August 31, 2008 - IndyCar Series
Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing rookie Justin Wilson earned his first IndyCar Series victory in a controversial performance on Belle Isle. Team Penske's Helio Castroneves led a race-high 53 laps but officials determined he blocked Wilson and Castroneves was ordered to surrender the lead on Lap 70 of the 87-lap race. Once in front, Wilson clicked off the fastest laps of the race to claim the second victory of the season for the Newman/Haas/Lanigan team. In Victory Circle, Wilson dedicated the win to ailing team owner Paul Newman. Castroneves finished second and Andretti Green Racing's Tony Kanaan completed the podium in third place.
In Sunday's Detroit Indy Grand Prix presented by Firestone IndyCar Series race, eventual winner Tony Kanaan eluded a late-race accident and second-place finisher Danica Patrick posted her best result of the season. Kanaan stayed on the track during a late series of pit stops and remained ahead of a last-lap melee. The crash started when Buddy Rice ran out of fuel and ensnared Kanaan's Andretti Green Racing teammate Dario Franchitti and series championship rival Scott Dixon. Kanaan went on to claim his fifth victory of the season in the 7-11 Dallara/Honda and the 12th win of his career, ahead of Patrick's Motorola machine. Third place belonged to Dan Wheldon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing. The finish in Detroit set the stage for a hotly-contested IndyCar Series finale at Chicagoland the following weekend that saw Franchitti edge Dixon for the title.