew chief There no glory in winning a fuel-mileage race other than saying you run hard and were saving fuel You know that's not our Mearsand the others had nothing to lose All stuck in the back of the standings they could afford to gamble on on and not suffer season-crippling conse-auencesifthey ranoul But Mean insisted it didn't cheapen their end results people might say thb a fiief mileage deal and obvi mm until rw Coca-Oli CM Sunday's malts At Lowe's Mote ConcoriNX Lap length: 13 rollai (Start pasHiao In ponothasai) 1 (16) Casey Mean Chevrolet 400 lops 130222 mph $367428 2 (12) Yeley Chevrolet 400 $264733 3 (36) Kyle Petty Dodge 400 $208913 4 (34) Reed Sorenson Dodge 4001 $177703 5 Brian Vkken Toyota 400 $148525 6 (14) Tony Stewart Chewotet 400 $179061 7 (7) Ridcy Rudd Ford 400 $149933 8 (4) Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 400 $168058 9 (6) Demy Han Chevrolet 400 $136550 10 (21) Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 400 $176811 11 (11) Mark Martin Chevrolet 400 $121463 12 (5) Matt Kenseth Font 400 $156241 13 (8) Bobby Labonte Dodge 399 5139936 14 (37) Tony Raines Chevrolet 399 $111300 15 (39) Cart Edwards Fold 399 $109950 16 pi) Martin Trues Jr Chevrolet 399 $125195 17 (10) David Stremne Dodge 397 $97935 18 (8) Dave BJaney Toyota 397 $1 16583 19 (28) Jamie McMurray Ford 395 $103750 20 (15) Scott Riggs Dodge 394 $104525 21 (27) Kevin Harvidt Chevrolet 394 $139286 22 (35) Rohfay Gordon Font 393 $92375 23 (18) Kasey Kahne Dodge 390 $136491 24 (25) Jeff Burton Chevrolet 385 $127566 25 (24 Jeremy Mayflekf Toyota 382 Engine $87375 26 (33) Joe Nemediek Chevrolet 377 $861 75 27 (40) Johnny Saute Chevrolet 376 $85650 28 (24 Juan Pablo Montoya Dodge 369 $124300 29 (41) CBnt Bowyer Chevrolet 367 $94008 (17) Kyte Bust Chevrolet 357 $103375 31 (29) AJ ADmeninger Toyota 318 $84725 32 (2) Kurt Busdi Dodge Accident 298 5128758 33 (30) Sterling Marin Chevrolet 293 $97472 ously it was at the end of the day he said "But we did a lot out there too We conserved and saved the tires in case we had a run there at die end arid it all paid For Mean and Yeley die finishes gave diem a little bit of breathing room from the scrutiny been under With Earnhardt NASCAR most popular driver looking for a new ride all eyes are on the weak links at the top organize- dons that Earnhardt eying Mean at Hendrick who entered Sunday race ranked 35th in the standings and in die shadow of hb more successful teammates Series chain- -pfams Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have combined to win seven times thb season and Kyle Busch also has a win Although Hendrick insists committed to Meats die lade of results have put him on die hot eat in die court of public opinion and Meats admits felt thepressure never got involved in thb sport because I wanted to run fifth or sixth I always wanted to win" said Mean "So there has always been that pressure there At tunes questioned myself) even though that's something you ready earn do at a driver rve wondered if it was me and what I could do to be better always thougl I wai capable of winning races? Then Yeley who in die final year of his contract at Joe Gibbs Racing under enormous scrutiny because he was promoted at die same time as Hamlin who won a pair races last season and finished third in die final standings to slow drivers down I like diem to be frustrated I like to see these things happen because I am an absolute racer but it is die way you have to win the tyfonaco Grand Prix" Hamilton said Sunday he understood why he was asked to slow down but was not entirely comfortable with it There was' no point in pressuring (Alonso) into a mistake and dim when he did make a mistake crash into him So it was best to finish Hamilton said to be honest I pushed as I could to the end I never give up no matter what and so I really take too much notice andlkept 111 FIA banned team orders after Rubens Barrichello was told by Ferrari to allow teammate Ml--'-chael Schumacher to pass him to win the 2002 Austrian GP Ferrari njvas fined $1 million -Tu Barrichello moved aside on the Anal bend to allow Schumacher strengthen his lead in die driv iu erf championship Mmmariiw -Lwon die championship that year with Barrichello second GRAND-AM Lewis Reese daimwin aits LAKEVILLE Conn Tim "Lewis Jr and Leighton Reese co-odrove to victory Monday at Lime Rock in die GrandAm Rolex Sports Car Seriei Lewis took die lead from Patrick Long with 46 laps remainiiig and pulled away It was the first victory in Grand-Am competition for both Lewis and Reese With die secondplace finish co-driver Bryce Miller Dirk Werner moved into a tie for riie Grand-Am GT driver point at Ll jaxunoD wttn amt Monday Orman driver Wolf Henzler -rand 19-year-ald Eric Lux finished -t-third 1 teammate in the lead Kanaan led a race-high 83 laps but he and several other contenders chose to pit for fuel and tires just laps ahead of the race-ending storm who finished 12th earned the fourth most from the purse with $414319 behind second-place finisher Scott $719067 and third-place finisher $646303 Kanaan also received the Scott Brayton Award named for die late driver who was killed in practice after winning die pole in given to the racer best exemplifying the character and spirit of Brayton Phil Giebler me of just two first-time drivers in race won the rookie of the year award after finishing 29th two spots ahead of Venezuelan Milka Duna The smallest prize from for 32nd race was place by Jon Herb OFF! 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