IndyCar notes: Tracy’s day ends early

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — In his long open-wheel career, Canadian Paul Tracy had never raced at Watkins Glen International until Sunday.

But for somebody racing for just the third time this season and who had never even seen the track until Friday, the 40-year-old Tracy did all right in the Camping World Grand Prix, even though his day ended early.

Tracy started 14th, made it into the top 10 by the 21st lap, and even passed polesitter Ryan Briscoe before spinning out on his own midway through the 60-lap race.

“I was just trying to get through the race,” said Tracy, who now heads to his home track in Toronto for next week’s race. “I was hoping to get some yellows and get a good finish, but I ended up being one of the yellows. I was trying to follow Briscoe and (Scott) Dixon, but I just outdid myself and threw it into the wall. “

Tracy fared better than defending race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. He started 16th in the 21-car field and crashed on the first lap, ending his day.

“Everybody just stopped,” said Hunter-Reay, who’s driving for A.J. Foyt in place of the injured Vitor Meira. “We were in sixth gear at the top of the hill. It was the accordion effect. Everyone just stopped and ran into each other. It was just a bunch of cars racing in the back of the pack. We were just a victim of circumstances from where we were starting. It was just bad luck.”

MARCO’S RALLY: Andretti Green Racing’s struggles at Watkins Glen continued Sunday, but Marco Andretti did notch his second fifth-place finish in four starts after falling one lap down early in the Camping World Grand Prix.

“We definitely had the pace,” said Andretti, who had to pit with a flat rear tire after being clipped by E.J. Viso on the fifth lap. “I think that’s definitely promising for the future. I knew once we were on the lead lap we were going to have enough pace for the front-runners.”

Teammate Danica Patrick didn’t fare as well. Patrick, encouraged by a strong qualifying performance that had her seventh on the grid to start the race, finished 11th, three spots behind AGR teammate Tony Kanaan.

“We were running up front at the beginning of the race, but as the day went on I started to lose the car,” said Patrick, who made it to fifth two-thirds of the way through the 60-lap race. “We were really strong this morning (in practice), so I’m disappointed. But overall, it was a good weekend for me. I feel like I’m getting more confident on the road courses.”

MEIRA’S BACK: Vitor Meira was at Watkins Glen International making his first appearance since suffering two broken lower vertebrae in a crash in the Indy 500.

“Watching here is better than watching from my couch,” said Meira, who’s wearing a torso brace during his rehabilitation. “It’s good to be back.”

Meira, who drives for A.J. Foyt, called the impact of his collision with rookie Raphael Matos “a big one.” Matos bruised his right knee and was released from the infield hospital shortly after the crash.

Meira hopes to return for the final race of the season Oct. 10 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Paul Tracy and A.J. Foyt IV filled Meira’s seat for the first two races after the 500 and last year’s Watkins Glen winner Ryan Hunter-Reay is driving the No. 14 until Meira is able to return.

SPARKPLUGS: Milka Duno had another practice mishap. A day after colliding with Mario Moraes, Duno spun off the Watkins Glen course on Sunday morning and damaged the rear of her No. 23 Dreyer &Reinbold Racing Honda. … University of Buffalo football coach Turner Gill was the grand marshal for the race. … Watkins Glen International president Michael Printup said the track was looking at a September date for next year’s race if The Glen remains on the schedule, which won’t be finalized until late July. … It was the fifth top-three finish for both Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon. … Drivers leading the series points midway through the season have won the title six of the past 12 seasons. Watkins Glen marks the midpoint of 2009, and Dixon holds a 19-point lead over Briscoe and Dario Franchitti.