Copyright © IRL/Ron McQueeney

Jeff Simmons took stock of his options on the final lap of the Chicagoland 100 and selected B - inside/out move on the three-groove 1.5-mile oval. Good call.

Simmons, who stuck to the rear wing of race leader Marty Roth the previous two laps, got momentum on the No. 4 Roth Racing Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone and passed the veteran Canadian racer at the exit to Turn 2. He remained in front to claim his third victory of the Menards Infiniti Pro Series season by 0.2306 of a second.

It was the sixth consecutive top-five finish for Simmons, who started seventh in the No. 24 Team ISI car for Kenn Hardley Racing.

"I was set up the best way I could to be second and try to make that move on the last lap," said Simmons, whose previous victories this season were on 1-mile ovals. "It worked out perfectly. It's not often where you're able to get those last-lap wins in the most dramatic style.

"That was really excited. I'm so happy for everybody at Kenn Hardley Racing. We've gotten on a little roll the second half of the year. It was a tough first half, but it's closing up a lot right now and we've got a chance at two more coming up."

Roth would certainly like to know that feeling. But he was enthusiastic after his career-best finish in 28 starts. Fourth at Chicagoland Speedway in 2002 was his previous best.

"Well, it was close but no cigar," said the owner-driver, who advanced eight spots from the green flag. "It was the first time I ever looked down the track and didn't see a car in front of me. It was a really good feeling. Unfortunately, I couldn't hold it for that last lap. And Jeff, he timed it beautifully. He took that run on the white flag lap. That's the one that counted. He got me, took the checkered."

Copyright © IRL/Ron McQueeney

Roth led 11 laps, taking the point with a pass of Simmons on Lap 62. He led by 0.0613 of a second on Lap 64, and wasn't rattled the following two laps with Simmons on his tail.

"The guys (on his crews) did a fabulous job," Roth said. "We made some changes after the last practice, and it all worked out for the better. It's great to see the guys put a great car together."

Nick Bussell, driving the No. 9 Vision Racing car, finished third, while Jon Herb was fourth in the No. 6 AERCON car. Simmons led a field-high 25 laps.

A promising start for pole sitter Sarah McCune came to an abrupt end on Lap 6. McCune, making her series debut, was leading when the No. 20 Vision Racing car driven by Jay Drake attempted to squeeze past on the left side. Drake's right-front tire touched the left rear of McCune's No. 8 Sam Schmidt Motorsports car, knocking it off-balance.

It slid backward up the track at the exit to Turn 3 and into the No. 33 Motorsport New Zealand car driven by series points leader Wade Cunningham. Cars driven by Chris Festa and Bobby Wilson were collected in the incident.

"We were just going down into Turn 3 and he hit me, and kept driving right through me," said McCune. "I don't know what he was thinking."

All drivers were checked at the infield care center and released. Though Cunningham was taken out early, he remained first in the standings. Travis Gregg's fifth-place finish produced a gain of 10 points on Cunningham, but he trails 431-408 heading into the race on the permanent road course at Watkins Glen International on Sept. 25.