March 28, 2024

Rahal survives pack racing at Fontana for second career win

FONTANA, Calif. (AP) — Graham Rahal held onto the lead out of a caution with three laps left to earn his second IndyCar win, closing out a wild, record-setting day at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday.

A sparse crowd showed up to Auto Club Speedway, but the few fans got to see quite a show as cars sling-shotted past each other at an average of 205 mph and raced up to five-wide around the 2-mile oval.

The 500-mile race eclipsed the season high for lap changes — 37 at Indianapolis — by the midpoint and had 83 overall, topping the IndyCar record of 73 set at Auto Club Speedway in 2001.

Rahal went in front late and stayed there after a late red flag, winning under caution after Ryan Briscoe went airborne in a collision with Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Rahal’s first victory was at St. Petersburg in 2008.

Tony Kanaan finished second, Marco Andretti was third and series points leader Juan Pablo Montoya fourth.

Castroneves, who entered the race fourth in points, led the most laps (43), but did not return to the track after crashing on lap 136.