9-9-2006
Howard Wins Indy Pro Series Title at Chicagoland
In a race – and a championship – that was not decided until the final turn of the final lap of the final race of the season – Jay Howard did what he had to do to win the 2006 Indy Pro Series title for himself and Sam Schmidt Motorsports, with a third place finish to take the title ahead of teammate Jonathan Klein and defending series champion Wade Cunningham.
Howard started from the pole, but gave up the lead to Klein on the opening lap. Together with Cunningham, they would combine to lead every one of the 67 laps in Saturday’s season finale at Chicagoland Speedway. Cunningham would take the victory, with Klein second, but third was enough for Howard to take the title by the ultra-slim margin of just four points over Klein.
For Howard, it is his second consecutive championship season, as he also won the U.S. Formula Ford Zetec title in 2005. This is the second Indy Pro Series title for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, with the team also taking the championship in 2004 with driver Thiago Medeiros.
For Klein, it was a case of “almost, but not quite enough” as he finished just six-tenths of a second behind Cunningham. With Howard finishing third, a victory would have secured the championship for the 19-year-old Klein.
Making his debut for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, Akihira Oshamoto impressed everyone with his speed and composure. Starting third, the Japanese driver ran in the lead group throughout the race, only to spin on the final lap after contact from Chris Festa punctured his right rear tire.
Starting at the rear of the field after a post-qualifying engine change, Jaimie Camara was the fastest person on the 1.5-mile Chicagoland oval in the opening laps, climbing all the way up to fourth place by Lap 23. But contact with Bobby Wilson eliminated both on Lap 29, bringing Camara’s season to an early end.
Jay Howard, #7 Lucas Oils/Isilon Dallara/Firestone
Started 1st, Finished 3rd, 2006 Indy Pro Series Champion
"This championship means everything to me. It was the hardest-fought, most difficult series I have ever run. What a superb job by the entire team all year long. I can’t thank everyone enough. Today, the race was really close all day long. Track position was critical, and there were a couple of times when I found myself in the wrong position and wasn’t sure if I was going be able to correct it. My original plan sort of changed the whole way through the race. The plan was to go out, lead as many laps as possible. Then, hopefully, no one would get by me, and we’d just win the race. Nice, easy race. That didn't seem to work. Anyway, right near the end, I knew what I wanted to do. I did it. We won the championship. So I'm really happy.”
Jonathan Klein, #27 Klein Tools/Turn-Key Forging & Design Dallara/Firestone
Started 2nd, Finished 2nd, 2nd in championship, 4 points behind Jay Howard
"You know, I’m upset. I wanted to win that championship so badly. I don’t know who led the most laps but we were definitely up there; Wade, myself and Jay. It’s just the way it goes. Jay is a hell of a driver and he has got years of experience on me. He showed that all year. Just that little bit more of experience helps out. We all have great cars especially on these 1.5-mile ovals. It was a hell of a race. I had fun out there. It just makes me come back hungrier for next year.”
Akihira Okamoto, #77 OAM Dallara/Firestone
Started 3rd, Finished 14th (flat tire, spin) in Pro Series debut
"I really enjoyed my first Pro Series race, even if the result wasn’t quite what we wanted. The team gave me an excellent car for the race, and it was great to be up front and challenging for the lead with my teammates. Then on the last lap, one of the Cheever cars – I think is was Chris Festa – hit me in the right rear exiting Turn 2. I felt a vibration as we were going down the back straight and it turns out I had a flat right rear tire. I tried to make it through the corner and take the checkered [flag], but the car spun around on me and then I couldn’t continue.”
Jamie Camara, #11 Neo Quimica Dallara/Firestone
Started 16th, Finished 16th, (not running – contact) 6th in the final standings
"I’m very disappointed. We changed engines prior to the warm up this morning and the car was much, much better. We had to start near the back of the field because of the change, but I was able to pass cars almost every lap. Soon [Lap 20] I had made it up to the lead pack [in seventh position] and was catching the leaders. Just a couple of laps later and I was fourth. [Bobby] Wilson was outside of me and hit my rear tire, and that put us both in the wall. It was unnecessary and ended both of our races.”
Sam Schmidt, owner, Sam Schmidt Motorsports
"I’m almost at a loss for words. I think I just shaved five years off my life watching Jay and Jonathan battle for the title. You could see there definitely were no team orders today, those guys went wheel-to-wheel for all 67 laps. But at the end of the day, Jay did know what he had to do and did it. My congratulations to him, and to Jonathan for such a clean, hard-fought race, and to our entire team, each of whom has worked so hard all season long for our second Pro Series title. I’m proud of each and every one of them.” |
