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| July 09, 2009 News |
| Indy Lights: Halfway Point Recap |
 | J.R. Hildebrand hopes the trend of the championship leader at the halfway point winning the series title continues in 2009
(Photo: Indy Lights) |
J.R. Hildebrand hasn't wrapped up the Firestone Firehawk Cup, the trophy awarded to the Firestone Indy Lights Champion, but if he's a believer in history, the Andretti Green Racing/AFS Racing driver may want to clear space in his trophy cabinet.
The driver leading the Firestone Indy Lights championship at the midway point of the season has won the Firestone Firehawk Cup seven times in eight seasons, dating to the inaugural Firestone Indy Lights season in 2002. Hildebrand, who took the point lead at Indianapolis, currently leads RLR/Andersen Racing's Mario Romancini by 58 points.
Raphael Matos, who drove for Hildebrand's team last season, is the only champion to have won the title after trailing at the midway point.
Here's a look at the top-five in the Indy Lights championship at the halfway point of the season.
J.R. Hildebrand
1st place - 279 points
Has two wins and five podium finishes in eight starts. Has led the points since Indianapolis.
Mario Romancini
2nd place - 221 pts
Podium finishes on every oval, but had mechanical issues at Long Beach and Watkins Glen.
Wade Cunningham
3rd place - 216 pts
One of the best guys on ovals - a win and two poles. Hasn't finish in top-10 on road course in 2009.
Sebastian Saavedra
4th place - 215 pts
Won at Kansas, but mechanical issues and Watkins Glen penalty could prove costly.
James Davison
5th place - 206 pts
Only driver who has completed every race this season. Has seven top-10 finishes.
Where the championship leader at the halfway point finished in the final standings
2002 - A.J. Foyt IV - 1st
2003 - Mark Taylor - 1st
2004 - Thiago Medeiros - 1st
2005 - Wade Cunningham - 1st
2006 - Jay Howard - 1st
2007 - Alex Lloyd - 1st
2008 - Richard Antinucci - 2nd
Where the eventual champion was at the halfway point of the season
2002 - A.J. Foyt IV led Cory Witherill by 49 points
2003 - Mark Taylor led Medeiros by 96 points
2004 - Thiago Medeiros led Paul Dana by 76 points
2005 - Wade Cunningham led Travis Gregg by 22 points
2006 - Jay Howard lead Bobby Wilson by 12 points
2007 - Alex Lloyd led Hideki Mutoh by 119 points
2008 - Raphael Matos trailed Richard Antinucci by 27 points |
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