The 2008 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 was the opening round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season and took place on March 29, 2008 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. For the first time in series history, the reigning champion was not on the grid to defend his title, as Dario Franchitti had moved to the No. 40 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car for Chip Ganassi Racing. Graham Rahal was supposed to make his debut in this race, however due to a crash in testing his team could not get his car repaired in time for the race. 2003 champion Scott Dixon kicked off the season with the victory, on his way to the series championship.
Qualifying All cars run four laps and the car which completes the laps in the quickest time, wins the pole. Pos No. Driver Team Time Speed (mph) 19 Scott DixonChip Ganassi Racing1:40.2341213.341 27 Danica PatrickAndretti Green Racing1:40.8066212.129 36 Ryan BriscoePenske Racing1:40.8166212.108 426 Marco AndrettiAndretti Green Racing1:40.9452211.838 53 Hélio CastronevesPenske Racing1:41.0675211.581 611 Tony KanaanAndretti Green Racing1:41.0683211.580 727 Hideki Mutoh (R)Andretti Green Racing1:41.1024211.508 825 Marty RothRoth Racing1:41.1264211.458 917 Ryan Hunter-ReayRahal Letterman Racing1:41.4689210.744 104 Vítor MeiraPanther Racing1:41.6762210.315 1115 Buddy RiceDreyer & Reinbold Racing1:42.0784209.486 1214 Darren ManningA. J. Foyt Enterprises1:42.1598209.319 1334 Franck Perera (R)Conquest Racing1:42.2034209.230 145 Oriol Servià (R)KV Racing1:42.3056209.021 1502 Justin Wilson (R)Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing1:42.4349208.757 1623 Milka DunoDreyer & Reinbold Racing1:42.6559208.308 1736 Enrique Bernoldi (R)Conquest Racing1:42.7433208.130 1833 E. J. Viso (R)HVM Racing1:42.7577208.101 198 Will Power (R)KV Racing1:42.7935208.029 2018 Bruno JunqueiraDale Coyne Racing1:43.0882207.434 2119 Mario Moraes (R)Dale Coyne Racing1:43.2707207.067 2210 Dan WheldonChip Ganassi RacingNo time 2324 Jay Howard (R)Roth RacingNo time 2420 Ed CarpenterVision Racing1:40.2482213.311 252 A. J. Foyt IVVision Racing1:40.7676212.211 The Vision Racing entries of Ed Carpenter and A. J. Foyt IV, who qualified second and third, failed technical inspection and were moved to the back of the starting grid.
Race Pos No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Laps Led Points 19 Scott DixonChip Ganassi Racing2001:44:03.591416750 226 Marco AndrettiAndretti Green Racing200+0.582848543 310 Dan WheldonChip Ganassi Racing200+1.472822935 43 Hélio CastronevesPenske Racing200+8.03405432 520 Ed CarpenterVision Racing199+1 Lap24030 67 Danica PatrickAndretti Green Racing199+1 Lap2028 717 Ryan Hunter-ReayRahal Letterman Racing199+1 Lap9026 811 Tony KanaanAndretti Green Racing198+2 Laps63524 92 A. J. Foyt IVVision Racing198+2 Laps25022 104 Vítor MeiraPanther Racing197+3 Laps10020 1115 Buddy RiceDreyer & Reinbold Racing196+4 Laps11019 125 Oriol Servià (R)KV Racing195+5 Laps14018 1314 Darren ManningA. J. Foyt Enterprises194+6 Laps12017 1434 Franck Perera (R)Conquest Racing194+6 Laps13016 1502 Justin Wilson (R)Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing193+7 Laps15015 1619 Mario Moraes (R)Dale Coyne Racing187+13 laps21014 1733 E. J. Viso (R)HVM Racing183Accident18013 1836 Enrique Bernoldi (R)Conquest Racing149Handling17012 196 Ryan BriscoePenske Racing126Collision3012 2023 Milka DunoDreyer & Reinbold Racing122Collision16012 2125 Marty RothRoth Racing53Handling8012 2224 Jay Howard (R)Roth Racing50Handling23012 2318 Bruno JunqueiraDale Coyne Racing40Handling20012 2427 Hideki Mutoh (R)Andretti Green Racing32Mechanical7012 258 Will Power (R)KV Racing24Mechanical19010 Average race speed: 171.248 mph Cautions: 3 for 24 laps Lead changes: 12
Broadcasting
Television The race was televised in high definition in the United States on ESPN 2, the telecast utilized the Side-by-Side format for commercial breaks.
+ ABC TelevisionBooth AnnouncersPit/garage reportersAnnouncer: Marty Reid Color: Scott GoodyearJack AruteVince WelchBrienne Pedigo
Radio The race was broadcast on radio by the IMS Radio Network. Mike King served as anchor. Davey Hamilton was the driver analyst.
+ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network Booth AnnouncersTurn ReporterPit/garage reportersChief Announcer: Mike King Driver expert: Davey HamiltonTurns 1, 2, and Backstretch: Mark JaynesKevin OlsonKevin LeeBob JenkinsDave Wilson
References