Conway notches emotional victory
John Marshall | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 14 years, 8 months AGO
<p>Mike Conway of England sprays a crew member with champagne after winning the IndyCar Series' Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday in Long Beach, Calif.</p>
LONG BEACH, Calif. - His left leg broken in pieces, his back fractured as well, Mike Conway wanted to know just one thing after his horrific crash at the Indianapolis 500: When can I get back behind the wheel?
Once he wrapped his mind around the reality of a long layoff, Conway went about fixing his body.
His nearly yearlong recovery complete, Conway earned his first career IndyCar victory in impressive fashion, zipping past Ryan Briscoe late to win the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday in just his third race since that bone-breaking crash at Indy.
"As soon as it happened, I wanted to know what the timeframe was until I could get back into the car," Conway said. "I was kind of over it, really, and the physical things just kind of take time. It was a long offseason, but there was a lot to keep my mind on and when I got a chance to get back into the car, I was ready."
It was questionable whether he'd get the chance when the wreck happened.
Driving for Dreyer & Reinbold, Conway saw his future become shrouded in a cloud of smoke by one of the most frightening crashes in Indianapolis 500 history. Colliding with future teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay, Conway's car went hurtling through the air and smashed into barrier, leaving him with multiple fractures in his lower left leg and a compression fracture in his back.
Never doubting he'd return, Conway went through a grueling rehabilitation with an eye at returning before the 2010 season ended. He was still on crutches in August, though, and never made it back.
Racing for Andretti Autosport this season, Conway had an uneven return, finishing 23rd in the season opener at St. Petersburg, 22nd at Alabama last week.
Once he got to California, everything seemed to fall in place.
The 27-year-old English driver started third after a surprisingly-good qualifying session and was able to hang with the leaders on the 11-turn, 1.968-mile circuit through the streets of downtown Long Beach while avoiding the multiple late-race crashes.
Charging out of a final caution, he whipped past two-time defending series champion Dario Franchitti and Briscoe with 14 laps left, then extended his lead from there, up 6 seconds on the final lap before taking the checkers.
After a roundabout drive to Victory Circle, Conway celebrated with hugs from his crew in a win that put smiles on the faces of drivers across the paddock.
"He deserved it today," said Franchitti, the series points leader after finishing third for his third straight podium. "I'd have loved to been out with the Target boys celebrating a win today, but Mike did a better job. Good on him. It's really good to see from where he was this time last year."
Briscoe finished second.
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Sunday
At Long Beach Street Circuit
Long Beach, Calif.
Lap length: 1.968 miles
(Starting position in parentheses)
1. (3) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
2. (12) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
3. (7) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
4. (11) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
5. (9) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
6. (4) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
7. (20) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
8. (10) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
9. (13) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
10. (1) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
11. (19) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
12. (6) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
13. (16) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
14. (15) Sebastian Saavedra, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
15. (23) James Jakes, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
16. (25) Paul Tracy, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
17. (27) J.R. Hildebrand, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running.
18. (8) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 84, Running.
19. (26) Ana Beatriz, Dallara-Honda, 83, Running.
20. (18) Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Honda, 82, Running.
21. (22) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 81, Running.
22. (5) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 78, Running.
23. (2) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 72, Mechanical.
24. (24) Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Honda, 66, Mechanical.
25. (17) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 59, Contact.
26. (14) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 37, Mechanical.
27. (21) Sebastien Bourdais, Dallara-Honda, 27, Contact.
Points: Franchitti 122, Power 115, Kanaan 87, Servia 80, Conway 74, Tagliani 73, Dixon 66, Briscoe 66, de Silvestro 66, Meira 64.
ARTICLES BY JOHN MARSHALL
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Calls for support of Constitutional Initiative 114
One hundred years ago in Montana, a great discussion, as great as the state itself, was taking place. To the citizens of the state was put forth the idea that women should have the right to vote. The state had been in existence for 25 years, and the nation a century longer, yet women were considered less qualified than former slaves in having a say electing those to public office.