IRL: Motegi: FR, Sharp race report

Sharp Finishes Second in Japan

Scott Sharp came close to being a two-time winner at Twin Ring Motegi, finishing second today in the Bridgestone Indy Japan 300. Sharp, who started third, ran in the top five throughout most of the 200-lap race. He watched a gamble on fuel strategy pay off in the end, benefiting from a late race [Lap 199] caution to coast, out of fuel, across the finish line.

This is Sharp's second top-five result in four races to date this season and his 29th IndyCar Series career top-five finish. The result moves Sharp to sixth in the championship standings, only two points out of fifth.

Scott Sharp, #8 Delphi Panoz/Honda/Firestone:

"What a great day! All in all, we just had a really good car all day long. For me, it is just so gratifying to have a car to race with people. If I got held up in traffic, that was the only time people could pass me, and most of the time we could find a way to get back by them. It is really great to have such a 'raceable' car. The engineers and the guys did a great job. We made a bunch of changes before the race and I was thinking 'wow, I don't know' but it was right on. Look at Fernandez Racing's track record. They are great fuel mileage statisticians and it paid off today by a whisker as we ran out of fuel crossing the Start/Finish line. This is great momentum to carry into Indianapolis."

John Ward, Race Engineer:

"We are pretty happy with the results. We would have liked to have won it, but P2 is pretty good. In the end, it turned out to be a game of chicken on the fuel. We were a little bit lucky too. The car was quite good. Maybe it wasn't the best car, but it was a top-three car. Scott did a great job and so did the crew and we have momentum heading into Indy."

-www.delphifernandezracing.net