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Hornish Beats Castroneves to the Line by a Second in Phoenix Steamer

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Sam Hornish Jr.’s first race with Marlboro Team Penske in 2004 underscored the unspoken understanding between the two-time IndyCar Series champion and new teammate Helio Castroneves - race hard, don’t knock each other out and may the best man win.

Hornish won his debut race - a first for a Team Penske driver -- with Castroneves the runner-up at Homestead-Miami Speedway. On March 19, the setting was different but the competition and result the same.

Hornish won his series-leading 13th career race, holding off Castroneves on a two-lap shootout after a short caution period, in the XM Satellite Radio Indy 200 Presented by Argent Mortgage at Phoenix International Raceway.

Hornish, who finished second in the March 6 opener, took over the points lead after two of 17 events. It’s too early to talk about a third IndyCar Series championship, but the early results are encouraging after a trying 2004 season.

“It's been a tough road over the last year,” said Hornish, whose last victory was the race at the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway 13 months ago. “Just every time we thought we were going to turn the corner, something else would happen. So these last two races have been a real pleasant surprise.

“I just tried to stay out of trouble, make it to the end of both of these races. The goal this year for me is just to finish every lap because these races are so competitive. The championship gets so competitive that you need to do things, extraordinary things, like have 15 top-5s and all that kind of good stuff.”

That’s the avenue taken by Tony Kanaan - 15 consecutive top-5 finishes, including three victories - on the way to the 2004 championship. He’s continued on that road this season with a pair of third-place finishes and is tied for third in the standings with Castroneves.

Castroneves, who finished fifth in the opener, was up for another cat-and-mouse game with Hornish. He started third and led 25 laps, including Laps 187-189.

“That was incredible,” said Castroneves, whose last victory came in the 2004 season finale at Texas Motor Speedway. “Sam and I were so equal. We've been working together. I think it showed up today as a great result. Good finishes, good battle.”

Hornish, who inherited the lead when Dario Franchitti pitted for fuel and tires (7.20 seconds) on Lap 179, gambled by only taking on fuel on a Lap 187 green flag pit stop. His Dallara-powered Toyota was in a groove and the team decided the Firestone Firehawks would be good to the end.

“We knew we could be a little bit quicker,” said Hornish, who delivered Team Penske’s seventh victory at PIR. “The car was handling great. We were running just as fast at the end of the run as we were at the beginning. So we were super-excited about that.”

Hornish maintained a .5056 of a second lead over Franchitti on Lap 190, with Castroneves third. When the No. 4 car of Tomas Scheckter scrubbed the Turn 4 SAFER Barrier on Lap 192, everyone knew it would be a dash to the finish.

On the restart, Hornish protected his position from the middle line, forcing Franchitti to attempt a high move. But his No. 27 ArcaEx Dallara/Honda/Firestone lost grip and slide up the track. As his right tires scrapped the Turn 2 SAFER Barrier, Castroneves roared to second. But he didn’t have enough for the No. 6 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota/Firestone and finished 1.0408 seconds behind.

Kanaan, the two-time defending race winner, recorded his 17th consecutive top-5 finish by placing third (after starting 21st) and Franchitti was fourth. Scott Sharp, making his 100th career IndyCar Series start, was fifth.

“I gave it my all on that last restart,” said Franchitti, who led 52 mid-race laps. “I knew we only had two laps to go. I tried the move and it didn’t happen. We got up in the gravel and touched the wall, and that was it. Right now, I'm pretty pissed off that we didn't win, but at the same time I definitely see the good side in that we managed to finish fourth.”

Dan Wheldon, who started alongside pole sitter and Andretti Green Racing teammate Bryan Herta, took the point on the first lap and led a race-high and initial 72 laps. But Wheldon, who won the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway from the 11th starting position, got caught in the pits by a yellow flag and never recovered. He was sixth and Herta seventh.