Perfect Timing Delivers Firestone Freedom 100 Win For Cunningham

Wade Cunningham became the first two-time winner of the Firestone Freedom 100 with his exciting victory May 22.

By Dave Lewandowski
indy500.com

Friday, May 22, 2009

Wade Cunningham remained patient, picked his spot, executed the pass and went on to win his second Firestone Freedom 100.

Of course, it wasn't that simple or mundane.

Cunningham set up race leader J.R. Hildebrand on the backstretch of the cavernous Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Lap 39 and overtook the AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing driver on the inside entering Turn 3. Then it was off to the races May 22 for 2005 Firestone Indy Lights champion Cunningham.

Cunningham, driving the No. 11 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports car, led Hildebrand across the start/finish line by .2115 of a second and a hard-charging Mario Romancini by .4063 of a second to take the white flag. He posted a lap of 188.899 mph.

Hildebrand, who started third in the No. 26 ARPRO car, couldn't mount a charge on the final lap and finished .1046 of a second back - the closest finish in Firestone Freedom 100 history.

Romancini, who was coming off a third place in his oval racing debut at Kansas Speedway, finished third, .2821 of a second back. He started 18th in the No. 5 Revita/Win Brazil/Allied car for RLR/Andersen Racing.

There were nine lead changes, with the final one of most importance to Cunningham, who claimed his sixth Firestone Indy Lights victory and first since Watkins Glen in 2007.

"That was 100 percent every lap," said Cunningham, the pole sitter who became the first two-time winner of the 40-lap race. "That last lap and a half, I was yelling at my car to keep going like a jockey on his horse.

"The whole race was to and fro. I got to the front early and knew I couldn't lead all 40 laps, so I fell back because I didn't want to be leading at the end. I knew I had a fast car, and it was a matter of being at the right place at the right time."

IZOD Side Hit Tee

IZOD Side Hit White Tee With Wrapped Graphics.

View More Items »

Hildebrand took over the series points lead heading to The Milwaukee Mile next week. There have been four winners in the first five races of the season.

"I really didn't want to be leading the race toward the end, but there were enough fast cars there in the front that I tried to keep it up there for as long as I could," Hildebrand said. "Wade got a good run, and I thought if nothing else, I could just work with him, maybe get by him there at the end. I just picked up too much understeer when I was back in traffic.

"I set the car so I would be quick up front, but once I got behind guys, I just couldn't adjust it fast enough. Great job by Wade. I'm really happy for the boys. We're looking good in the points right now."

Romancini, 21, of Brazil, who was competing in the World Series by Renault a year ago, made the largest gain in the field.

"I'm speechless," Romancini said. "The team did a phenomenal job. We did not do well in qualifying. But today I was able to pass the guys. The car felt really good. I felt really comfortable in traffic. I am very happy to be on the podium here. This is just my second oval race. My first was in Kansas, so I'm still learning every lap."

Jay Howard, the 2006 series champion who finished second to Cunningham at Indianapolis that year, finished fourth in the No. 37 Team PBIR car. Sebastian Saavedra, who started on the front row in the No. 27 Automatic Fire Sprinklers car for AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing, faded down the stretch and finished fifth, his third top five of the season. James Davison, who started 10^th in the No. 21 Vision Racing car, was sixth.

Daniel Herrington picked up his fifth top-10 finish in as many starts, placing seventh in the No. 28 LeBleu/Bryan Herta Autosport car. Jesse Mason (Guthrie Meyer Racing), Pablo Donoso (Genoa Racing) and Junior Strous, a two-time winner this season in the No. 18 Shell V-Power Knaus HTP car for the Winners Circle Group, also were in the top 10.

***

2009 IMS tickets: Established in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long prevailed as an icon of motorsports excellence. Beginning in 2009, the Speedway celebrates its Centennial Era, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the facility in 2009 and the 100^th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2011.

Tickets for the three events in 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - the Indianapolis 500, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP - can be purchased online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.