Print

Mail

wiki links

Hornish Jr ready to play it safe to win Indy title

Sam Hornish Jr celebrates during a victory lap after winning the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 IRL auto race on July 2 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. PHOTO: AP

Sam Hornish Jr would rather race aggressively, making risky moves and pushing his car from start to finish in every race.

The two-time Indy Racing League champion acknowledges that wouldn't be wise.

With just four races left, including the Firestone Indy 400 today, Hornish knows another IRL title will likely be his if he can just keep his car on the track.

"If you're behind, you do whatever it takes to win every race -- and I like driving that way," Hornish said. "I'd rather be doing the pushing, instead of getting pushed, though I can't really complain being where we are. But if you're the leader, you have to do it a little differently. You have to be smart."

His series-high 356 points leads Scott Dixon by 25 points, Marlboro Team Penske teammate Helio Castroneves by 30 and defending champion Dan Wheldon is just two more points back.

Hornish won the Indianapolis 500 in May, and finished first about a month ago at Richmond and Kansas in consecutive races. He and Castroneves are the only IRL drivers with three wins this year.

"Watching him up close as a teammate, I'm amazed at how talented he is in critical moments," Castroneves said. "When he's on the last lap, or in a do-or-die situation, he usually makes it happen. If he doesn't, he rarely makes a bad mistake that costs him."

Hornish likes the lead he has, but he is not comfortable with it even though a seventh-place finish or better would ensure he wouldn't lose it.

"I'd feel better if we had this lead going into the final race," he said. "Four guys have a good opportunity to win, but if we don't have a DNF (did not finish) the rest of the way, I really like our chances."

That play-it-safe strategy seems to be a savvy way to go, especially at Michigan International Speedway. The 3.2km, high-banked oval often features three-wide racing and the past four years there has been an average of 18 lead changes -- more than any current track on the IRL circuit.

Hornish has raced at the grueling track four times and his average finish is about fourth place.

"A lot of it is being at the right place at the right time," he said. "We almost put it altogether a few years ago, when we finished second by a couple of feet."
This story has been viewed 1073 times.