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2015 Firestone 600

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox American championship car race report

|Country = USA

|Race = Firestone 600

|Image = TexasMotorSpeedway.svg

|Date = June 6

|Year = 2015

|Official name = Firestone 600

|Round_No = 9th

|Series = IndyCar Series

|Location = Texas Motor Speedway

|Course = Permanent racing facility

|Course_mi = 1.5

|Course_km = 2.4

|Distance_laps = 248

|Distance_mi = 372

|Distance_km = 595.2

|Weather = {{convert|86|F|C}}, clear

|Pole_Driver = Will Power

|Pole_Team = Team Penske

|Pole_Time = 23.9500 + 23.9910 = 47.9410

|Pole_Country = Australia

|Fast_Driver = Will Power

|Fast_Team = Team Penske

|Fast_Time = 24.1743 seconds

|Fast_Lap = 49

|Fast_Country = Australia

|First_Driver = Scott Dixon

|First_Team = Chip Ganassi Racing

|First_Country = New Zealand

|Second_Driver = Tony Kanaan

|Second_Team = Chip Ganassi Racing

|Second_Country = Brazil

|Third_Driver = Hélio Castroneves

|Third_Team = Team Penske

|Third_Country = Brazil

}}

The 2015 Firestone 600 was the ninth round of the 2015 IndyCar Series season. It took take place on Saturday, June 6. The race was contested over 248 laps at the {{convert|1.5|mi|km|adj=on}} Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, and was televised by NBCSN in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.indycar.com/Schedule/2015/IndyCar-Series/Texas |title=2015 Schedule - Firestone 600 |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Verizon IndyCar Series |access-date= |quote=}} It marked the 27th IndyCar race held at the speedway since it was first held there in 1997.{{cite web |url=http://www.indycar.com/News/2015/06/6-2-Notes-Briscoe-back-for-run-at-Texas |title=Briscoe, Vautier, Mann back for Texas |last=Lewandowski |first=Dave |date=June 2, 2015 |website= |publisher=Verizon IndyCar Series |access-date=2 June 2015 |quote=}}

Background

The second race in last week's rounds 7 and 8 in the IndyCar series marked the first time all season that a race finished without a Penske or Ganassi driver among the top two places. The top performance by either of the super teams was a third-place showing by Penske’s Simon Pagenaud in first race of the dual in Detroit on Saturday.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.windsorstar.com/sports/bob-duff-little-guys-come-up-big-in-detroit-grand-prix |title=Little guys come up big in Detroit Grand Prix | last=Duff | first=Bob |date=May 31, 2015 |website= |publisher=The Windsor Star |access-date=1 June 2015 |quote=}} It also marked the best showing by Honda cars with the manufacturer taking 1-2 in the first race, and 2-3 in the second race.

Report

= Qualifying =

Initial practice and qualifying took place in the afternoon on Friday June 5, 2015 with a final practice occurring later that evening.

class="wikitable sortable" " style="fontsize:95%"

!| Pos

!| No.

!| Name

!| Lap 1

!| Lap 2

!| Total Time

scope="row" | 1

| align=center| 1

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power W

| align="center"| 23.9500

| align="center"| 23.9910

| align="center"| 47.9410

scope="row" | 2

| align=center | 22

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Simon Pagenaud

| align="center"| 23.9458

| align="center"| 24.0122

| align="center"| 47.9580

scope="row" | 3

| align=center | 3

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Hélio Castroneves W

| align="center"| 23.9612

| align="center"| 24.0786

| align="center"| 48.0398

scope="row" | 4

| align=center | 26

| {{flagicon|COL}} Carlos Muñoz

| align="center"| 24.0177

| align="center"| 24.0746

| align="center"| 48.0923

scope="row" | 5

| align=center | 2

| {{flagicon|COL}} Juan Pablo Montoya

| align="center"| 24.0416

| align="center"| 24.1173

| align="center"| 48.1589

scope="row" | 6

| align=center | 15

| {{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal

| align="center"| 24.0610

| align="center"| 24.1182

| align="center"| 48.1792

scope="row" | 7

| align=center | 9

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon W

| align="center"| 24.0594

| align="center"| 24.1259

| align="center"| 48.1853

scope="row" | 8

| align=center | 10

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Tony Kanaan W

| align="center"| 24.0665

| align="center"| 24.1351

| align="center"| 48.2016

scope="row" | 9

| align=center | 83

| {{flagicon|USA}} Charlie Kimball

| align="center"| 24.0897

| align="center"| 24.1150

| align="center"| 48.2047

scope="row" | 10

| align=center | 8

| {{flagicon|USA}} Sage Karam R

| align="center"| 24.1390

| align="center"| 24.1552

| align="center"| 48.2942

scope="row" | 11

| align=center | 27

| {{flagicon|USA}} Marco Andretti

| align="center"| 24.1290

| align="center"| 24.1752

| align="center"| 48.3042

scope="row" | 12

| align=center | 7

| {{flagicon|GBR}} James Jakes

| align="center"| 24.0723

| align="center"| 24.2344

| align="center"| 48.3067

scope="row" | 13

| align=center | 14

| {{flagicon|JPN}} Takuma Sato

| align="center"| 24.1562

| align="center"| 24.1903

| align="center"| 48.3465

scope="row" | 14

| align=center | 67

| {{flagicon|USA}} Josef Newgarden

| align="center"| 24.1572

| align="center"| 24.2958

| align="center"| 48.4530

scope="row" | 15

| align=center | 20

| {{flagicon|USA}} Ed Carpenter W

| align="center"| 24.2105

| align="center"| 24.2453

| align="center"| 48.4558

scope="row" | 16

| align=center | 19

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Tristan Vautier

| align="center"| 24.2517

| align="center"| 24.2643

| align="center"| 48.5160

scope="row" | 17

| align=center | 41

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jack Hawksworth

| align="center"| 24.2722

| align="center"| 24.3131

| align="center"| 48.5853

scope="row" | 18

| align=center | 11

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Sébastien Bourdais

| align="center"| 24.3140

| align="center"| 24.3429

| align="center"| 48.6569

scope="row" | 19

| align=center | 5

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Ryan Briscoe W

| align="center"| 24.4444

| align="center"| 24.2444

| align="center"| 48.6888

scope="row" | 20

| align=center | 98

| {{flagicon|COL}} Gabby Chaves R

| align="center"| 24.3376

| align="center"| 24.3550

| align="center"| 48.6926

scope="row" | 21

| align=center | 28

| {{flagicon|USA}} Ryan Hunter-Reay

| align="center"| 24.3495

| align="center"| 24.3703

| align="center"| 48.7198

scope="row" | 22

| align=center | 18

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Pippa Mann

| align="center"| 24.3600

| align="center"| 24.4441

| align="center"| 48.8041

scope="row" | 23

| align=center | 4

| {{flagicon|MON}} Stefano Coletti R

| align="center"| 24.6630

| align="center"| 24.7685

| align="center"| 49.4315

colspan=11 align=center|[http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/3288/2015-06-05/indycar-results-quals.pdf Qualifications]

= Race summary =

The race took place on the evening of Saturday June 6, 2015 and was the fastest IndyCar Series race ever run at the Texas Motor Speedway with an average speed of 191.940 mph.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/13028462/kate-walker-legitimacy-inequality-european-union-formula-one |title=Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan lead Ganassi 1-2 sweep in crash-free Texas race |last1= |first1=|date=June 6, 2015 |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=7 June 2015 |quote=}} It was a relative clean contest with only one caution occurring between laps 84 to 96, which was due to non-contact debris on the front stretch of the track, during the entire 248 lap race. Pole driver Will Power had the lead for the first 7 laps of the race, when Simon Pagenaud took the lead from him and held it for the next 59 laps of the race. Multiple pit stops by others further back in the field to make wing and tire adjustments shuffled the order and put several drivers one to three laps down. Finding the right balance of downforce and tire wear and press would prove pivotal in the race.{{cite web |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/texas-motor-speedway/article23321217.html |title=Castroneves has enough downforce for another top-five finish |last1=Henry |first1=John |date=June 6, 2015 |website= |publisher=Star-Telegram |access-date=7 June 2015 |quote=}} In lap 67, Tony Kanaan took the lead. During the caution beginning in lap 84, pretty much the entire field pitted, and pit times resulted in a major reshuffling of order once again with Juan Pablo Montoya holding the lead when the race resumed on lap 96, with Kanaan retaking the lead on lap 103.

As cars pitted for fuel beginning in lap 138, the lead was again reshuffled, with the lead passing to Scott Dixon, Hélio Castroneves, James Jakes and then back to Dixon. Another round of pitting for fuel again reshuffled the lead over a ten lap period, with Kanaan, then Castroneves and then Marco Andretti taking the lead. Dixon re-took the lead on lap 194 and would maintain lead for the rest of the race with the except of his taking his final pit stop for fuel on lap 228 end up having the lead for a total of 97 laps, eclipsing his season total of 59 in laps led in one race. He would go on to win the race, which his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Kanaan taking second, and Castroneves taking the third podium position for Team Penske. The top 4 finishers were all Chevrolet cars which dominated the race and the top finishers suggest high downforce will be the way to success on oval courses for the remainder of the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/more-sports/motor-sports/headlines/20150606-fraley-strategic-change-helps-scott-dixon-takes-firestone-600-by-force.ece |title=Strategic change helps Scott Dixon takes Firestone 600 by force |last1=Fraley |first1=Gerry |date=June 6, 2015 |website= |publisher=Dallas Morning News |access-date=7 June 2015 |quote=}}

= Race results =

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"

! {{abbr|Pos|Position}}

! {{abbr|No.|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Engine &
Aero Kit

! Laps

! Time/Retired

! Pit
Stops

! Grid

! Laps
Led

! {{abbr|Pts.|Points}}

1

| align=center| 9

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon W

| Chip Ganassi Racing

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 248

| align=center| 1:52:47.8511
191.94 mph

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 7

| align=center| 97

| align=center| 53

2

| align=center| 10

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Tony Kanaan W

| Chip Ganassi Racing

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 248

| align=center| +7.8000

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 8

| align=center| 57

| align=center| 41

3

| align=center| 3

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Hélio Castroneves W

| Team Penske

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 248

| align=center| +9.9446

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 7

| align=center| 36

4

| align=center| 2

| {{flagicon|COL}} Juan Pablo Montoya

| Team Penske

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 248

| align=center| +10.4608

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 16

| align=center| 33

5

| align=center| 27

| {{flagicon|USA}} Marco Andretti

| Andretti Autosport

| Honda

| align=center| 248

| align=center| +26.0947

| align=center| 4

| align=center| 11

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 31

6

| align=center| 26

| {{flagicon|COL}} Carlos Muñoz

| Andretti Autosport

| Honda

| align=center| 247

| align=center| +1 Lap

| align=center| 4

| align=center| 4

| align=center|

| align=center| 28

7

| align=center| 83

| {{flagicon|USA}} Charlie Kimball

| Chip Ganassi Racing

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 247

| align=center| +1 Lap

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 9

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 27

8

| align=center| 5

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Ryan Briscoe W

| Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

| Honda

| align=center| 247

| align=center| +1 Lap

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 19

| align=center|

| align=center| 24

9

| align=center| 7

| {{flagicon|GBR}} James Jakes

| Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

| Honda

| align=center| 247

| align=center| +1 Lap

| align=center| 4

| align=center| 12

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 23

10

| align=center| 98

| {{flagicon|COL}} Gabby Chaves R

| Bryan Herta Autosport

| Honda

| align=center| 246

| align=center| +2 Laps

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 20

| align=center|

| align=center| 20

11

| align=center| 22

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Simon Pagenaud

| Team Penske

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 246

| align=center| +2 Laps

| align=center| 4

| align=center| 2

| align=center| 59

| align=center| 20

12

| align=center| 8

| {{flagicon|USA}} Sage Karam R

| Chip Ganassi Racing

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 245

| align=center| +3 Laps

| align=center| 6

| align=center| 10

| align=center|

| align=center| 18

13

| align=center| 1

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power W

| Team Penske

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 244

| align=center| +4 Laps

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 1

| align=center| 7

| align=center| 19

14

| align=center| 11

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Sébastien Bourdais

| KV Racing Technology

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 244

| align=center| +4 Laps

| align=center| 7

| align=center| 18

| align=center|

| align=center| 16

15

| align=center| 15

| {{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal

| Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

| Honda

| align=center| 243

| align=center| +5 Laps

| align=center| 6

| align=center| 6

| align=center|

| align=center| 15

16

| align=center| 14

| {{flagicon|JPN}} Takuma Sato

| A. J. Foyt Enterprises

| Honda

| align=center| 243

| align=center| +5 Laps

| align=center| 8

| align=center| 13

| align=center|

| align=center| 14

17

| align=center| 18

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Pippa Mann

| Dale Coyne Racing

| Honda

| align=center| 242

| align=center| +6 Laps

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 22

| align=center|

| align=center| 13

18

| align=center| 28

| {{flagicon|USA}} Ryan Hunter-Reay

| Andretti Autosport

| Honda

| align=center| 241

| align=center| +7 Laps

| align=center| 7

| align=center| 21

| align=center|

| align=center| 12

19

| align=center| 4

| {{flagicon|MON}} Stefano Coletti R

| KV Racing Technology

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 239

| align=center| +9 Laps

| align=center| 8

| align=center| 23

| align=center|

| align=center| 11

20

| align=center| 19

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Tristan Vautier

| Dale Coyne Racing

| Honda

| align=center| 156

| align=center| Wheel bearing

| align=center| 3

| align=center| 16

| align=center|

| align=center| 10

21

| align=center| 67

| {{flagicon|USA}} Josef Newgarden

| CFH Racing

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 149

| align=center| Engine

| align=center| 5

| align=center| 14

| align=center|

| align=center| 9

22

| align=center| 20

| {{flagicon|USA}} Ed Carpenter W

| CFH Racing

| Chevrolet

| align=center| 147

| align=center| Engine

| align=center| 4

| align=center| 15

| align=center|

| align=center| 8

23

| align=center| 41

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jack Hawksworth

| A. J. Foyt Enterprises

| Honda

| align=center| 62

| align=center| Suspension

| align=center| 4

| align=center| 17

| align=center|

| align=center| 7

colspan=11 align=center|[http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/3285/2015-06-07/indycar-boxscore.pdf OFFICIAL BOX SCORE]

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
Key

! Meaning

align="center" | R

| Rookie

align="center" | W

| Past winner

Championship standings after the race

;Drivers' standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Driver

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| 1

| {{flagicon|COL}} Juan Pablo Montoya

| align="right"| 348

align="left"| 10px

| 2

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Will Power

| align="right"| 313

align="left"| 10px

| 3

| {{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon

| align="right"| 305

align="left"| 10px

| 4

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Hélio Castroneves

| align="right"| 286

align="left"| 10px

| 5

| {{flagicon|USA}} Graham Rahal

| align="right"| 261

  • Note: Only the top five positions are included.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|http://www.indycar.com/Schedule/2015/IndyCar-Series/Texas}}

{{IndyCar Series race report

|Name_of_race = Firestone 600

|Year_of_race = 2015

|Previous_race_in_season = 2015 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

|Next_race_in_season = 2015 Honda Indy Toronto

|Previous_year's_race = 2014 Firestone 600

|Next_year's_race = 2016 Firestone 600

}}

{{Indy Racing League Seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Firestone 600}}

Category:2015 in IndyCar

Category:2015 in sports in Texas

2015 Firestone 600

Category:Firestone 600