Indy 500 winner, Helio Castroneves, won a hotly-contested vote for the second quarter Driver of the Year 2009. The Brazilian, who won his third Indy 500 – from the pole – this May, narrowly edged NASCAR’s Tony Stewart who is now a co-owner driver, 119-116. It was the closest margin of victory since Stewart lost the overall award in a tie-breaker in 2002. In the voting Castroveneves took eight first-place votes and was on every ballot. Stewart was second only three points behind Castroneves. He also garnered eight first-place votes. Mark Martin was third in the voting with 42 points. Kyle Busch also received one first-place ballot. A total of 19 drivers scored points in the first quarter voting. Castroneves will receive a trophy and a Tissot wristwatch to be presented at a later date.(DOTY)(7-1-2009)
