Rahal Finished 13th in Race 2 of the “Two in T.O.” Honda Indy Toronto; Jakes Retired After Contact While 19th

Honda Indy Toronto – Streets around Exhibition Place
IZOD IndyCar Series
RACE NOTES/QUOTES for Race 2 of “2 in T.O.” – Sunday, July 14, 2013

RAHAL FINISHED 13TH IN RACE 2 OF THE “TWO IN T.O” HONDA INDY TORONTO; JAKES RETIRED AFTER CONTACT WHILE 19TH

GRAHAM RAHAL, No. 15 Midas / Big O Tires Dallara/Honda/Firestone:  “The standing start was okay. The traditional rolling start was more fun for me to be honest but I think the fans enjoyed it. It really didn’t change Turn 1 at all. We just struggled again for a little bit of pace, a little bit of grip.  We lost a little ground in those middle stints when we were stuck in traffic but we went quick at the very end so I’m pretty happy with that but certainly we want to finish better than we did. It was really physical. This was probably the most physical weekend of racing I have ever had. I’m going to need to drink a lot of fluid tonight.”

• FAST FACTS: Was his seventh Indy car race here and he also competed in one Atlantic race.  He qualified 20th but started 19th after gaining a position due to Ryan Briscoe breaking his wrist in Race 1 and being replaced by Carlos Munoz, who started in the back. He drove to a 14th place finish… Started from pole in the 2006 Atlantic race but was hit by Raphael Matos on the first lap.  Repaired the damaged suspension and returned to the track a few laps down, set the fastest race lap but later retired in 15th place.  Started 15th in the 2007 Champ Car race as a rookie for NHR but an evasive move to avoid a pile up on Lap 1 led to him hitting the wall and a subsequent stop for a new front wing.  Had to pit again for another front wing later in the race after running as high as second.  Retired in 11th place after he made contact for the third time due to a broken steering rack. There was not a race in Toronto in 2008. In 2009, he started third but was hit by second place starter Will Power, who squeezed him to the wall on the opening lap before T1.  A forced stop to replace his front wing dropped him to the back but he charged through the field into seventh place.  He held his position behind Patrick but flat-spotted his tires which led to losing three positions before his next stop.  He tried to pass the lapped car of Ed Carpenter on the inside on a right-handed turn but the contact ended his race in 20th place after 57/85 laps… In 2010, he started 14th with NHR and earned his best finish since his 2008 win in St. Pete of fifth place… He competed for Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing in 2011-2012. In 2011 he qualified fifth, led 23 laps and finished 13th…  In 2012, he qualified 12th, started 10th after penalties were served to two competitors ahead on the grid and was sixth when contact in Turn 1 forced him to retire from the race in 23rd… His best finish this season is second place in Long Beach and best start is 11th also in Long Beach… Is ranked 17th in series standings with 221 points.

JAMES JAKES, No. 16 Acorn Stairlifts Dallara/Honda/Firestone:  “I just hit the curb and it ripped the (steering) wheel straight out of my hands. I’ve seen some wrist injuries in the last few days and hopefully we can sort that out. The kick-back is unbelievable in these things and when you aren’t quite dialed in with the dampers it’s a nightmare. It was a frustrating day. It was up about 10 ambient so it was obviously going to be a bit more physical and hot.  I had a good standing start but I got blocked in again in Turn 1 which is the same story as yesterday. I went to the inside and got hosed. It’s frustrating. The weekend started well; we qualified fifth for the first race but had the penalty but it ended bad for us. We’ll just head on to Mid-O (Mid-Ohio).  My wrist is okay.”

• FAST FACTS: Will be his third event here and first with RLL. He qualified 21st but started 20th after gaining a position due to Ryan Briscoe breaking his wrist in Race 1 and being replaced by Carlos Munoz, who started Race 2 from the back. He was 19th when he made contact with the Turn 6 wall on Lap 63 of 85 and retired in 23rd place. Earned his best series start and finish of 2nd at the previous double-header races on the streets of Detroit (June 2).  He qualified 19th here in 2012, started 24th due to a penalty for an unapproved engine change and earned his best finish at the time of eighth place.  In 2011, he qualified 23rd and finished 18th.  Both events were with Dale Coyne Racing… His best series start to date is 2nd at Dual 2 in Detroit and best finish is 2nd also at Dual 2 in Detroit… Is ranked 18th in series standings with 215 points.

NEXT UP:  The series will take the next two weekends off and reconvene at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course August 2-4 for the Honda Indy 200.  It will mark the 16th Indy car event for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) at what is considered the team’s home track due to the proximity to the Hilliard, Ohio race shop. The team also competed in the Atlantic Series race at Mid-Ohio in 2003 with Danica Patrick and has competed in ALMS races there in 2007 and from 2009-2012.  The highest IndyCar finish for the team is two third place finishes (Rahal 1997, 1998) and the highest start is pole (Herta 1997).  Another front row start came in 1999 (Herta; 2nd).

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