Sunday, September 14, 2008
ORDER OF THE DAY:
|
7 a.m. |
Public Gates Open Hall of Fame Museum Open |
|
8:40-9 a.m. |
125cc Warm-up |
|
9:10-9:30 a.m. |
250cc Warm-up |
|
9:40-10:05 a.m. |
MotoGP Warm-up |
|
10:25-10:55 a.m. |
Red Bull Riders Cup Race (16 laps) |
|
11:05-11:35 a.m. |
Red Bull Stunt Riders Christian Pfeiffer and Aaron Colton |
|
Noon |
125cc Race (23 laps) |
|
1:15 p.m. |
250cc Race (26 laps) |
|
2:15 p.m. |
Red Bull Indianapolis GP Grid Presentation |
|
2:16 p.m. |
Red Bull Stunt Riders Christian Pfeiffer and Aaron Colton |
|
2:30 p.m. |
Red Bull Air Force Skydivers |
|
2:50 p.m. |
National anthem performed by Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund |
|
2:51 p.m. |
Military Flyover by "Warbirds of America" |
|
2:51 p.m. |
Invocation by Rev. Hunter Floyd |
|
2:56 p.m. |
Command to start engines, IMS Chairman of the Board Mari Hulman George |
|
2:58 p.m. |
Green flag given by starter Warm-up lap begins |
|
3 p.m. |
Start of Inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP (28 laps) |
|
6 p.m. |
Track Closes |
***
Chris Carr won the Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Flat Track Grand National Saturday night at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Carr edged Ken Coolbeth by .029 of a second.
Seven-time AMA champion Carr also won the last AMA Flat Track Grand National event at the "Indy Mile," in 1999.
***
125cc WARM UP:
At 8:40 a.m., the ambient temperature was 75 degrees F (24 C) with a relative humidity of 90 percent and southeast winds at 4 mph (6.4 km/h). Skies were sunny. Track conditions were dry.
•Pole lap, Saturday: #44 Espargaro, 1:50.475
8:40 a.m. - GREEN.
8:46 a.m. -- #93 Marquez quickest at 1:53.798.
8:48 a.m. - #7 Vazquez slides off bike, continues.
8:49 a.m. -- #29 Iannone quickest at 1:51.688.
8:50 a.m. -- #8 Zanetti slides off track in Turn 3. Zanetti gets to feet without assistance, remounts, continues.
8:53 a.m. -- #29 Iannone improves quickest lap to 1:50.815.
8:55 a.m. - American #51 Bonsey up to third at 1:51.692.
9 a.m. - CHECKERED. #29 Andrea Iannone quickest at 1:50.815.
***
Top Five Riders, 125cc Warm Up:
|
1. |
#29 Andrea Iannone |
1:50.815 |
|
2. |
#38 Bradley Smith |
1:50.880 |
|
3. |
#63 Mike Di Meglio |
1:50.897 |
|
4. |
#45 Scott Redding |
1:50.921 |
|
5. |
#17 Stefan Bradl |
1:50.961 |
Americans: #51 Bonsey, sixth, 1:50.990; #54 Jacobsen, 29th, 1:53.263; #90 Turner, 35th, 1:55.991.
Top trap speed: #54 Jacobsen, 137.6 mph (221.4 km/h)
***
The "Warbirds of America" that will perform the military flyover at 2:51 p.m. today fly U.S. Air Force T-34, Chinese Nanchang CJ-6 and Soviet Yak-52 propeller aircraft.
***
250cc WARM UP:
At 9:10 a.m., the ambient temperature was 76 degrees F (24 C) with a relative humidity of 86 percent and south-southeast winds at 4 mph (6.4 km/h). Skies were sunny. Track conditions were dry.
•Pole lap, Saturday: #58 Simoncelli, 1:45.168
9:10 a.m. - GREEN.
9:19 a.m. -- #6 Debon quickest at 1:46.568.
9:24 a.m. -- #58 Simoncelli slides off bike in Turn 15. Simoncelli gets to feet without assistance, remounts, continues despite large clump of grass in rear sprocket.
9:25 a.m. -- #36 Kallio slides off bike in Turn 11. Kallio gets to feet without assistance, returns to paddock on moto taxi.
9:27 a.m. -- #21 Barbera quickest at 1:45.951.
9:28 a.m. -- #72 Takahashi slides off track, continues.
9:30 a.m. - CHECKERED. #21 Hector Barbera quickest at 1:45.951.
Top Five Riders, 250cc Warm Up:
|
1. |
#21 Hector Barbera |
1:45.951 |
|
2. |
#4 Hiroshi Aoyama |
1:46.157 |
|
3. |
#6 Alex Debon |
1:46.420 |
|
4. |
#19 Alvaro Bautista |
1:46.450 |
|
5. |
#72 Yuki Takahashi |
1:46.545 |
Americans: #29 Long, 22nd, 1:54.851
Top trap speed: #6 Debon, 163.1 mph (262.5 km/h)
***
MotoGP WARM UP:
At 9:40 a.m., the ambient temperature was 77 degrees F (25 C) with a relative humidity of 83 percent and south-southeast winds at 6 mph (9.7 km/h). Skies were cloudy. Track conditions were dry.
•Pole lap, Saturday: #46 Rossi, 1:40.776
9:40 a.m. - GREEN.
9:52 a.m. -- #56 Nakano quickest at 1:43.475.
9:53 a.m. -- #4 Dovizioso quickest at 1:42.865.
9:54 a.m. -- #69 Hayden quickest at 1:42.419.
9:58 a.m. -- #1 Stoner quickest at 1:41.553.
10:05 a.m. - CHECKERED. #1 Casey Stoner quickest at 1:41.553.
Top Five Riders, MotoGP Warm Up:
|
1. |
#1 Casey Stoner |
1:41.553 |
|
2. |
#46 Valentino Rossi |
1:42.161 |
|
3. |
#24 Toni Elias |
1:42.301 |
|
4. |
#56 Shinya Nakano |
1:42.369 |
|
5. |
#69 Nicky Hayden |
1:42.419 |
Other Americans: #11 Spies, ninth, 1:42.641; #5 Edwards, 14th, 1:42.955; #21 Hopkins, 15th, 1:43.133.
Top trap speed: #33 Melandri, 196.0 mph (315.5 km/h), fastest trap speed of event.
***
IndyCar Series standout Vitor Meira, a two-time Indianapolis 500 runner-up, visited the track today. Meira finished second in the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2008.
VITOR MEIRA: (This place has been good to you): "Yes, it has been pretty good. It is Indianapolis, right? Whatever race is here it becomes magical all of a sudden, so it's good place. I hope to have fun today." (Did you race motorcycles at any time?): "I never raced motorcycles actually, and I would have no clue what to do on them, actually. I have throughout my life about 50 miles on a bike. I would like to do something like that some day, but the learning curve would be pretty steep. But it is fun." (You must appreciate these guys): "Racing is always the same thing. I was talking about this earlier when I met a couple of riders over the weekend. It is unbelievable, whatever you race, whether it is bikes, Indy cars, stock cars, Formula One, racing is racing. The stories are always the same. The only thing that changes is if it is a steering wheel, two wheels or four wheels. So everything is the same, so you can really appreciate what those guys do, too."
***
Three-time 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts has been an interested visitor to the Red Bull Indianapolis GP for all three days of the event. Roberts was the first American to win the 500cc (now MotoGP) world title, in 1978, and followed with championships in 1979 and 1980, all for Yamaha. Roberts ended his illustrious career with 22 career victories, fourth all time among American riders.
KENNY ROBERTS: (Thoughts about MotoGP at the Speedway): "Well, I've been at the Fairgrounds before. I actually raced there. I've never been to the Speedway. I was at the show here last year, the motorcycle show in November, and they tried to get me to come out. I've seen racetracks all over the world. I've been to hundreds, you know, thousands. I never came here. But I have to say, I was awed Friday looking at the front straight going: 'That can't be the front straight. You know, it's too narrow. And the bleachers are too close.' The one thing that I worried about was the motorcycles appearing too small in such a big arena, which is the normal case for a superspeedway. But, I got here and looked at it, and I was just like, 'Wow, this is perfect.' From just arriving, talking to the people, coming into the races, staying at the hotel, it's a very, very refreshing scene for motorcycles. I can't say enough about it. Normally I don't expand this way, but I can't say enough about it." (What's it mean to you personally having been a champion in the sport for so many years?): "Well, it means a lot to me because I always wanted to see motorcycles reach a place in the United States as it as the rest of the world in forms of notoriety and people. In another way, it really pisses me off that I don't get to enjoy it as a racer. I never got to show America, win a Grand Prix in America. I never got to show the American fans what a Grand Prix is like, and now it all seems to happen just a little out of my era. But I'm really happy to see motorcycle racing arrive here. It's just a joy to see it here and in American and all the Europeans going, 'Wow, this is fantastic." (On what fans should know about MotoGP): "This is a lot to do with passion. All I can say is you have to experience it. It's nothing like car racing. All over the world, people view it for what it is. It's quick. It's fast and it's exciting. When you leave the racetrack, you have a different opinion of motorcycles."
***
RED BULL RIDERS CUP RACE RUNNING (14 laps):
At 10:25 a.m., the ambient temperature was 78 degrees F (25C) with a relative humidity of 79 percent and south-southeast winds at 9 mph (14.5 km/h). Skies were cloudy, with light rain starting to fall.
Pre-race: Crews scramble to fit wet tires on bikes on the grid, as light rain began to fall when bikes were on grid.
Lap 1: START. #64 Hoyle gets good start, takes lead from second grid position. #36 Mercado takes lead just before Turn 9. #33 Fagerhaug, who started eighth, takes lead from #36 Mercado. #36 Fagerhaug leads #36 Mercado by .651 of a second. #69 H. Gillim, who started fourth, drops to 13th. #32 Gagne, winner of AMA U.S. Rookies Cup race Saturday, drops to 18th after starting fifth.
Lap 2: #25 Pascarella passes #36 Mercado for second. #39 Salom climbs from fourth to second on front straight with slingshot move. #33 Fagerhaug leads #39 Salom by .602 of a second.
Lap 3: #20 Scholtz leads #33 Fagerhaug by .032 of a second after slingshot pass on front straight. Scholtz was running sixth after Lap 2. #69 H. Gillim up to seventh.
Lap 4: #20 Scholtz leads #33 Fagerhaug by .228 of a second. #69 H. Gillim third, .496 of a second behind leader.
Lap 5: #69 H. Gillim passes #33 Fagerhaug in Turn 7 for second. #20 Scholtz leads #69 H. Gillim by .109 of a second. #50 Connor falls from bike, walks into gravel trap. Sits in gravel, attended by medical personnel.
Lap 6: #69 H. Gillim passes #20 Scholtz for lead with outside move in Turn 1. #69 H. Gillim leads #20 Scholtz by 1.243 seconds.
Lap 7: #69 H. Gillim leads #20 Scholtz by 2.063 seconds. Rain intensity reduces to light sprinkle. Track is damp.
Lap 8: #69 H. Gillim leads #20 Scholtz by 1.881 seconds.
Lap 9: #25 Pascarella falls while dueling for position with #33 Fagerhaug. #20 Scholtz goes wide in Turn 9, continues. Rain intensifies suddenly. #69 H. Gillim leads #33 Fagerhaug by 3.979 seconds.
Lap 10: #36 Mercado off bike. #33 Fagerhaug passes #69 H. Gillim for lead in Turn 14. #69 H. Gillim regains lead at line with slingshot move, leads #33 Fagerhaug by .018 of a second.
Lap 11: #33 Fagerhaug makes outside pass of #69 H. Gillim for lead in Turn 8. #20 Scholtz passes #69 H. Gillim with inside move for second in Turn 10. #33 Fagerhaug leads #20 Scholtz by .291 of a second.
Lap 12: #33 Fagerhaug leads #20 Scholtz by .217 of a second.
Lap 13: #69 H. Gillim passes #20 Scholtz for second in Turn 6, then crashes in Turn 9 in a "high side" accident. #69 H. Gillim gets to feet without assistance, remounts bike but cannot continue due to apparent bike damage. #33 Fagerhaug leads #20 Scholtz by 1.116 seconds.
Lap 14: CHECKERED. #33 Sturla Fagerhaug of Norway wins Red Bull Riders Cup race by 3.478 seconds over #20 Mathew Scholtz. #64 Matthew Hoyle third, 11.298 seconds behind leader.
Top Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup finisher: #32 Jacob Gagne, eighth.
***
A transcript of the Red Bull Riders Cup press conference featuring the top three finishers, Sturla Fagerhaug, Mathew Scholtz and Matthew Hoyle will be provided separately.
***
American MotoGP standout Colin Edwards will sport a special patriotic livery on his Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha/Michelin during today's MotoGP race. The livery includes the stars and stripes of the U.S. flag and an image of the Statue of Liberty.
COLIN EDWARDS: "I'm very excited to race in front of my American fans here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and I would like to dedicate this livery to all my friends at Yamaha U.S and my fans both in the U.S and around the world."
***
RED BULL RIDERS CUP POST-RACE QUOTES:
HAYDEN GILLIM: "I was just pushing too hard in the dry, and the tires were just shot whenever the rain came. And I just didn't have enough traction and I got on the gas too hard coming on to the back straightaway, and the tires lost it, and it threw me off. I'm just happy I'm not hurt or anything, and I'm ready to go to Laguna Seca. It's really disappointing. I was running really good, and I was really disappointed. I wanted to do really good in front of my home crowd, and I'm just really happy about how well I did before the crash. I'm just really looking forward to the end of the season."
JD BEACH (Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup champion, seventh): (About his bad start and being sick this weekend): "My race wasn't so good because I've kind of been sick all week, and my start was horrible. I was dead last going into the first turn. I started pushing a little bit, but then I just got tired because I've been sick. But then I fought through it and just kept pushing and got to seventh or eighth." (What was going through your mind as they changed you tires from slicks to rain just before the start?): "I was kind of happy because in the rain I knew I wouldn't have to push as hard to go as fast, so it was kind of better for me."
***
125cc RACE RUNNING (23 laps):
At noon, the ambient temperature was 76 degrees F (24C) with a relative humidity of 85 percent and south-southeast winds at 8 mph (13 km/h). Skies were cloudy. Track conditions were dry with damp spots.
Lap 1: START. #44 Espargaro leads into Turn 1. #29 Iannone climbs from fifth to second before Turn 1. #60 Ranseder falls exiting Turn 2, remounts bike, continues. #45 Redding climbs to second. #44 Espargaro leads #45 Redding by .911 of a second. American #51 Bonsey up to 12th after starting 15th.
Lap 2: #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by 1.859 seconds.
Lap 3: #6 Olive crashes, out of race. #12 Rabat crashes, out of race. #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by 1.853 seconds.
Lap 4: #8 Zanetti off track, rejoins race. #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by 2.249 seconds. #29 Iannone to pits, off bike.
Lap 5: #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by 2.246 seconds.
Lap 6: #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by 2.349 seconds. #73 Nakagami crashes, out of race. #60 Ranseder crashes in Turn 2, out of race.
Lap 7: #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by 1.816 seconds. Contact between #63 Di Meglio, #24 Corsi entering Turn 1. Di Meglio drops from fourth to seventh due to c
Lap 8: #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by 1.248 seconds.
Lap 9: #22 Nieto to pits. #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by 1.118 seconds. American #51 Bonsey up to ninth after passing Talmacsi on front straight before Turn 1.
Lap 10: #44 Espargaro runs wide in Turn 1, stays on track. #18 Terol passes #44 Espargaro for lead with inside move in Turn 10. #18 Terol leads #44 Espargaro by .074 of a second.
Lap 11: #44 Espargaro attempts inside pass for lead of #18 Terol entering Turn 1, fails. #18 Terol leads #44 Espargaro by .322 of a second.
Lap 12: #18 Terol leads #44 Espargaro by .520 of a second.
Lap 13: #18 Terol leads #44 Espargaro by .968 of a second. #45 Redding third, 4.581 seconds behind leader. #8 Zanetti to pits.
Lap 14: #18 Terol leads #44 Espargaro by 1.155 seconds. Battle for fourth: Less than five-tenths of a second separate fourth place #17 Bradl from eighth place #24 Corsi. American #51 Bonsey 10th.
Lap 15: #18 Terol leads #44 Espargaro by 3.438 seconds.
Lap 16: #18 Terol leads #44 Espargaro by 1.708 seconds. #72 Ravaioli out of race.
Lap 17: Rain starts falling. #44 Espargaro passes #18 Terol for lead exiting Turn 16. #44 Espargaro leads #18 Terol by .011 of a second.
RED. Rain. Riders to pits, 125cc race declared over after 16 laps. Race is scored based on last complete lap before red flag, so winner is #18 Nicolas Terol, with #44 Pol Espargaro second, #17 Stefan Bradl third.
***
A transcript of the 125cc press conference featuring the top-three finishers, Nicolas Terol, Pol Espargaro and Stefan Bradl, will be provided separately.
***
125cc POST-RACE NOTES:
•This is Nicolas Terol's first career 125cc victory. His previous best finish was second at the Grand Prix of Spain on March 30 at Jerez.
•Pol Espargaro equaled his career-best finish of second, previously recorded from pole at the Grand Prix of Catalunya on June 8 at Barcelona, Spain.
•Stefan Bradl finished third, his fourth podium finish of the season.
•American Stevie Bonsey finished ninth, his first top-10 finish since the Grand Prix of Catalunya on June 8 at Barcelona, Spain, where he was seventh. It was his fourth top-10 finish of the season.
***
125cc POST-RACE QUOTES:
STEVIE BONSEY (Only full-time American rider in 125cc, Salinas, Calif.): "I'm happy with it for how much I've been struggling with it this weekend. I sound repetitive, but I had a hard start this weekend. From missing flights to just rain, and this morning I had a real good warm-up, so I felt real confident in the dry. So I was just praying that it would stay dry. Then, later this morning, or about 10 o'clock, it started to rain a little bit, so I started to panic and bite my nails a little bit, but it stayed dry enough to stay on slicks. We got off to a good start and started passing people. I was in a group, but I just could not hang. They were out-motoring me down the straight, and there was just no way I could catch them. I'd pull back up with them in the tight stuff, but they'd pull back away down the straight. But, hey, it's a good race from what I've been struggling with all year, so hey, I'm satisfied. Now I kind of like the track." (About the wind): "Once you're already sliding around and the wind starts blowing, it makes it twice as difficult. It was difficult race today, for sure." (About remainder of season): "Well, we're heading to Japan next, and I did quite good there last year. Well, actually, I fell, but I was in eighth and slipped off, so I think the next races for me are quite strong. The only one I struggled with was Malaysia, and now we're on a whole different bike, so it should be good."
KRIS TURNER (Wild-card rider, Chattanooga, Tenn.): "The first few laps I felt pretty confident. I was trying to get by everybody. I seemed pretty quick on the first lap, so I could get by them. Then as soon as we hit the straightaways, they got right back by. I got in there with Cyril Carrillo and started battling with him and a couple other riders. Me and Carrillo dropped off a little bit. Then I was trying to pass Cyril in Turn 4 and tucked the front and crashed. I got back up, finished the race, so I guess I'm happy." (On the changing weather conditions): "Honestly, if we would have started the race in the rain, I would have been so much happier, because it takes away the advantage everybody else has, and I felt a little better in the rain. I never even noticed the wind."
***
250cc RACE RUNNING (26 laps):
At 1:10 p.m., the ambient temperature was 75 degrees F (24C) with a relative humidity of 93 percent and southeast winds at 9 mph (14.5 km/h). Skies were cloudy, with heavy rain falling. Track conditions were wet.
1:11 p.m. - Race officials declare a delayed start due to heavy rain. Riders and teams clear grid.
Race officials have declared that the 250cc race start time has been moved to 4:15 p.m. (ET).
***
MotoGP RACE RUNNING (28 laps):
At 2:55 p.m., the ambient temperature was 73 degrees F (23C) with a relative humidity of 79 percent and south-southwest winds at 25 mph (41 km/h). Skies were cloudy, with no rain falling. Track conditions were wet.
Lap 1: START. #1 Stoner leads into Turn 1, followed by #69 Hayden, #48 Lorenzo, pole sitter #46 Rossi. #4 Dovizioso, who started seventh, under #69 Hayden for second in Turn 6. #4 Dovizioso passes #1 Stoner for lead in Turn 8. #69 Hayden passes #1 Stoner for second in Turn 12. #4 Dovizioso leads #69 Hayden by .291 of a second. Pole sitter #46 Rossi fourth.
Lap 2: #69 Hayden passes #4 Dovizioso on front straight at end of lap, leads by .054 of a second at the line.
Lap 3: #11 Spies under #2 Pedrosa for sixth in Turn 10. #69 Hayden leads #4 Dovizioso by .402 of a second. #2 Pedrosa passes #11 Spies for sixth.
Lap 4: #46 Rossi passes #48 Lorenzo in Turn 2 for third. #69 Hayden leads #4 Dovizioso by .618 of a second. #46 Rossi third, .990 of a second behind leader.
Lap 5: #69 Hayden leads #4 Dovizioso by .582 of a second. #46 Rossi third, .664 of a second behind leader.
Lap 6: #46 Rossi passes #4 Dovizioso for second entering Turn 2, Dovizioso regains second with pass of Rossi on exit of Turn 2. #46 Rossi climbs to second with inside pass of #4 Dovizioso in Turn 15. #69 Hayden leads #46 Rossi by .990 of a second.
Lap 7: #69 Hayden leads #46 Rossi by .305 of a second.
Lap 8: #69 Hayden leads #46 Rossi by .194 of a second.
Lap 9: #46 Rossi goes slightly wide in Turn 10, stays on track. #69 Hayden leads #46 Rossi by .440 of a second at line.
Lap 10: #48 Lorenzo uses inside move in Turn 1 to pass #4 Dovizioso for third. #69 Hayden leads #46 Rossi by .389 of a second.
Lap 11: #69 Hayden leads #46 Rossi by .624 of a second. Light mist reported.
Lap 12: #69 Hayden leads #46 Rossi by .292 of a second.
Lap 13: #69 Hayden's rear wheel slides after going through a puddle exiting Turn 6, allowing #46 Rossi to gain slight ground. #46 Rossi tries to dive under #69 Hayden in Turn 15, fails. #69 Hayden leads #46 Rossi by .260 of a second.
Lap 14: #46 Rossi dives under #69 Hayden for lead at entrance of Turn 10, after back straightaway. #46 Rossi leads #69 Hayden by .598 of a second. Rain intensifying slightly.
Lap 15: #46 Rossi leads #69 Hayden by 1.263 seconds.
Lap 16: #46 Rossi leads #69 Hayden by 1.542 seconds. #48 Lorenzo third, 8.376 seconds behind leader.
Lap 17: Rain intensifies further. #46 Rossi has large rear-wheel wiggle exiting Turn 9, continues. #4 Dovizioso passes #1 Stoner for fourth. #46 Rossi leads #69 Hayden by 1.109 seconds.
Lap 18: #46 Rossi leads #69 Hayden by 1.004 seconds. Heavy rain falling.
Lap 19: #46 Rossi leads #69 Hayden by 2.996 seconds. #1 Stoner passes #4 Dovizioso for fourth in Turn 10.
Lap 20: #46 Rossi leads #69 Hayden by 5.972 seconds.
Lap 21: RED. Heavy rain. Riders to pits, MotoGP race ended after 20 laps due to heavy rain, high wind. #46 Valentino Rossi wins inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP. #69 Nicky Hayden second, #48 Jorge Lorenzo third.
***
Dorna officials have ruled that there will be no 250cc race due to the adverse weather conditions.
***
MotoGP POST-RACE NOTES:
•Valentino Rossi became the winningest MotoGP/500cc rider in history with his 69th career victory in that class. Rossi surpassed fellow Italian legend Giacomo Agostini. Rossi has 69 victories in 146 career starts in the premier class.
•This was Valentino Rossi's seventh victory of the season and his fourth consecutive victory this season.
•This was Valentino Rossi's second victory from pole this season. He also won from the top spot at his home Italian Grand Prix on June 1 at Mugello.
•This was the first podium finish of the season for Nicky Hayden, who placed second. His previous best was fourth at the Grand Prix of Spain on March 30 at Jerez and the Grand Prix of the Netherlands on June 28 at Assen. Hayden's last podium finish came in August 2007 at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic in Brno, where he finished third.
•Ben Spies finished sixth, the best result this season by a wild-card rider in MotoGP. The previous best was eighth by Spies at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix on July 20 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.
***
RED BULL INDIANAPOLIS GP MotoGP POST-RACE QUICK QUOTES:
VALENTINO ROSSI (Winner): (About the wind): "The wind is very unconstant and very strong. You never know what's going to happen with the bike. Every lap, I look and I say, 'I hope for the red flag; I hope for the red flag.' It was a good decision (to end the race). I think they make a good work for the track on the race because the rain come down very strong on the race. I don't remember if or when I won four races in a row. We are in good shape."
NICKY HAYDEN (Second): "Man, I had nothing to lose here. I just had to go for it. The bike felt good in the wet. It's been so long since I've been out front leading a race. I came on the front straightaway and saw nobody in front of me at my home GP, and I was thinking, 'Man this is only supposed to happen in the movies.' When the track dried out, we used so much rubber, and when it rained again and we was on the edge, it was gnarly. I just want to thank the team, my family, my fans for sticking behind me." (About the fans): "I'd like to thank the fans. We only had to be out there for 40 minutes. They've been out there all day in the rain."
JORGE LORENZO (Third): "This is the my first podium in the wet conditions in my life, so I am so happy. For me, it's a very good result. Maybe one or two laps more I could have passed Nicky, who was so fast at the beginning. It's another podium, so next time I hope to do better."
***
A transcript of the MotoGP press conference featuring the top-three finishers, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden and Jorge Lorenzo, will be provided separately.
***
Kawasaki Racing Team announced today that Marco Melandri of Italy will team with American John Hopkins in the 2009 season in MotoGP, replacing Anthony West.
Melandri has five victories in his MotoGP class career, which started in 2003. He is riding for the Ducati Team as teammate to reigning World Champion Casey Stoner this season. Melandri won the 250cc World Championship in 2002.
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