IRL Odds - 2010 Indy Japan 300 – Dario Franchitti Favored
By Drew Sharper
The 2010 IRL Season is down to is second to last race of the year Sunday morning as the Indy Japan 300 takes place from Motegi, Japan.
The Favorite
Dario Franchitti is the favorite for this race as he has been given 3/1 odds to win according to online sports book Sportsbook.com. Other short odds to win are Scott Dixon (4/1), Helio Castroneves (9/2), and Ryan Briscoe (5/1). Franchitti finished second in this race in 2009 and third in 2007. Franchitti is currently second in the standings, 17 points behind Will Power. Franchitti has three wins on the year and 12 top-5 finishes.
Past Winners
Scott Dixon won the event last year while Danica Patrick got her line IRL victory in 2008 at this race. Tony Kanaan, Castroneves, and Dan Wheldon are also previous winners. Patrick has 18/1 odds while Kanaan has 10/1 odds and Wheldon has 15/1 odds.
Season Standings
Power leads the season standings and has a series-best five wins on the year. He also has 10 top 5’s on the year. Dixon sits in third, 83 points behind first while Castroneves is in fourth, 104 points outside of first. Dixon and Castroneves each have two wins on the year.
The Indy Japan 300 will take place Sunday, Sept. 19 from Twin Ring Motegi at 12AM ET. For complete odds and track information on this year’s event, see below.
Odds to win the Indy Japan 300
Dario Franchitti 3/1
Scott Dixon 4/1
Helio Castroneves 9/2
Ryan Briscoe 5/1
Will Power 6/1
Tony Kanaan 10/1
Marco Andretti 15/1
Dan Wheldon 15/1
Danica Patrick 18/1
Ryan Hunter-Reay 30/1
Vitor Meira 40/1
Hideki Mutoh 50/1
Mario Moraes 60/1
Raphael Matos 60/1
Graham Rahal 60/1
Alex Tagliani 60/1
Alex Lloyd 100/1
Takuma Sato 100/1
Justin Wilson 100/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 15/1
2010 Indy Japan 300 Information
Race Date: Sunday, Sept. 19
Location: Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi, Japan
Pre-Race: 11PM ET
Green Flag: 12AM ET
TV Coverage: Versus
Radio Coverage: IMS
Track Type: Oval (200 laps)
Castroneves takes pole for Indy Japan 300
MOTEGI, Japan (AP) - Helio Castroneves took the pole position Saturday for the Indy Japan 300, turning a lap at 201.992 mph to lead a Team Penske sweep of the top three starting spots Sunday.
Ryan Briscoe was second, followed by series points leader Will Power and Dario Franchitti.
Castroneves, coming off a victory Sept. 4 at Kentucky Speedway, is a four-time pole-sitter and 2006 winner at Motegi.
I'm very excited the three of us are starting in the top three spots, the Brazilian said. Hopefully, tomorrow we'll finish like this. It was a great effort for the entire team. ... Today was a good day for us but the big points are tomorrow. We just need to execute. We don't need to panic.
Power, making his first start on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval, has a 17-point lead over defending series champion Franchitti with two races left and could wrap up the title with a victory Sunday.
My goal was to come here and be ahead of the Ganassi guys, especially Dario, said Power, who leads the series with five victories this season - all on road and street courses. I've just got to follow these guys tomorrow and keep Dario behind me.
Franchitti finished second last year.
I think we have a better race car than qualifying car, Franchitti. It's a great race track that really produces great racing.
Scott Dixon, the winner last year, was 11th, a spot ahead of Danica Patrick. In 2008, Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history, winning on fuel strategy.
Former Formula One driver Takuma Sato recovered after spinning out in the morning practice session to qualify 10th, the highest of three Japanese drivers in the race