IndyCar notes: Congestion prevents drivers from moving up

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Stop-and-go congestion. Difficulty passing cars on the twisting road. Hard to make up lost time.

And this was on the track at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, not on the fans’ drive in.

For much of the race, the pack was at a 150-mph stalemate. Nobody had enough horsepower to blow past the car in front, the curves on the road course were tight and restrictive and didn’t permit many two-wide moves, and there was little jousting for positions.

“We were stuck behind traffic. It was difficult to pass. We were trying everything we could,” Helio Castroneves said after finishing second to Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe. “It’s one of those races where, even if you try, it’s like you’re swimming and swimming but you’re never going to get there because the current is so strong.”

Briscoe took the lead on the 60th lap and then played keepaway the rest of the way. There was some jostling among the next few cars, but mostly everyone waited for another driver to make a mistake or hit the pits.

“It was very, very tough to pass unless you had a car that was a lot slower than you,” said Scott Dixon, who finished third. “With all of the cars so consistent and so close in speed, it’s very tough to pass anybody.”

All that traffic wasn’t a complete waste of time for Dixon. Even though he lost a little bit of ground to second-place Castroneves in the standings, he still has a healthy 58-point lead going into Edmonton next week.

Dixon stressed that he was trying to get past Castroneves but didn’t want to lose his points lead with a risky maneuver.

“For us, we’re definitely trying to win,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s huge fun, trying to keep tabs on where people are, the people you’re chasing for a championship. That’s the deal, though. It’s not all about going out and winning races, it’s about having consistency, finishing races and making the next one (a better) situation.”

FUEL SAVER: Danica Patrick never could make a move.

In the No. 20 spot in the starting grid, Patrick ran a consistent race to finish 12th. Because of a wet track at the start, Patrick had to pit early in the race and that led to her going green down the stretch.

“I had to conserve fuel the last stint of the race,” she said, “but I was able to gain some positions and get some points.”

A year ago, Patrick started second but was nearly wiped out in a first-lap accident along with Andretti Green teammates Marco Andretti and Dario Franchitti.

She avoided any mishaps this year, although she did have a confrontation with Milka Duno on Saturday, the only other woman racing at the Honda Indy 200. Patrick felt Duno cut her off and got in her way several times during practice.

Video showed Patrick repeatedly telling Duno, “I just want to talk to you about it!” only to have Duno repeatedly tell her to “go away” and twice throw a white towel in Patrick’s face. Eventually, Patrick walked away.

RAIN, RAIN: A powerful thunderstorm rocked the course late in the morning. Bolts of lightning crackled around the track, and power was knocked out for a couple of minutes in the media areas, hospitality areas and manufacturers’ tents. The heavy rains turned parts of the parking lots and spectators areas into quagmires, but the crowds adapted to escape the water and mud with the help of sheets of plastic, tarps, waterproof tents and ponchos.

Powerful tractor-mounted blowers snaked around the circuit in an attempt to force some of the water off the track.

The Indy Lights drivers were removed from their cars because of the lightning and the race was put on hold for 45 minutes before they were permitted to return to the track.

When they did get back on the course, huge plumes of water flew off the wheels for the first few laps. The race, shortened from 60 minutes to 40 by the weather, ended in sunshine.

Rain returned shortly before the start of the IndyCar race, but clear skies and high temperatures ruled the day.

NEWMAN’S OWN: To honor legendary actor, philanthropist and IndyCar Series team co-owner Paul Newman, driver Graham Rahal came up with a special helmet paint scheme.

The helmet, created by helmet designer Troy Lee, features playing-card size renditions of the movie posters from some of Newman’s most famous films, including “The Sting,” ”The Hustler,” ”Cool Hand Luke” and “Slap Shot.”

Rahal said the artwork was something, “You’ll never see again.”

Someone also had the bright idea to put the helmet up for auction on eBay, with proceeds going to the Hole in the Wall Camps that Newman created and which are supported by the Newman’s Own line of food products.

“My mom is involved in the Hole in the Wall Camps,” said Rahal, son of Indy 500-winning driver and team co-owner Bobby Rahal. “We can auction it (the helmet) off and see how much it goes for.”

SPARK PLUGS: The start of the Honda Indy 200 was delayed a few minutes because ABC carried the British Open trophy presentation. … The race marked the second straight 1-2 finish by a team, with Team Penske’s top-two finish following Chip Ganassi Racing’s Dixon and Dan Wheldon last week in Nashville. … A week after missing the Nashville race with the mumps, E.J. Viso finished 22nd.