MotoGP rider JORGE LORENZO/Fiat Team Yamaha validated his contract extension with Yamaha by inheriting the lead by Lap Three; and holding on to it to win the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He took over the lead after the top two riders each low-sided and leaned into solo falls. Lorenzo had gridded second. He turned the fastest race time of 1:40.152/94 mph/151.545 km/h.
Lorenzo said “The championship is more possible, but it still very difficult. Dani and Valentino crashing was bad for them but it helped me.”
ALEX DE ANGELIS/San Carlo Honda Gresini started sixth but worked his way up to finish second, 9.435 second back. Through a translator, De Angelis said “Maybe the team believed in me more than I did.” His last podium was in the 250cc series.
American NICKY HAYDEN/Ducati Team came from fourth to third early on and held on to it to Lap 28 and the checkered flag. He said “It felt great. I drank a little bubbly and am very happy. It was the biggest challenge of my life. I wasn’t sure I could hold off Andrea. It took all I had.”
Hayden held off ANDREA DOVIZIOSO/Repsol Honda Team, who finished fourth. The other American rider, COLIN EDWARDS/Monster Yamaha Tech 3 started and finished fifth. He ran as high as third before being passed by Dovizioso.
First pole sitter DANI PEDROSA/Repsol Team Honda crashed on Lap Four. It was a low and slow fall which saw the diminutive Spaniard slide across course and the grass to a stop. He got up and rejoined the race, to finish tenth, on the lead lap.
After Pedrosa fell, VALENTINO ROSSI/Fiat Yamaha Team took the lead for the next five laps and then was passed by Lorenzo for the lead. Shortly thereafter, Rossi did almost the same as Pedrosa – low-side it and fall off the motorcycle. Rossi quickly skidded across the track and grass side by side with his motorcycle, which crashed into the fence. He rejoined the race and pitted, for a DNF.
Lorenzo never looked back. The top six riders sorted themselves out and for the most part kept their order to the finish.
Rossi maintains his lead in the Rider Championship, with 212 points, followed by Lorenzo in second with 187. The ailing CASEY STONER/Ducati Team is still in third with 150 points. Pedrosa is fourth-141, Edwards is fifth-123 and Dovizioso is sixth with 120. Hayden moved up from fourteenth to twelfth with 73 points.
Near the end of the race, NICCOLO CANEPA/Pramac Racing Ducati stopped on course and retired. MARCO MELANDRI/Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki crashed, with him separating from his motorcycle, which vaulted end over end into the grass. Canepa appeared unhurt.
The weather was mostly cloudy with some blue skies. The ambient temperature was 68 degrees F/20C, while the ground temperature was 80 degreesF/27C.
The attendance figures came out at the start of the race. This year’s attendance was down all around, despite better weather in 2009.
2009
Friday 26,350*
Saturday 45,200
Sunday 75,130
2008
Friday 30,978*
Saturday 52,010
Sunday 91,064*
*=Rain
The finishing order
Lorenzo
De Angelis
Hayden
Dovizioso
Edwards
JAMES TOSELAND
LORIS CAPIROSSI
MIKKA KALLIO
TONI ELIAS
DANI PEDROSA
CHRIS VERMEULEN
RANDY DE PUNIET
JOSE ESPARGARO
MARC TALMACSI
MARCO MELANDRI
NICCOLO CANEPA
VALENTINO ROSSI