Indy 500 Live Results: Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti Up Front Halfway Through Race

Through half of the 2011 Indy 500, teammates Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti are looking like the class of the field.

Dixon and Franchitti have been running first and second, respectively, for much of the last 45 minutes or so at the Brickyard, and the Chip Ganassi teammates appear to have the two fastest cars on the track. Dixon, in particular, seems well-equipped to make a run at the second Indy 500 victory of his career.

Dixon, Franchitti, and much of the rest of the front of the field were shuffled back after an accident with just more than 100 laps completed brought out the fourth caution flag of the day. Rookie J.R. Hildebrand took the lead in that exchange, becoming the 200th different driver to ever lead the Indianapolis 500.

Simona de Silvestro, the highest-qualified woman for this year’s Indy 500, was also one of the first drivers to fall far off the pace. She touched the wall on the first lap, and later headed to the pits with a car that didn’t feel right; de Silvestro is more than 50 laps down, but has not been officially ruled out.

Danica Patrick, who started 26th, has managed to work her way into the middle of the pack, running in the teens for much of the second quarter of the race.

For more on the race, stay with our 2011 Indy 500 StoryStream. Be sure to head over to Pop Off Valve for all things IndyCar, including the three excellent Indy 500 resources: The Indy 500 experience, Indy 500 traditions and the history of the Indy 500 and the Brickyard.