Wilson wins at Watkins Glen06/07/2009

British driver Justin Wilson won the IndyCar Grand Prix of Watkins Glen on Sunday 5th July, providing Dale Coyne Racing with it’s first-ever series victory in the 25 year old team’s 558th start. Wilson, who’s only other IndyCar win came at Detroit in 2008, has finished in the top ten just one other time this year, claiming third place at the season-opener at St. Petersburg.

Wilson started from second on the grid, trailing Team Penske pole sitter Ryan Briscoe for a second consecutive year. Wilson passed Briscoe on lap three of the 60 lap race and kept hold of the lead to cross the finish line 4.99 seconds before the Australian. Defending series champion Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi) finished third with Brazilian Helio Castroneves (Team Penske) in fourth.

Dixon has maintained the season points lead with 313 points, 19 ahead of Briscoe and Scotland's Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi) with Indianapolis 500 winner Castroneves fourth on 257.

Race winner Justin Wilson, #18 Z Line Designs Dale Coyne Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, said:

"My Firestone alternate tires were fantastic. They just gave me all the grip I needed, and they felt so good. So I've got to thank Firestone for giving us the option to have different compounds here, and have fun in the race. I really enjoyed the race!"

Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing, said:

"What a well-deserved, emotional victory for Justin Wilson and Dale Coyne Racing. Everyone at Firestone Racing offers them a hearty congratulation. We are especially proud for Dale and the team, as they are the only IndyCar Series team that have run on our company's tires since we re-entered the sport in 1995. The alternate tires definitely added a great deal of excitement to today's race. They performed exactly as designed - they offered a speed advantage at the cost of a bit of durability. We saw Scott Dixon wear a set out in the first stint, but Justin managed his perfectly and was able to pull away on alternate tires at the end. This definitely bodes well for excitement next week on the Streets of Toronto."