Beyond the Flag
Fansided

IndyCar Series: Indy Racing League’s final round

By LukeBro

WATKINS GLEN, NY - JULY 7: Sam Hornish Jr. driver of the #6 Team Penske Dallara honda during practice for the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Camping World Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix at the Watkins Glen International July 7, 2007 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - JULY 7: Sam Hornish Jr. driver of the #6 Team Penske Dallara honda during practice for the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Camping World Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix at the Watkins Glen International July 7, 2007 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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WATKINS GLEN, NY – JULY 7: Sam Hornish Jr. driver of the #6 Team Penske Dallara Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY – JULY 7: Sam Hornish Jr. driver of the #6 Team Penske Dallara Honda (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Team Penske

Helio Castroneves, #3, and Sam Hornish Jr., #6, scored one win each, which is surprising given the talent of both drivers. Castroneves managed to win the second race of the season at St. Petersburg while Hornish Jr. pulled off a win at Texas Motor Speedway.

Amazingly, Castroneves managed to capture seven poles throughout the season (St. Pete, Motegi, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, and Belle Isle). Hornish Jr. and Castroneves ended up finishing 5th and 6th place in the final standings, respectively.

Castroneves would return for the 2008 season paired with Ryan Briscoe. Sam Hornish announced that he would be moving to NASCAR after the 2007 season.

Rahal Letterman Racing

Rahal Letterman Racing entered two full-time cars this season. Scott Sharp piloted the #8 car while Jeff Simmons (races 1-11) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (races 12-17) split the #17 car. Scott Sharp managed to obtain one pole at Texas Motor Speedway and a best finish of 3rd place at both Iowa and Michigan.

Jeff Simmons achieved a best finish of 6th at Texas and Ryan Hunter-Reay finished a season-best 6th at Michigan. By running largely consistent and only having one DNF at Kansas, Scott Sharp finished 8th in the final standings. Ryan Hunter-Reay finished the season as Rookie of the Year by only racing in six races.

RHR would be the only driver to return for the 2008 season for RLR.