Darren Manning - 2004 News

Darren’s new role as guest commentator at Texas
Oct 18, 2004, 15:25

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Texas Motor Speedway – 17 October 2004 Darren completed his first full season in the Indy Racing League as a guest commentator from the Target pits during the Chevy 500 race.

It was the IndyCar Series season finale and Darren, driver of the no.10 Target Toyota Panoz G Force, did not compete in the Chevy 500 race after undergoing a follow up medical examination of his back with Dr. Terry Trammell on Monday, October 11th. It was Dr. Trammell’s medical assessment that while the injury sustained at the California Speedway on Saturday, October 2nd was not considered serious and was healing quickly, in order to guarantee a fast and complete recovery, Darren should avoid any chance of a high-speed rear impact for a period of two weeks. Instead Darren lent his perspective and expertise to the ABC Live broadcast of the Chevy 500 as a guest commentator from the Target pits during the race.

“It was fun and hopefully informative for fans, but if no one minds, I think I’d like to get back behind the wheel of my Target Toyota as soon as possible, “ said Darren who finishes his first season in the Indy Racing league with 323 points for an eleventh place in the driver standings. “When you look at it, every race the no.10 Target car finished, we finished in the top ten. That’s something I’m happy about. The races that we didn’t finish on the lead lap were usually because of contact or just plain bad luck. There was a lot to learn this year but with the incredible wealth of information and experience this Target team has shared with me, I feel like I’ll be miles ahead of the game for the 2005 season.”

Darren’s Target Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon started from the inside of the third row (after the no.4 car of Tomas Scheckter failed technical inspection following qualifying), in his final race with the no.1 Champion designation. Dixon battled understeer in the early part of the race, putting him as far back as sixteenth spot by lap 50. Following a wing adjustment and a quick strategic move in the pits, Dixon found himself back among the leaders with twenty laps to go in the race, finally crossing the line in sixth spot.

The Chevy 500 was won by the Toyota powered car of Helio Castroneves, who celebrated his first win of the season, by 0.3732 of a second over the newly crowed 2004 IRL IndyCar Series champion, Tony Kanaan. Kanaan becomes the first IndyCar driver, and the first driver to complete every lap of the 3,305 laps possible during the 2004 season. Kanaan’s teammate Dan Wheldon finished third in the race and second in the driver Championship standings.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing will now turn its focus towards off-season testing and preparations for the 2005 IndyCar Series season which is getting ready to introduce three road course races to the schedule. The Indy Racing League season will kick off at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 4-5-6, 2005. Keep checking Darren’s website for news, features, photos and much more during the off-season.

Texas Motor Speedway Chevy 500 top 10 race results: Starting positions in brackets

1. (1) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Toyota, 200
2. (8) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 200
3. (7) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 200
4. (3) Vitor Meira, Panoz G Force-Honda, 200
5. (10) Adrián Fernández, Panoz G Force-Honda, 200
6. (5) Scott Dixon, Panoz G Force-Toyota, 200
7. (14) Mark Taylor, Panoz G Force-Honda, 200
8. (13) Scott Sharp, Dallara-Toyota, 200
9. (21) Townsend Bell, Dallara-Chevrolet, 200
10. (11) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara-Toyota, 200

Final 2004 World Championship Points:

1. Tony Kanaan 618
2. Dan Wheldon 533
3. Buddy Rice 485
4. Helio Castroneves 461
5. Adrian Fernandez 445
6. Dario Franchitti 409
7. Sam Hornish Jr 387
8. Vitor Meira 376
9. Bryan Herta 362
10. Scott Dixon 355
11. Darren Manning 323

#10-Darren Manning 2004 IndyCar Season

Round 1. Homestead. Started 13, finished 6 (200/200 laps). 6th in points standing
Round 2. Phoenix. Started 6, finished 5 (200/200 laps). 5th in points standing
Round 3. Motegi. Started 10, finished 4 (200/200 laps). 4th in points standing
Round 4. Indianapolis. Started 15, finished 25 (104/180 laps). 5th in points standing
Round 5. Texas I. Started 14, finished 8 (200/200 laps). 4th in points standing
Round 6. Richmond. Started 11, finished 20 (132/250 laps). 6th in points standing
Round 7. Kansas. Started 18, finished 11 (198/200 laps). 9th in points standing
Round 8. Nashville. Started 6, finished 4 (200/200 laps). 7th in points standing
Round 9. Milwaukee. Started 10, finished 19 (143/225 laps). 9th in points standing
Round 10. Michigan. Started 12, finished 13 (199/200 laps). 10th in points standing
Round 11. Kentucky. Started 8, finished 10 (200/200 laps). 11th in points standing
Round 12. Pikes Peak. Started 8, finished 4 (225/225 laps). 10th in points standing
Round 13. Nazareth. Started 5, finished 6 (225/225 laps). 9th in points standing
Round 14. Chicago. Started 11, finished 15 (185/200laps). 10th in points standing
Round 15. California. Started 4, finished 21 (0/200 laps). 11th in points standing
Round 16. Texas II. DNS (0/200 laps). 11th in final points standing