Report: 2009 Meijer Indy 300 Saturday August 1, 2009 – 8:30 p.m. EDT Kentucky Speedway – Sparta, Kentucky (1.48 mile oval) Distance: 200 laps / 296 miles Race weather: 76 °F, overcast Television: Versus (Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl, Jon Beekhuis, Kevin Lee, Robbie Floyd, Lindy Thackston) Nielsen ratings: 0.14 Attendance: 48,000 Pole Position winner: #9 Scott Dixon (qualifying cancelled; field set by owner points) Race Summary: Series officials implemented a mid-season rules change on oval races to encourage increased competition. A push-to-pass system was added to the cars, along with various aerodynamic enhancements. The changes were well-received, and the race became the most competitive oval race on the circuit in almost two years. In the final 50 laps, Ed Carpenter of Vision Racing led Ryan Briscoe and Tony Kanaan, with Hélio Castroneves lurking amongst the top 5. In the final ten laps, Carpenter and Briscoe raced side by side, swapping the lead several times each lap. On the final turn, Briscoe edged ahead, and denied Carpenter his first career victory by 0.0162 seconds. The race's average speed, only slowed by a single caution flag for a second straight race, was over 200 mph, making it the second fastest IndyCar Series race held. Round 13: Honda 200 Report: 2009 Honda 200 Sunday August 9, 2009 – 1:56 p.m. EDT Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, Ohio (2.258 mile road course) Distance: 85 laps / 191.930 miles Race weather: 91 °F, partly cloudy Television: Versus (Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl, Jon Beekhuis, Jack Arute, Robbie Floyd, Lindy Thackston) Nielsen ratings: 0.2 Attendance: Pole Position winner: #6 Ryan Briscoe, 1:06.6814 sec, Race Summary: Round 14: Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Report: 2009 Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma Sunday August 23, 2009 – 2:50 p.m. PDT / 5:50 p.m. EDT Infineon Raceway – Sonoma, California (2.303 mile road course) Distance: 75 laps / 172.725 miles Race weather: 69 °F, fair Television: Versus (Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl, Jon Beekhuis, Jack Arute, Robbie Floyd, Lindy Thackston) Nielsen ratings: 0.25 Attendance: Pole Position winner: #10 Dario Franchitti, 1:16.7987 sec, Race Summary: Round 15: Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 Report: 2009 Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 Saturday August 29, 2009 – 9:00 p.m. CDT / 10:00 p.m. EDT Chicagoland Speedway – Joliet, Illinois (1.52 mile oval) Distance: 200 laps / 304 miles Race weather: 60 °F, fair Television: Versus (Bob Jenkins, Robbie Buhl, Jon Beekhuis,