2006 Firestone Indy 200

September 2025 IndyCar race held in Lebanon, Tennessee USA Firestone Indy 200 Nashville Superspeedway diagram.svg Layout of the Nashville Superspeedway circuit July 15 2006 Firestone Indy 200 2006 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 2006 ABC Supply / A. J. Foyt Indy 225 IndyCar 9 14 Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tennessee Permanent racing facility 1.330 2.140 200 266.000 428.086 Dan Wheldon Target Chip Ganassi Racing 23.0210 GBR Dan Wheldon Target Chip Ganassi Racing 23.1401 186 GBR Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing NZL Dan Wheldon Target Chip Ganassi Racing GBR Vítor Meira Panther Racing BRA The 2006 Firestone Indy 200 was an IndyCar Series motor race held on July 15, 2006, in Lebanon, Tennessee at Nashville Superspeedway. It was the ninth round of the 2006 IndyCar Series and the sixth running of the event. Scott Dixon won the 200-lap race for Target Chip Ganassi Racing from the third position. Dixon's teammate Dan Wheldon finished second and Vítor Meira of Panther Racing finished third. Sam Hornish Jr. led the Drivers' Championship by twenty points over teammate Hélio Castroneves heading into the race. Wheldon won the pole position by setting the fastest timed lap in qualifying. He led the first 57 laps before making a pit stop, giving the lead to Hornish Jr. for three laps. Wheldon regained the lead a lap later and continued leading until Hornish Jr. passed him on lap 89; he overtook Hornish Jr. five laps later. After a cycle of green-flag pit stops concluded with 67 laps remaining, Dixon moved into the lead and held it to win the race. There were three cautions and nine lead changes among five different drivers during the race. The victory was Dixon's second of the season and sixth of his IndyCar career. After the race, Hornish Jr.'s lead in the Drivers' Championship was diminished to a measly five points over Dixon in the second position. Castroneves fell to third, while Wheldon and Meira remained fourth and fifth with five races left in the season. Background 2006 IndyCar Series#Teams and drivers left|thumb|250x250px|Nashville Superspeedway (pictured in 2007), where the race was held. The Firestone Indy 200 was the ninth of 14 scheduled open-wheel races for the 2006 IndyCar Series and the sixth edition of the event dating back to 2001.Lewandowski Dave September 13, 2005 Momentum, consistency http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=5437 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20051214160605/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=5437 December 14, 2005 September 23, 2025 IndyCarSeptember 5, 2024 Nashville Superspeedway- A Brief Indycar History https://thepitwindow.blog/2024/09/05/nashville-superspeedway-a-brief-indycar-history/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240905150017/https://thepitwindow.blog/2024/09/05/nashville-superspeedway-a-brief-indycar-history/ September 5, 2024 September 26, 2025 ThePitWindow.blog It was held on July 15, 2006, in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States, at Nashville Superspeedway, a four-turn 1.33 mi km on concrete tri-oval circuit which features 14-degree banking in the turns, 9-degree banking in the front stretch, and 6-degree banking in the back stretch, and contested over 200 laps and 266 mi km out.IRL: Nashville: Pre-race notes, schedule https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-round-nine-preview-schedule/2091148/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926015435/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-round-nine-preview-schedule/2091148/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com Before the race, Marlboro Team Penske driver Sam Hornish Jr. led the Drivers' Championship with 300 points, followed by teammate Hélio Castroneves with 280 and Scott Dixon with 261. Dan Wheldon was third with 257 points, thirty ahead of Vítor Meira in fifth.July 2, 2006 IRL: Standings after Kansas https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-standings-after-kansas-3/2090592/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250925231859/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-standings-after-kansas-3/2090592/ September 25, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com Dario Franchitti was the race's defending champion.July 12, 2006 Wired for the weekend http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7063 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017152748/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7063 October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Following the previous race at Kansas Speedway, Marlboro Team Penske was forced to relocate their operations to Exeter, Pennsylvania because of the Mid-Atlantic United States flood which devastated their old race shop in Reading, Pennsylvania.Lewandowski Dave July 12, 2006 Penske team perseveres after shop flooding http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7069 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017151437/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7069 October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar In spite of this, their drivers Hornish Jr. and Castroneves both looked forward to the race at Nashville and hoped to earn their first win at the track.July 10, 2006 IRL: Nashville: Team Penske Pit Notes https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-team-penske-pit-notes-1/2091168/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926105318/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-team-penske-pit-notes-1/2091168/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com They, along with many other drivers, regarded Nashville Superspeedway as a "challenging" circuit due to its concrete surface, which wore tires more quickly than asphalt.July 10, 2006 No man's land http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7049 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017160142/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7049 October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Bryan Herta conversely opined that the concrete surface provided more grip, especially on a hot day, because it does not heat up as much as asphalt.IRL: Nashville: Bryan Herta preview https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-bryan-herta-preview-2008-03-27/2091224/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926200845/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-bryan-herta-preview-2008-03-27/2091224/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com Eighteen drivers entered the race, marking the smallest field of the season thus far.Firestone Indy™ 200 http://www.indycar.com/news/2006/nashville/2006_nashville_entrylist.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017164001/http://www.indycar.com/news/2006/nashville/2006_nashville_entrylist.pdf October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar2006 IndyCar Series Season Stats, Race Results https://www.racing-reference.info/raceyear/2006/O live https://web.archive.org/web/20210428001927/https://www.racing-reference.info/season-stats/2006/O/ April 28, 2021 September 26, 2025 Racing-Reference.info NASCAR Digital Media Cheever Racing withdrew from IndyCar Series competition because of a lack of sponsorship. Team owner and driver Eddie Cheever was appreciative of his employees who helped him throughout the season: "We may have not had the best equipment, due to our limited budget, but we did the best with what we had. I am sorry to see these guys go, and I hope that we can be reunited again in the future."Beer Matt July 14, 2006 Cheever withdraws from series https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/cheever-withdraws-from-series-4402821/4402821/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926202947/https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/cheever-withdraws-from-series-4402821/4402821/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Autosport.com Two teams opted to swap their drivers. On July 10, A. J. Foyt Racing announced the departure of their driver Felipe Giaffone because of communication issues between Giaffone and team owner A. J. Foyt.July 10, 2006 IRL: Foyt and Giaffone part ways https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-foyt-and-giaffone-part-ways/2091104/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926203858/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-foyt-and-giaffone-part-ways/2091104/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com Houston, Texas Jeff Bucknum was later revealed to be Giaffone's replacement for the remainder of the season.Lewandowski Dave July 12, 2006 Bucknum to drive Foyt car for remainder of season http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7068 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060715112452/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7068 July 15, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Dreyer & Reinbold Racing also replaced Buddy Lazier with Ryan Briscoe, who finished third with the team earlier that season at Watkins Glen International, in three of the final six races of the season, beginning at Nashville.July 10, 2006 Briscoe back with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7053 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017151640/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7053 October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Team co-owner Dennis Reinbold admitted Lazier's future with the team was uncertain because they wanted to prepare for the 2007 season.Redmayne Tim July 10, 2006 Briscoe to make oval racing return https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/briscoe-to-make-oval-racing-return-4402895/4402895/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926210135/https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/briscoe-to-make-oval-racing-return-4402895/4402895/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Autosport.com Practice and qualifying Three practice sessions were held prior to the race on Saturday, all on Friday. The first two sessions lasted 90 minutes and were divided into two groups, both of which received 45 minutes of track time, while the third session lasted 30 minutes.Firestone Indy™ 200 - INDY RACING LEAGUE® PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE http://indycar.com/schedule/2006_nashville_schedule.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061117191522/http://indycar.com/schedule/2006_nashville_schedule.pdf November 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Tony Kanaan led the first practice session on Friday morning with a time of 23.2020 seconds, besting Wheldon, Marco Andretti, Hornish Jr., and Kosuke Matsuura.IRL: Nashville: Practice 1 times https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-practice-1-times-2008-03-27/2091400/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926211510/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-practice-1-times-2008-03-27/2091400/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com Later that afternoon, Wheldon was fastest in the second practice session with a time of 23.1114 seconds; positions second through fifth were held by Hornish Jr., Castroneves, Franchitti, and Meira.IRL: Nashville: Practice 2 times https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-practice-2-times-1/2091424/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926212500/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-practice-2-times-1/2091424/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com After Dixon's gearbox failed early in the session, his team managed to repair it.July 14, 2006 Firestone Indy 200/Sunbelt Rentals 100 Daily Trackside Report -- July 14 http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7087 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017160053/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7087 October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Qualifying was held ninety minutes after the second practice session concluded. Each driver was required to complete two timed laps, with the quicker of the two determining their starting position. Wheldon clinched his second pole position of the season and the fourth of his career with a time of 23.0210 seconds.Olson Jeff July 14, 2006 Wheldon on pole at Nashville https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/wheldon-on-pole-at-nashville-4402825/4402825/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926214530/https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/wheldon-on-pole-at-nashville-4402825/4402825/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com He was trailed by Hornish Jr., whose lap was 0.1059 seconds slower.IRL: Nashville: Starting lineup https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-starting-lineup-2/2091440/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926215341/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-starting-lineup-2/2091440/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com Dixon experienced more gearbox issues during his first warm-up lap, which were quickly alleviated by his team;July 14, 2006 IRL: Nashville: Chip Ganassi Racing qualifying report https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-chip-ganassi-racing-qualifying-report-2008-03-27/2091476/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926225631/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-chip-ganassi-racing-qualifying-report-2008-03-27/2091476/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com he qualified third, ahead of Castroneves in fourth and Franchitti in fifth. Kanaan, Meira, Scott Sharp, Tomas Scheckter, and Danica Patrick took the remaining positions inside the top ten, and Buddy Rice, Matsuura, Briscoe, Ed Carpenter, Jeff Simmons, Herta, Bucknum, and Andretti completed the starting grid. On Saturday evening, the final practice session was paced by Wheldon with a time of 23.1769 seconds; Hornish Jr., Castroneves, Kanaan, and Scheckter occupied positions second through fifth.July 14, 2006 IRL: Nashville: Final practice times https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-final-practice-times-3/2091500/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250926230743/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-final-practice-times-3/2091500/ September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 Motorsport.com Qualifying classification Pos Position No. Car Number Driver Team Time Time in seconds Speed Speed in MPH Finalgrid Final starting grid position 1 10 GBR Dan Wheldon Target Chip Ganassi Racing 23.0210 203.2931 26 USA Sam Hornish Jr. Marlboro Team Penske 23.1269 202.3622 39 NZL Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing 23.1461 202.1943 43 BRA Hélio Castroneves Marlboro Team Penske 23.1689 201.9954 527 GBR Dario Franchitti Andretti Green Racing 23.1803 201.8965 611 BRA Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing 23.2111 201.6286 74 BRA Vítor Meira Panther Racing 23.3046 200.8197 88 USA Scott Sharp Delphi Fernández Racing 23.3067 200.8018 92 ZAF Tomas Scheckter Vision Racing 23.3503 200.4269 1016 USA Danica Patrick Rahal Letterman Racing 23.3669 200.28310 1115 USA Buddy Rice Rahal Letterman Racing 23.3680 200.27411 1255 JAP Kosuke Matsuura Super Aguri Fernández Racing 23.4300 199.74412 135 AUS Ryan Briscoe Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 23.4461 199.60713 1420 USA Ed Carpenter Vision Racing 23.4572 199.51214 1517 USA Jeff Simmons Rahal Letterman Racing 23.4637 199.45715 167 USA Bryan Herta Andretti Green Racing 23.4721 199.38616 1714 USA Jeff Bucknum A. J. Foyt Racing 23.5828 198.45017 1826 USA Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing 23.5993 198.31118 Sources:July 14, 2006 Indy Racing League Timing and Scoring Report - Qualification Results http://www1.indycar.com/scoring/2006/reports/indycarseries/nashville/indycar-results-quals.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061019202807/http://www1.indycar.com/scoring/2006/reports/indycarseries/nashville/indycar-results-quals.pdf October 19, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Race Live coverage of the race began on Saturday at 8:00 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT) in the United States on ESPN. Commentary was provided by Marty Reid, Rusty Wallace, and Scott Goodyear.Cavin Curt January 25, 2006 Rusty Wallace gets TV deal http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060125%2FSPORTS01%2F60125024 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044338/http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060125%2FSPORTS01%2F60125024 September 24, 2015 September 26, 2025 IndyStar.com Around the start of the race, weather conditions were mostly sunny, with air temperatures reaching 86 F C on and track temperatures measuring at 93 F C on.July 15, 2006 Firestone Indy 200/Sunbelt Rentals 100 Daily Trackside Report -- July 15 http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7109 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017161437/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7109 October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Daylong threats of rainfall were subsided once darkness fell.Nashville Superspeedway - Firestone Indy 200 http://www.foytracing.com/IndyCar/2006_reports/IC_rr_nashville.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071225133200/http://www.foytracing.com/IndyCar/2006_reports/IC_rr_nashville.html December 25, 2007 September 27, 2025 A. J. Foyt Racing Andrew Firestone, television personality of The Bachelor and great-grandson of Firestone founder Harvey S. Firestone, commanded the drivers to start their engines and Johnny Rutherford, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, drove the pace car.July 10, 2006 Firestone to serve as Nashville grand marshal http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7055 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017151940/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7055 October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCarLewandowski Dave March 24, 2006 A first: Hybrid technology paces the field http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=6163 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017153522/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=6163 October 17, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar When the race began, Wheldon maintained his pole position advantage and led the first lap, while Kanaan passed three drivers to take third place and Castroneves fell to the ninth position after he and Dixon made slight contact in the second turn.IRL: Nashville: Tony Kanaan race report https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-tony-kanaan-race-report-2008-03-27/2091576/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250927005635/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-tony-kanaan-race-report-2008-03-27/2091576/ September 27, 2025 September 27, 2025 Motorsport.com left|thumb|292x292px|Scott Dixon (pictured in 2021) won the race after leading the final 67 laps. Wheldon held onto the lead for the first 57 laps. Meanwhile, on the 45th lap, Kanaan entered pit road from third for an apparent electrical issue. After his team swapped out several faulty electrical components, he returned to the track seventeen laps behind the leader. The first round of green-flag pit stops commenced on lap 57. Wheldon, Andretti, and Scheckter made pit stops on lap 58, handing the lead to Hornish Jr. Wheldon retained the lead once pit stops ended on lap 61. The first caution of the race was flown three laps later when Rice lost power and slowed on the back stretch. With no drivers choosing to make pit stops, Wheldon led the field back up to speed on the lap-73 restart. Sixteen laps later, Hornish Jr. drove to the inside line and overtook Wheldon for the lead. Wheldon attained Hornish Jr.'s draft and passed him back in the first turn on lap 94. Green-flag pit stops began for the second time on lap 116 when Herta made a pit stop for tires and fuel. By lap 120, Wheldon lengthened the gap between him and Hornish Jr. to 0.38 seconds. Wheldon gave up the lead to Hornish Jr. four laps later during the second bout of green-flag pit stops. Hornish Jr. retained the lead for two laps before making a pit stop on the 126th lap, handing the lead to Meira for a lap. Dixon took the lead for two laps until he made his stop, ceding the lead to Matsuura. On lap 130, the caution was issued for the second time when Hornish Jr. slid up the track and contacted the outside and inside walls at the exit of turn two; he resultantly retired from the race.IRL: Dixon and Wheldon finish 1-2 at Nashville https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-dixon-and-wheldon-finish-1-2-at-nashville/2091532/ live September 28, 2025 Motorsport.com Several drivers, include race leader Matsuura, made their pit stops during the caution, giving the lead to Dixon for the restart on lap 138. By the 160th lap, Dixon slightly expanded his lead to 0.26 seconds over teammate Wheldon. The third (and final) caution was prompted four laps later after Matsuura crashed into the turn-four wall from the sixth position.IRL: Nashville: Kosuke Matsuura race report https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-kosuke-matsuura-race-report-2008-03-27/2091544/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250928165945/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-kosuke-matsuura-race-report-2008-03-27/2091544/ September 28, 2025 September 28, 2025 Motorsport.com During this caution, Franchitti took on a new set of tires and fuel, while Castroneves' team only fueled his car. Dixon led on the lap-174 restart and was followed by Wheldon and Meira, the latter of whom passed Wheldon for second place that same lap. Meira had narrowed the deficit to Dixon to 0.14 seconds by lap 180, but over the following ten laps, Dixon reestablished a 0.4-second advantage. Wheldon took back the second position from Meira a lap later and remained in hot pursuit of Dixon for the remaining nine laps.July 15, 2006 IRL: Nashville: Panther Racing race report https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-panther-racing-race-report-2008-03-27/2091624/ live September 28, 2025 Motorsport.com Nashville, Tennessee On the final lap, Wheldon attempted to pass Dixon on the high side of the track to no avail; he finished second to Dixon, who earned his sixth career IndyCar win and the last of his two victories of the season.July 15, 2006 On target http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7102 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017161444/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7102 October 17, 2006 September 28, 2025 IndyCarJuly 15, 2006 Scott Dixon wins Firestone Indy 200 https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2006/07/15/Scott-Dixon-wins-Firestone-Indy-200/70371153020902/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250719124143/https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2006/07/15/Scott-Dixon-wins-Firestone-Indy-200/70371153020902/ July 19, 2025 September 28, 2025 UPI Lebanon, Tennessee Dixon and Wheldon's first- and second-place finishes marked Target Chip Ganassi Racing's first 1-2 sweep since joining the IndyCar Series in 2003.Olson Jeff July 16, 2006 Dixon leads Ganassi 1-2 at Nashville https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/dixon-leads-ganassi-1-2-at-nashville-4404892/4404892/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250928180251/https://www.autosport.com/indycar/news/dixon-leads-ganassi-1-2-at-nashville-4404892/4404892/ September 28, 2025 September 28, 2025 Autosport.com Meira finished third, ahead of Patrick in fourth and Castroneves in fifth. Franchitti, Simmons, Andretti, Briscoe, and Carpenter completed the top-ten positions, and Herta was the last of the classified finishers.Firestone Indy 200 https://www.indycar.com/results/ntt-indycar-series/2006/firestone-indy-200/race live https://web.archive.org/web/20250928190024/https://www.indycar.com/results/ntt-indycar-series/2006/firestone-indy-200/race September 28, 2025 September 28, 2025 IndyCar The race had a total of three cautions and nine lead changes between five different drivers. Wheldon led three times for 115 total laps, more than any other driver; because of this, he earned three bonus points.101: Points Breakdown http://www.indycar.com/tech/101/points.php dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090223192408/http://www.indycar.com/tech/101/points.php February 23, 2009 September 28, 2025 IndyCar Post-race Dixon appeared in victory lane to celebrate his second win of the season, which earned him $121,400. Dixon was happy with his and his teammate Wheldon's finishes and described how he overcame adversities: "Today, I don’t think we had the fastest car, but we were consistent in traffic. We actually crashed into Hélio (Castroneves) in turn two on the start and bent the front a bit. It was bit slow, but the guys did a great job in the pits and the fuel mileage was awesome." Second-place finisher Wheldon expressed jubilancy for Dixon and his team: "It is a fantastic evening for Target Chip Ganassi Racing and everyone involved. It's good to see Scott (Dixon) back on top." He regarded the race as "entertaining" and "intense."July 15, 2006 Saturday 15 July 2006 - Wheldon Second at Nashville http://www.danwheldon.com/news.cfm/title/Wheldon%20Second%20at%20Nashville/flag/2/id/210 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061030123400/http://www.danwheldon.com/news.cfm/title/Wheldon%20Second%20at%20Nashville/flag/2/id/210 October 30, 2006 September 28, 2025 Dan Wheldon Nashville, Tennessee Third-place finisher Meira was pleased with his performance in the race and desired to earn his first IndyCar win. Meira also felt that his car was fastest during the first five laps of a green-flag stint. After tying his career-best finish of fourth, Patrick attributed the finish to the hard labor of her crew: "The Argent crew has been working hard to get the new Dallara chassis competitive and tonight we saw the result of that work. I am happy for the crew and the team overall."IRL: Nashville: Rahal Letterman Racing race report https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-rahal-letterman-racing-race-report/2091584/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250928193750/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-nashville-rahal-letterman-racing-race-report/2091584/ September 28, 2025 September 28, 2025 Motorsport.com She hoped to build upon the new momentum that the finish brought her and her team.Lewandowski Dave July 15, 2006 At end of hectic week, Patrick punches in fourth http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7104 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061017151317/http://www.indycar.com/news/story.php?story_id=7104 October 17, 2006 September 28, 2025 IndyCar Sixth-place finisher Franchitti insinuated Patrick should have been handed a black flag for an aggressive block late in the race: "They talk about the black-flag rule all the time in the drivers' meeting. Brian (Barnhart) specifically said it before this race, but during the race, it doesn't seem to happen. It's very disappointing. We need to do something about it." Patrick insisted that she was simply protecting the bottom line. Patrick's Rahal Letterman Racing teammate Simmons, whose seventh-place finish was the best of his career thus far, stated that his car became "competitive" once his team adjusted its issues with understeer. Hornish Jr. explained that his car drove through the track's marbles, resulting in his crash: "We got out after our last pit stop and I was running behind the No. Car Number 4 car. I was trying to get a run on him and the car just pushed up into the marbles. At that point, there really wasn't anything I could do." The final result kept Hornish Jr. in the lead of the Drivers' Championship with 316 points; however, his gap over second-place, which had been taken by Dixon, dwindled to five points. Castroneves fell to third with 310 points, while Wheldon and Meira maintained their fourth and fifth positions with 300 and 262 points, respectively, with five races remaining in the season. Race classification Pos Position No. Car Number Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Final starting grid position Pts. Points 19 NZL Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing 200 01:36:46.2751350 210 GBR Dan Wheldon Target Chip Ganassi Racing 200 +0.11761431 1 34 BRA Vítor Meira Panther Racing 200 +1.2756735 416 USA Danica Patrick Rahal Letterman Racing 200 +2.50191032 53 BRA Hélio Castroneves Marlboro Team Penske 200 +3.5647430 627 GBR Dario Franchitti Andretti Green Racing 200 +11.9449528 717 USA Jeff Simmons Rahal Letterman Racing 199 +1 lap1526 826 USA Marco Andretti Andretti Green Racing 199 +1 lap1824 95 AUS Ryan Briscoe Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 199 +1 lap1322 1020 USA Ed Carpenter Vision Racing 198 +2 laps1420 117 USA Bryan Herta Andretti Green Racing 198 +2 laps1619 1211 BRA Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing 170 In pits618 1355 JAP Kosuke Matsuura Super Aguri Fernández Racing 162 Accident1217 146 USA Sam Hornish Jr. Marlboro Team Penske 128 Accident216 152 ZAF Tomas Scheckter Vision Racing 121 Half shaft915 1615 USA Buddy Rice Rahal Letterman Racing 61 Electrical1114 178 USA Scott Sharp Delphi Fernández Racing 58 Fuel pressure813 1814 USA Jeff Bucknum A. J. Foyt Racing 36 Handling1712 Sources:2006 Firestone Indy 200 https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2006_Firestone_Indy_200/O live https://web.archive.org/web/20250521213117/https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2006_Firestone_Indy_200/O May 21, 2025 September 27, 2025 Racing-Reference NASCAR Digital MediaJuly 15, 2006 Firestone Indy 200 - Unofficial Lap Report - July 15th, 2006 http://www1.indycar.com/scoring/2006/reports/indycarseries/nashville/indycar-race-lapfinal.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061019202826/http://www1.indycar.com/scoring/2006/reports/indycarseries/nashville/indycar-race-lapfinal.pdf October 19, 2006 September 26, 2025 IndyCar Notes 1 1 — Includes three bonus points for leading the most laps. Championship standings after the race + Drivers' Championship standings Pos. Position Driver Points10px|alt=Unchanged1 USA Sam Hornish Jr. 31610px|alt=Unchanged 12 NZL Scott Dixon 311 (–5)10px|alt=Unchanged 13 BRA Hélio Castroneves 310 (–6)10px|alt=Unchanged4 GBR Dan Wheldon 300 (–16)10px|alt=Unchanged5 BRA Vítor Meira 262 (–54) Sources:July 15, 2006 IRL: Standings after Nashville https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-standings-after-nashville-4/2091640/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250927004527/https://au.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-standings-after-nashville-4/2091640/ September 27, 2025 September 27, 2025 Motorsport.com Note: Only the top five positions are included. References Firestone Indy 200 2006 2006 Kansas Lottery Indy 300 2006 ABC Supply / A. J. Foyt Indy 225 2005 Firestone Indy 200 2007 Firestone Indy 200 Category:2006 in IndyCar Category:2006 in motorsport Category:2006 in American motorsport Category:July 2006 sports events in the United States Category:Firestone Indy 200 Category:2006 in sports in Tennessee Category:Nashville Superspeedway