BROOKLYN, Mich. -- What may be the last IndyCar race at Michigan International Speedway turned out to be one of the wildest.
"It was a crazy race, a crazy race," said Andretti Green Racing co-owner Michael Andretti, whose four drivers were the headliners of Sunday's Firestone Indy 400.
First, AGR driver Dario Franchitti survived a wild, upside-down crash. Then teammate Danica Patrick had to pit with a flat tire while stalking what might have been her first IndyCar Series win.
Finally, AGR's Tony Kanaan held off protégé Marco Andretti -- Michael's 20-year-old son -- for the final 27 laps to earn his third win of the season.
"Dario was doing an awesome job and was the class of the field," Michael Andretti said. "Then Dan (Wheldon) gets into him. Thank God he's all right. Then we had three running up there and, unfortunately, Danica has a problem with a flat tire.
"Then it came down to the two of them -- Marco and Tony. They took care of each other and put on a great show. It was fun watching."
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| Tony Kanaan smiles after winning the race and escaping the big crash. (Getty Images) |
"People were chopping people off, banging wheels and cars flying," Kanaan said. "I mean, that's not a way to race. I definitely think a lot of people disrespect each other out there. It's not anybody's fault but ours and the Indy Racing League not taking measures with the drivers that have been driving a crazy race.
"I saw at least 25 potential cars that could have flipped at some point in this race," the former series champion added. "Only one flipped and, thankfully, he's OK. But I really don't think it's a way to race."
Still, the 32-year-old Kanaan said he enjoyed his duel with his young teammate, who recently moved to Miami to live and work out with Kanaan.
"We did not have the fast car, and the kid was my wingman," Kanaan said after crossing the finish line less than a car-length ahead of Andretti. "He protected me, but he was also trying, believe me. I said, 'OK, let's play it to the end.'
"We respect each other a lot but I knew the low line was quicker. I knew from the back straightaway until the finish line, that's when I was beating him all the time. I knew I was stronger than him in (turns) three and four, and that's where I needed to be stronger to win the race."
Marco Andretti, who also finished second at last year's Indianapolis 500 and won on the road course at Sonoma, Calif., in 2006, said it was fun racing his older teammate.
