Chip Ganassi racers tag-team in IndyCar points

Helio Castroneves is second in the IndyCar points, smack dab between Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon.

Castroneves was second last night in the SunTrust Indy Challenge. He was one spot ahead of Wheldon the last time he looked, then saw Dixon had finished third.

"I thought Wheldon was in third place," Castroneves said. "Do you guys know what happened there?"

When he was told it was a fuel problem that dropped Wheldon behind his teammate, the points leader, he responded in a joking tone.

"Uh huh," he said with a smile. "OK. I think I'm going to believe that."

Kanaan finally gets his first victory for his son

Tony Kanaan's son is nine months old. Kanaan, who had 12 previous career victories, had not won since his son was born.

Now, that monkey is off his back.

"He was going to be a year old, and if he understands about racing, he's going to say, 'Dad, you suck,' but now I can say 'Son, when you were nine months old I won a race for you,'" Kanaan said. "He won't remember anything about it anyway."

Servia pleased with a career-best night

Oriol Servia was fifth last night at RIR, his best finish in an IndyCar race. He was also fifth at Long Beach, but that race featured only the Champ Car teams.

Last night, he ran well against the full field.

"It's a physical place and the car was great," Servia said. "I told the guys, 'Listen, I think we have a top five car.' I'm really pleased I was able to prove it and finish fifth."

Wilson ties best effort by avoiding trouble

Justin Wilson finished seventh, tying his finish at Milwaukee for the best of his short IndyCar career. He was running at the end for only the sixth time in nine races.

"What a crazy race," Wilson said. "There was some really good driving and some really bad driving out there. I was just trying not to get caught out and stay out of trouble and bring the car home."

He did it despite a near-collision with E.J. Viso. Wilson said Viso's team told him the yellow was flying as they entered the final turn on the final lap, causing Viso to lift off the throttle.

"Fortunately we were able to keep all four corners on it and bring it home," Wilson said.

Former Capital back for capital city racing

Roaming pit road before the race was 21-year NHL defenseman Larry Murphy. Murphy spent 21 years in the NHL, including six with the Washington Capitals. He was inducted into the hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

"I'm a big IRL fan. I try to go to as many races as possible," Murphy said. "This is my fourth this year. This is pretty unique here . . . pretty crazy stuff here." -- Jill Erwin and Shawn Fenner