2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II
The 2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II were a pair of international under-18 ice hockey tournaments run by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Division II tournaments made up the third level of competition at the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships. The Group A tournament took place between 2 and 8 April 2006 in Merano, Italy and the Group B tournament took place between 15 and 21 March 2006 in Elektrėnai and Kaunas, Lithuania. Italy and Great Britain won the Group A and Group B tournaments respectively and gained promotion to Division I for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. While Spain finished last in Group A and Iceland last in Group B and were both relegated to Division III for 2007.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II, Group A tournament
The Group A tournament began on 2 April 2006 in Merano, Italy. Estonia, the Netherlands, Serbia and Montenegro and Spain returned to compete in the Division II competition after missing promotion to Division I at the previous years World Championships. Italy entered the Division II competition after being relegated from Division I and Belgium entered the tournament after gaining promotion from Division III at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II, Group A tournament
Italy won the tournament after winning all five of their games and gained promotion back to Division I for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. The Netherlands finished in second place, losing only to Italy and Estonia finished in third. Spain finished in last place after losing all five of their games and were relegated to Division III for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. Ivan Demetz of Italy finished as the top scorer of the tournament with 12 points including three goals and nine assists. Italy's Massimo Camin finished as the tournaments leading goaltender with a save percentage of 97.56.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II, Group A tournament, Scoring leaders
List shows the top ten ranked skaters sorted by points, then goals.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II, Group A tournament, Leading goaltenders
Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage, who have played at least 40% of their team's minutes are included in this list.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II, Group B tournament
The Group B tournament began on 15 March 2006 in Elektrėnai and Kaunas, Lithuania. Croatia, Iclenad, Lithuania and Mexico all returned to compete in the Division II tournament after missing promotion to Division I at the previous yeard World Championships. Great Britain entered the Division II competition after being relegated from Division I and Australia entered the tournament after gaining promotion from Division III at the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II, Group B tournament
Great Britain won the tournament after winning all five of their games and gained promotion back to Division I for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. Lithuania finished second after losing only to Great Britain and Australia finished in third place. Iceland finished in last place after losing all five of their games and were relegated to Division III for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. Robert Dowd of Great Britain finished as the top scorer of the tournament with 14 points including six goals and eight assists. Great Britain's Martin Clarkson finished as the tournaments leading goaltender with a save percentage of 94.92.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II, Group B tournament, Scoring leaders
List shows the top ten ranked skaters sorted by points, then goals.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II, Group B tournament, Leading goaltenders
Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage, who have played at least 40% of their team's minutes are included in this list.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III
The 2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III was an international under-18 ice hockey tournament run by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Division III tournament made up the fourth level of competition at the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships and took place between 13 and 19 March 2006 in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. The tournament was won by Romania who upon winning gained promotion, along with Israel who finished in second place, to Division II of the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III, Overview
The 2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III began on 13 March 2006 in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. Bulgaria, Israel, New Zealand and Turkey all returned to compete in the Division III competition after missing promotion at the previous years World Championships. Romania and South Africa entered the Division III competition after being relegated from the Division II tournaments of the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III, Overview
Romania finished first after winning all five of their games and gained promotion to Division II of the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. Israel who finished in second place also gained promotion to Division II, while South Africa finished third after managing to win only two and tie one of their five games of the tournament. Bulgaria and Turkey who finished fifth and sixth respectively were relegated to the Division III Qualification tournament for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. Daniel Erlich of Israel finished as the tournaments top scorer after recording 26 points including 12 goals and 14 assists. Romania's Istvan Csergo finished as the tournaments leading goaltender with a save percentage of 96.00.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III, Scoring leaders
List shows the top ten skaters sorted by points, then goals.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championship Division III, Leading goaltenders
Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage, who have played 40% of their team's minutes are included in this list.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championships
The 2006 IIHF World U18 Championships were held in Ängelholm and Halmstad, Sweden. The championships began on April 12, 2006 and finished on April 22, 2006. Games were played at Ängelholms Ishall in Ängelholm and Sannarps Isstadion in Halmstad. The United States of America defeated Finland 3–1 in the final to claim the gold medal, while the Czech Republic defeated Canada 4–1 to capture the bronze medal.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championships, Championship results, Relegation round, Results
Note: The following matches from the preliminary round carry forward to the relegation round:


2006 IIHF World U18 Championships, Championship results, Final standings
Belarus and  Norway are relegated to Division I for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championships, Division I
Division I consisted of two separate tournaments. The Group A tournament was held between 3 and 9 April 2006 in Miskolc, Hungary and the Group B tournament was held between 2 and 8 April 2006 in Riga, Latvia. Switzerland and Latvia won the Group A and Group B tournaments respectively and gained promotion to the Championship Division for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. While Hungary finished last in Group A and South Korea last in Group B and were both relegated to Division II for 2007.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championships, Division II
Division II consisted of two separate tournaments. The Group A tournament was held between 2 and 8 April 2006 in Merano, Italy and the Group B tournament was held between 15 and 21 March 2006 in Elektrėnai and Kaunas, Lithuania. Italy and Great Britain won the Group A and Group B tournaments respectively and gained promotion to Division I for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. While Spain finished last in Group A and Iceland last in Group B and were both relegated to Division III for 2007.


2006 IIHF World U18 Championships, Division III
The Division III tournament was held between 13 and 19 March 2006 in Miercurea-Ciuc, Romania. Romania and Israel finished first and second respectively and both gained promotion to Division II for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships. While Bulgaria finished fifth and Turkey sixth and were relegated to the 2007 Division III Qualification tournament.


2006 IPC Athletics World Championships
The 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships was held in Assen, Netherlands from 2–9 September 2006. It was the fourth edition of the international athletics competition for athletes with a disability organised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).


2006 IPC Athletics World Championships
The main venue for the competition was Sports Park Stadsbroek, with the marathon events taking place in the surrounding area. The opening and closing ceremonies took place at De Smelt Stadium. Princess Margriet of the Netherlands was present for the opening of the championships. A total of 76 nations and 1097 athletes took part in the events.


2006 IPC Athletics World Championships
Over the course of the nine-day competition 51 IPC world records were broken. Among these were sprint records by visually impaired runner Jason Smyth and amputee sportsman Oscar Pistorius. China was the top performing nation, with 22 gold medals among its haul of 55 medals. The United States and Australia were the next best nations, with each securing 16 golds and 32 medals in total. Among the participating nations, 58 reached the medal table.


2006 IPC Athletics World Championships
The IPC launched its own internet streaming service at paralympicsport.tv, which broadcast live events from the competition. The local organising committee was headed by the Euro Champ Foundation, a civil society group promoting disability sports.


2006 IPC Cycling World Championships
The 2006 IPC Cycling World Championships were the 2nd World Championships for track and road cycling for athletes with a physical disability. The Championships took place in Aigle, Switzerland from 11–18 September 2006, with track events on the first three days of competition, time trials on days 4 and 5, and road races on days 6 and 7.


2006 IPC Cycling World Championships
Organised by the International Paralympic Committee, the event was the forerunner of the UCI organized Para-cycling Track and Road Championships, and the last to be organized by IPC Cycling; UCI took over the running of the event in 2007.


2006 IPC Cycling World Championships
24 events were held on the track, while 34 events were held on the road.


2006 IRB Nations Cup
The 2006 IRB Nations Cup was the first edition of the international rugby union tournament, a competition created by the International Rugby Board. It pits the "A" Teams of the stronger (Tier 1) rugby nations (Argentina Jaguars and Italy A) against some of the Tier 2 and 3 nations (Romania and Russia).


2006 IRB Nations Cup
The tournament took place between 13–24 June at Estádio Universitário in Lisbon, Portugal. Argentina Jaguars were the overall winners.


2006 IRB Nations Cup
The competition format was a round-robin whereby each team played each of the other 3 teams once. The competition was played over three match days, with two matches played consecutively on each day.


2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations
The 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations was the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations rugby union competition held between five Pacific Rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks (New Zealand's second XV). The inaugural tournament kicked off on 3 June 2006 with the Junior All Blacks proclaimed the winner after their 38–8 defeat of Japan on 24 June 2006.


2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations
Australia was invited to take part but decided against sending a team as they wanted to focus on their domestic competition. However, Australia hosted two games, and Australian Rugby Union CEO Gary Flowers stated that Australia was keen to participate in the tournament from 2007 onwards. On 18 October 2006, it was announced that they would send their second XV. For this reason, the inaugural tournament was the only one to be known as the "Pacific 5 Nations", and from 2007 the competition was known as the Pacific Nations Cup.


2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations, Point system
The tournament is a round-robin of ten games, where each team plays one match against each of the other teams. There are four points for a win, two points for a draw and none for a defeat. There are also bonus points offered with one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing by 7 points or less.


2006 ISAF World Sailing Games
The 2006 ISAF World Sailing Games was held at Lake Neusiedl, Austria 10–20 May.


2006 ISAF World Sailing Games
The events were 420 team racing, 470 (men and women), 49er, women's Hobie 16, Hobie Tiger, men's Laser, women's Laser Radial, and RS:X (men and women). In the 2006 event, sailors from similar classes were invited to participate, e.g. the medalists from 2005 Finn Gold Cup and the world champions in Byte, Contender, and OK were invited to the men's one-person dinghy event in Laser.


2006 ISAF World Sailing Games, Competition format, Events and equipment
Of each countries entries, two were initially accepted: the first entry from the country and the entry that was best-ranked on the most recent ISAF World Sailing Rankings for the corresponding Olympic event. Additionally, the organising committee could accept the second-fastest entry per country if the quota of the event was not yet reached. Champions and medalists of the latest World championships could enter outside the national restrictions as listed below. Also top-ten of the 15 February 2006 ISAF World Sailing Rankings and current World champions in Olympic classes (except Yngling, Finn and Star), as well as top-four of the 2005 Team Sailing World Championships were qualified.


2006 ISSF World Cup
The 2006 ISSF World Cup was held in the fifteen Olympic shooting events. Four qualification events were held in each event, spanning from March to June, and the best shooters qualified for the ISSF World Cup Final in Granada, Spain in October. It was the first time in the history of the competition that the finals in all events were held at a single venue.


2006 ISSF World Cup
During the final in Granada, while defending her title in the women's Air Rifle competition, Chinese Du Li equalled the world record with a perfect 400 score, becoming the second woman in the world to achieve this for a second time. Also in the men's Air Rifle, Thomas Farnik of Austria set a new final world record with 703.1.


2006 ISSF World Cup
Alexei Klimov bettered the world record in 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol from 589 to 591 and won narrowly after losing most of his pre-final advantage.


2006 ISSF World Cup
In men's Trap, Czech David Kostelecky equalled the perfect world record of 125, but missed three targets in the final and eventually lost to Olympic and European champion Aleksei Alipov on shoot-off; both shooters also equalled the final world record.


2006 ISSF World Shooting Championships
The 49th ISSF World Shooting Championships were held in Zagreb, Croatia from July 22, 2006 to August 5, 2006.


2006 ISSF World Shooting Championships, World records
A total of 15 world records were bettered or equalled during the championships.


2006 ITF Men's Circuit
The 2006 ITF Men's Circuit was the 2006 edition of the third tier tour for men's professional tennis. It was organised by the International Tennis Federation and is a tier below the ATP Challenger Tour. The ITF Men's Circuit included satellite events and 455 'Futures' tournaments played year round across six continents, with prize money ranging from $10,000 to $15,000.


2006 ITF Women's Circuit
The ITF Women's Circuit is the second tier tour for women's professional tennis organised by the International Tennis Federation, and is the tier below the WTA Tour. In 2006, the ITF Women's Circuit included tournaments with prize money ranging from $10,000 to $75,000.


2006 ITF Women's Circuit
The ITF world champions in 2006 were Justine Henin (senior singles), Lisa Raymond / Samantha Stosur (senior doubles) and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (combined junior ranking).


2006 ITF Women's Circuit, Singles titles by nation
This list displays only the top 20 nations in terms of singles titles wins.


2006 ITU Triathlon World Championships
The 2006 ITU Triathlon World Championships were held in Lausanne, Switzerland on September 2 and September 3, 2006.


2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics
The 2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics (Spanish: XII Campeonato Iberoamericano de Atletismo) was the twelfth edition of the international athletics competition between Ibero-American nations that place at the Francisco Montaner Stadium in Ponce, Puerto Rico between 26–28 May.


2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics
It was the first time that Puerto Rico hosted the competition and it won eighteen medals, three of them gold. In the absence of a Cuban delegation, it was Brazil that dominated the championships, taking seventeen golds and 35 medals in total. Spain ranked a distant second with six golds and 23 medals. Colombia won four golds, while Argentina and the Dominican Republic each had three.


2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics
Only four championship records were broken at the competition: Germán Chiaraviglio and Fabiana Murer improved the men's and women's pole vault records, with Murer's mark being a South American record clearance. Juana Castillo set a new championship and national mark in the heptathlon, while Maíla Machado bettered the 100 metres hurdles time.


2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics
Brazil's Elisângela Adriano was the only athlete of the tournament to win two individual events as she completed a shot put and discus throw double. Other prominent performances were Javier Culson's win for the hosts in the 400 metres hurdles, Hudson de Souza and Jéssica Augusto's title defences over 3000 metres, and Irving Saladino's clearance of 8.42 m to win the long jump.


2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics
In spite of there generally being a lower standard of performances than at previous meets, some athletes improved their national records. Amarilys Alméstica won the hammer throw with a Puerto Rican record, while her silver medal-winning teammates in the 4×100 metres relay also beat their national mark on home soil. Lower down the order, Peru's César Barquero improved the 800 m national mark and Gabriela Traña broke the Costa Rican record for the steeplechase.


2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics, Participation
Of the twenty-nine member nations of the Asociación Iberoamericana de Atletismo twenty-three sent delegations to the 2006 championships. Andorra, admitted into the organisation in 2005, competed for the first time. All the African nations, except for Angola, were absent, as was the region leader Cuba. A total of 313 athletes took part at the event.


2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics – Results
These are the official results of the 2006 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics which took place on May 26–28, 2006 in Ponce, Puerto Rico.


2006 Icelandic Cup
The Visa-Bikar 2006 was the forty-seventh season of the Icelandic national football cup. It started on May 11, 2006 and concluded with the Final held on September 30, 2006. The winners qualified for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup 2007–08.


2006 Icelandic Cup, First round
The First Round consisted of 34 teams from lower Icelandic divisions. The matches were played on 11, 12  and 13 May 2006.


2006 Icelandic Cup, Second round
The Second Round matches were played on 18, 19  and 20 May 2006.


2006 Icelandic Cup, Third round
Third round matches were played on 30, 31 May and 1 June 2006.


2006 Icelandic Cup, Fourth round
The matches were played on 14, 15  and 16 June 2006.


2006 Icelandic Cup, Fifth round
The matches were played on 2, 3  and 6 July 2006.


2006 Icelandic Cup, Quarterfinals
The matches were played on 23  and 24 July 2006.


2006 Icelandic Cup, Semifinals
The matches were played on 28 and 29 August 2006.


2006 Icelandic Men's Football League Cup
The 2006 Icelandic Men's Football League Cup was the 11th staging of the Icelandic Men's League Cup, a pre-season professional football competition in Iceland. The competition started on 17 February 2006  and concluded on 3 May 2006 with FH beating Keflavík 3-2 in the final.


2006 Idaho Amendment 2
Idaho Amendment 2 of 2006 is an amendment to the Idaho Constitution that made it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perform same-sex marriages or civil unions.


2006 Idaho Amendment 2
A marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.


2006 Idaho Amendment 2
The amendment was passed 53–17 by the Idaho House of Representatives on February 6, 2006, and 26–9 by the Idaho Senate on February 15, 2006. It was subsequently approved by 63% of voters in a referendum.


2006 Idaho Amendment 2
On May 13, 2014, a United States Magistrate Judge struck down Amendment 2 as unconstitutional. Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter has requested a stay and plans to appeal the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco.


2006 Idaho Legislature election
The 2006 legislative elections in Idaho were for all 35 legislative districts.


2006 Idaho Proposition 2
Idaho Proposition 2 was a 2006 ballot initiative in the state of Idaho, U.S. that aimed to force government to reimburse property owners whose property value is decreased as a result of government regulation.


2006 Idaho Proposition 2
The initiative, which is similar to the controversial Oregon Ballot Measure 37 (2004), was defeated.


2006 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2006 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Idaho competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and played their home games in the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho. The Vandals were led by Dennis Erickson, hired following the departure of Nick Holt for an assistant's position at USC in February 2006. Erickson was previously the head coach of the Vandals from 1982 to 1985, his first collegiate head coaching position.


2006 Idaho Vandals football team
The Vandals won their first three conference games to move to 4–3 overall, then lost their final five games, all in conference. They finished the season with a 4–8 overall record and 3–5 in conference play, which was the team's seventh-straight season with a losing record. Erickson departed in December to become the head coach at Arizona State.


2006 Idaho Vandals football team, Schedule
Idaho's reported home attendance for 2006 was 72,717 for five games, an average of 15,543. The maximum was 17,000 for the Boise State game on October 21, and the minimum was 10,435 for the San Jose State game on November 25, two days after Thanksgiving.


2006 Idaho gubernatorial election
The 2006 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Governor Jim Risch succeeded Dirk Kempthorne, who resigned May 26 to become Secretary of the Interior. Risch served as governor until the end of the term, but had committed to a reelection campaign for Lieutenant Governor before Kempthorne's appointment and subsequent resignation.


2006 Idaho gubernatorial election
This is the last time that a Democrat won over 40% of the vote in Idaho.


2006 Idaho gubernatorial election, Nominated candidates, Controversy
A candidate legally named Marvin Pro-Life Richardson filed suit to force the state to print his full legal on the ballots, as filed in campaign paperwork. The Secretary of State stated that ballots themselves are supposed to be neutral, not political billboards, and declined the request. In September 2006 he changed his legal name to simply "Pro-Life" in an attempt to force the issue. However, the ballots went to the printer naming "Marvin Richardson" as the Constitution Party candidate. The party later disavowed his candidacy resulting in a candidate without a name, and without a party, appearing on the ballot.


2006 Idaho gubernatorial election, Results
Otter won by 8.56%, the election was surprisingly close. Brady performed much better than expected, receiving 44.11% of the vote.


2006 Iditarod
The ceremonial start of the 34th annual (XXXIV) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across the U.S. state of Alaska began amidst the crowds of Anchorage on March 4, 2006, and the start of the competitive race, or "restart", began the next day in Willow. The race followed a modified version of the northern route for 1,151 mi (1,852 km) across the Alaska Range, through the sparsely inhabited Interior, along the Yukon River, and then up the coast of the Bering Sea to the city of Nome. Unlike in previous years, where the teams had to deal with unseasonably warm temperatures and soft, mushy snow, the weather was cold, with temperatures reported as low as −40 °F (−40 °C).


2006 Iditarod
Eighty three competitors started the race, eleven "scratched", and one was withdrawn from the race. The field of racers was extremely competitive, with pundits like Cabela's John Little listing more than half a dozen possible winners. The ultimate winner was Jeff King, who crossed under the "burled arch" on March 15, becoming one of the few four-time champions. Fellow four-time winner Doug Swingley of Montana came in 2nd place, followed by Paul Gebhardt. Each of the 83 teams was composed of 16 dogs, four of whom died during the event.


2006 Iditarod, Competitors
There were 83 mushers that entered to race. The 51 Alaskans included four-time champion and speed-record holder Martin Buser, three-time winner Jeff King, 2004 winner Mitch Seavey, and the only five-time champion Rick Swenson, including a few Alaska Natives like Ramy Brooks, John Baker, and Ed Iten. There were 23 mushers as well from the lower 48 states, including four-time champion Doug Swingley.


2006 Iditarod, Competitors
Internationally, Canada is represented by three-time Yukon Quest winner Hans Gatt, Karen Ramstead, the owner of the only all-Siberian Husky team in the race, Sebastian Schnuelle, and rookie Warren Palfrey. Norway had three mushers in the race in that year, the 2005 rookie of the year, Bjørnar Andersen, and newcomers Tore Albrigtsen and Tove Sørensen (2005 champion Robert Sørlie is not racing this year). Fabrizio Lovati of Italy and Ben Valks of the Netherlands brought the European total to 5 mushers.


2006 Iditarod, Competitors
Celebrity mushers included Gary Paulsen, who ran his rookie race in 1983, scratched in 1985, withdrew prior to the race in 2005, and became the first musher to scratch in 2006, on March 6 at 1:08 a.m. at Skwentna. Legally blind musher Rachael Scdoris of Bend, Oregon, has also attempted the Iditarod for the second time, after she scratched in Eagle Island in 2005. Her visual interpreter for that year was Tim Osmar.


2006 Iditarod, Competitors
According to Iditarod reporter Little, the field was just as competitive as it was during the 2005 Iditarod, making it very hard to pick a winner. Former champions Buser, King, Swingley, and Seavey were all strong candidates to win. Of that elite crowd, King won the Kobuk 440 last year and the Kusko this year; while five-time winner Swenson, who scratched for the first time in 2005, is probably out of the running. The last of the likely winners is Bjørnar Andersen. As this year's representative of Team Norway, he inherited half of Robert Sørlie's winning 2005 team of dogs, and even without them Andersen's 4th-place finish in 2004 was the best finish by a rookie since the race first started in the 1970s.


2006 Iditarod, Competitors
Other racers who expected to finish well were Lance Mackey, who won the 1,000 mi (1,600 km) Yukon Quest, three-time runner up DeeDee Jonrowe, 2005's 2nd-place finisher Ed Iten, two-time runner up Ramy Brooks, perennial top-10er John Baker.


2006 Iditarod, Competitors
A third tier of capable racers included winner of the 2005 Klondike 300 Cim Smyth (who also recorded the fastest time from Safety to Nome in 2005, despite only having 5 dogs left), Jessie Royner, winner of the 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 Ken Andersen, Aaron Burmeister, 2nd-place finisher in the 2005 Klondike 300 Matt Hayashida, Melanie Gould, Paul Gebhardt, and former Yukon Quest winner Aliy Zirkle.


2006 Iditarod, Competitors
A win by either Aliy Zirkle or Lance Mackey would place them in the elite company of mushers to have won both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod — in Lance's case, in the same year, an historical first. Hans Gatt is normally a contender, but this year he is running a team of young, inexperienced dogs.


2006 Iditarod, Competitors
Warren Palfrey of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Tore Albrigtsen or Tove Sorensen from Norway were likely candidates for rookie of the year.


2006 Iditarod, Awards
Doug Swingley won the PenAir Spirit of Alaska Award on March 8 at 0:12 a.m. for being the first to reach McGrath, on the bank of the Kuskokwim River. He was awarded a "spirit mask" by artist Orville Lind and USD $500 in credit to cover travel or freight shipments at the checkpoint by PenAir's Chief Operating Officer, Danny Seybert.


2006 Iditarod, Awards
Doug Swingley also won the CGI Dorothy Page Halfway Award on March 9 at 0:09 a.m. for being the first to reach Cripple, which is officially designated as the halfway point on even years when the northern route is run. He was awarded USD $3,000 in gold nuggets at the checkpoint by CGI Logisitics' Rick Westbrook.


2006 Iditarod, Awards
Paul Gebardt won the Millennium Alaskan Hotel's First to the Yukon Award on March 10 at 12:05 a.m. for being the first to reach Ruby, on the bank of the Yukon River. He was awarded USD $3,500 in one-dollar bills at the checkpoint and had a gourmet seven-course meal prepared on a camp stove by Millennium Alaskan Hotel's Executive Chef Stephen England and Food and Beverage Director Brooke McGrath. The "Yukon Fox" Emmitt Peters, 1975 winner of the Iditarod and Ruby native, participated.


2006 Iditarod, Awards
Jeff King won the Wells Fargo Gold Coast Award on March 12 at 12:26 p.m. for being the first to reach Unalakleet, an Inupiaq Eskimo community on the Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. He was awarded the Gold Coast trophy and USD $2,500 in gold at the checkpoint by Wells Fargo' Community Banking President for Nome and Kotzebue, Jennifer Imus.


2006 Iditarod, Awards
Jeff King won the XXXIV Iditarod on March 15, at 1:11:36 a.m. for being the first to reach the Burled Arch in Nome. He was awarded USD $69,000 by Wells Fargo, and a 2006 pickup from Anchorage Chrysler Dodge. Only King, Martin Buser, Susan Butcher, and Doug Swingley have won the race four times; and only Rick Swenson has won it five times. At 50 years of age, King also became the oldest musher to win the race.


2006 Iditarod, Awards
Mike Jayne won the Rookie of the Year Race on March 16 at 3:07:15 a.m. for being the first rookie to reach the finish. He arrived in 25th place, beating out Tove Sorensen, who finished in 28th and 29th place, both at 4:30:30 a.m.. Jayne beat  five-time winner Rick Swenson, who finished his 30th Iditarod at 3:27:30 a.m. in 26th position, his worst place ever. Swenson is a member of the Iditarod Trail Committee board of directors, and has been making intimations of retirement.


2006 Iditarod, Awards
Glenn Lockwood received the red lantern award for being the last to finish the race.


2006 Iditarod, Awards
The awards will be presented again to the winners during the Awards Banquet at the Nome Recreation Center on March 19.


2006 Iditarod, Scratches
One musher was withdrawn from the race. Withdrawing a musher is at the sole discretion of Race Marshall Mark Nordman:


2006 Iditarod, Canine fatalities
Each of the 83 teams was composed of 16 dogs at the start of the competitive race in Willow. Mushers are allowed to drop dogs at any checkpoint, usually because of concern over their performance, but also or for their health. Veterinarians examine the dogs at each checkpoint, and also have the discretion to withdraw dogs. Dropped dogs are flown to Anchorage or Nome, where they are provided with medical care. Teams are usually reduced to between 9 and 12 dogs by the time they arrived in Nome.


2006 Iditarod, Canine fatalities
An average of 3 dogs die each year. A necropsy by a board certified veterinary pathologist is conducted after every fatality to determine the cause of death.


2006 Iditarod, Route
The race ran over the Alaska Range, where an avalanche claimed the life of Richard Strick Jr. in mid-February, into the former Gold Rush country of the Alaska Interior, past Athabaskan villages. Since 2006 is an even numbered year, the race followed the northern route from Ophir, past the halfway point at Cripple, before rejoining the main route at Kaltag, on the Yukon River. From Kaltag the race swings west to the Norton Sound, on coast of the Bering Sea.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 4: Ceremonial start in Anchorage
Ceremonial start at Anchorage: The mushers departed Anchorage on March 4, 2006. A large crowd watched as 83 teams composed of a musher and twelve dogs pulling a dogsled, left the starting chute at the corner of Fourth and D Streets, and followed the 11 mi (18 km) route through the urban center. The mushers were accompanied on the sled by "Idita-riders", the high bidders in a pre-race auction.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 4: Ceremonial start in Anchorage
Eagle River: After the mushers arrived at Eagle River, the dogs were transported by vehicle to the "restart" location. Normally this is at Wasilla, the headquarters of the Iditarod Trail Committee, and the race continues from there to the next checkpoint at Knik, before reaching Yentna Station. In 2006, the restart was pushed back to Willow, and continued on directly to Yentna, skipping Wasilla and Knik entirely.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 5: Restart at Willow
Restart at Willow: The mushers departed the Community of Willow two minutes apart, in Bib order. The first musher (Loni Townsend, Bib 2) left on March 5 at 2:00 p.m. AKST, and the last (Paul Gebhardt, Bib 83) left 2 hr 44 min later at 4:44 p.m. The teams were increased to 16 dogs each. No additional dogs could be added, but they could be left behind at any of the checkpoints along the route.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 5: Restart at Willow
Yentna: Four-time winner Doug Swingley departed Yentna in first place, on March 5 at 5:35 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Bryan Bearss (at 5:42 p.m.), Jim Lanier (5:47 p.m.), Lori Townsend (5:48 p.m.), and Jessie Royer (5:51 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 35 min (by 6:10 p.m.), the top 20 within 1 hr 2 min (by 6:37 p.m.), and the last within 8 hr 49 min (by March 6 at 2:24 a.m.). The last to leave, in 83rd place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 5: Restart at Willow
Skwentna: Bryan Bearss departed Skwentna in first place, on March 5 at 9:19 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Ramy Brooks (at 9:46 p.m.), Melanie Gould (9:50 p.m.), Ramey Smyth (10:19 p.m.), and three-time winner Jeff King (10:21 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 2 hr 24 min (by 11:43 p.m.), the top 20 within 4 hr 54 min (by March 6, at 2:13 p.m.), and the last within 17 hr 30 min (by March 6 at 2:49 p.m.). The red lantern in 82nd place was Be Valks, after Gary Paulsen scratched.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 6: Alaska Range
Finger Lake: John Baker departed Finger Lake in first place, on March 6 at 9:15 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were fellow Alaska Native Ramy Brooks (at 9:31 a.m.), Doug Swingley (9:32 a.m.), Jeff King (9:53 a.m.), and Melanie Gould (10:00 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 1 hr 9 min (by 10:24 a.m.), the top 20 within 2 hr 55 min (by 12:10 p.m.), and the last within 1 day 0 hr 16 min (by March 7 at 9:31 a.m.). The red lantern in 82d place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 6: Alaska Range
Rainy Pass: Ramey Smyth departed Rainy Pass in first place, on March 6 at 2:46 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Jessica Hendricks (at 6:18 p.m., 3 hr 32 min later), Lance Mackey (6:19 p.m.), the Norwegian Bjørnar Andersen (6:38 p.m.), and Paul Gebhardt (6:40 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 4 hr 42 min (by 7:28 p.m.), the top 20 within 5 hr 44 min (by 8:30 p.m.), and the last within 1 day 20 hr 32 min (by March 8 at 11:18 a.m.). The red lantern in 79th place was Ben Valks, after Lori Townsend, Sandy McKee, and Sue Morgan scratched.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 6: Alaska Range
Rohn: Doug Swingley departed Rohn in first place, on March 6 at 10:45 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Jeff King (at 11:23 p.m.), Ramy Brooks (11:59 p.m.), Aliy Zirkle (March 7 at 0:11 a.m.), and 2004 winner Mitch Seavey (0:15 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 2 hr 46 min (by March 7 at 1:31 a.m.), the top 20 within 6 hr 5 min (by 4:50 a.m.), and the last within 2 days 3 hr 43 min (by March 9 at 2:28 a.m.). The red lantern in 79th place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 7: Alaska Interior
Nikolai: Doug Swingley departed Nikolai in first place, on March 7 at 7:09 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Jeff King (at 7:15 p.m.), Aliy Zirkle (7:45 p.m.), Ed Iten (8:46 p.m.), and Mitch Seavey (8:55 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 2 hr 16 min (by 9:25 p.m.), the top 20 within 4 hr 53 min (by March 8 at 0:02 a.m.), and the last within 2 days 15 hr 54 min (by March 10 at 11:03 a.m.). The red lantern in 79th place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 8
McGrath: Doug Swingley departed McGrath in first place, on March 8 at 0:18 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Jeff King (at 0:47 a.m.), Aliy Zirkle (2:21 a.m.), three-time runner up DeeDee Jonrowe (3:33 a.m.), and John Baker (5:13 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 6 hr 2 min (by 6:20 a.m.), the top 20 within 9 hr 14 min (by 9:32 a.m.), and the last within 3 days 8 hr 56 min (by March 11 at 9:14 a.m.). The red lantern in 77th place was Trent Herbst, after Richard Hum and Rick Larson scratched.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 8
Takotna: Doug Swingley departed Takotna in first place, on March 8 at 8:19 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Jason Barron, Mitch Seavey, John Barron (all three departed at 11:00 a.m.), and Ed Iten (11:08 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 5 hr 28 min (by 1:47 p.m.), the top 20 within 20 hr 29 min (by March 9 at 4:48 a.m.), and the last within 3 days 14 hr 48 min (by March 11 at 11:07 p.m.). The red lantern in 75th place was Ben Valks, after Terry Adkins and Jim Warren scratched.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 8
Ophir: Doug Swingley departed Ophir in first place, on March 8 at 11:01 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were DeeDee Jonrowe (at 4:55 p.m.), Cim Smyth (4:58 p.m.), John Baker (5:26 p.m.), and Paul Gebhardt (6:35 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 19 hr 46 min (by March 9 at 6:46 a.m.), the top 20 within 28 hr 00 min (by March 9 at 3:01 p.m.), and the last within 3 days 15 hr 44 min (by March 12 at 2:45 a.m.). The red lantern in 75th place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 9: Halfway
Cripple: Paul Gebhardt departed Cripple in first place, on March 9 at 1:48 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Jeff King (at 10:45 p.m., 6 hr 57 min later), Aliy Zirkle (11:43 p.m.), Doug Swingley (March 10 at 3:05 a.m.), and Aaron Butmeister (March 10 at 4:34 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 17 hr 52 min (March 10 at 7:40 a.m.), the top 20 within 19 hr 13 min (by March 10 at 10:01 a.m.), and the last within 3 days 22 hr 14 min (by March 13 at 12:02 p.m.). The red lantern in 73rd place was Ben Valks, after Matt Hayashide and Dave Tresino scratched.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 10: Yukon River
Ruby: Paul Gebardt departed Ruby in first place, on March 10 at 8:34 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Jeff King (at 4:01 p.m.), Doug Swingley (7:45 p.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe (9:09 p.m.), and Aliy Zirkle (11:00 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 16 hr 22 min (by March 11 at 0:56 a.m.), the top 20 within 20 hr 38 min (by March 11 at 5:12 a.m.), and the last within 4 days 6 hr 27 min (by March 14 at 3:01 p.m.). The red lantern in 73rd place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 11
Galena: Jeff King departed Galena in first place, on March 11 at 3:28 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (at 7:52 a.m.), Mitch Seavey (8:00 a.m.), Ed Iten (8:17 a.m.), and Jason Barron (also 8:17 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 8 hr 10 min (by 11:38 a.m.), the top 20 within 14 hr 5 min (by 5:33 p.m.), and the last within 4 days 6 hr 28 min (by March 15 at 9:56 a.m.). The red lantern in 72nd place was Ben Valks, after John Barron scratched.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 11
Nulato: Jeff King departed Nulato in first place again, on March 11 at 1:06 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (at 1:27 p.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe (3:27 p.m.), Lance Mackey (7:58 p.m.), and Paul Gebhardt (8:42 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 8 hr 26 min (by 9:32 p.m.), the top 20 within 16 hr 52 min (by March 12, at 5:58 a.m.), and the last within 4 days 10 hr 27 min (by March 15 at 11:33 p.m.). The red lantern in 72nd place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 12: Bering Sea
Kaltag: Jeff King departed Kaltag in first place for the third straight checkpoint, on March 12 at 0:21 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (at 0:57 a.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe (3:30 a.m.), Aliy Zirkle (3:37 a.m.), and John Baker (7:33 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 9 hr 9 min (by 9:30 a.m.), the top 20 within 15 hr 49 min (by 4:10 p.m.), and the last within 4 days 13 hr 29 min (by March 16 at 1:50 p.m.). The red lantern in 72nd place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 12: Bering Sea
Unalakleet: Jeff King departed Unalakleet in first place again, on March 12 at 6:50 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (at 8:40 p.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe (March 13 at 0:48 a.m.), Bjørnar Andersen (2:52 a.m.), and John Baker (2:54 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 12 hr 7 min (by 6:57 a.m.), the top 20 within 19 hr 43 min (by 2:33 p.m.), and the last within 5 days 1 hr 49 min (by March 17 at 8:39 p.m.). The red lantern in 72nd place was Ben Valks.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 13
Shaktoolik: Jeff King departed Shaktoolik in first place, on March 13 at 5:22 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (at 8:03 a.m.), Paul Gebhardt (8:44 a.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe(10:37 a.m.), and Bjørnar Andersen (12:27 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 11 hr 23 min (by 4:45 p.m.), the top 20 within 16 hr 53 min (by 10:15), and the last within 5 days 6 hr 55 min (by March 18 at 12:17 p.m.). The red lantern in 71st place was Katrina Pawlaczyk, after Ben Valks scratched.


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 13
Koyuk: Jeff King departed Koyuk in first place, on March 13 at 3:51 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (at 7:16 p.m.), Paul Gebhardt (9:33 p.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe (9:35 p.m.), and Aliy Zirkle (9:42 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 12 hr 12 min (by March 14 at 4:03 a.m.), and the top 20 within 19 hr 1 min (by 10:52 a.m.).


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 13
Elim: Jeff King departed Elim in first place, on March 13 at 10:23 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (March 14 at 2:19 a.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe (5:19 a.m.), Paul Gebhardt (5:27 a.m.), and John Baker (6:01 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 14 hr 7 min (by 12:30 p.m.), and the top 20 within 19 hr 8 min (by 5:31 p.m.).


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 14
White Mountain: Jeff King departed White Mountain in first place, on March 14 at 2:34 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (at 5:41 p.m.), Paul Gebhardt (8:00 p.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe (8:29 p.m.), and John Baker (9:14 p.m.). The top 10 departed within 12 hr 33 min (by March 15 at 3:07 a.m.), and the top 20 within 18 hr 26 min (by 9:00 a.m.).


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 14
Safety: Jeff King departed Safety in first place, on March 14 at 9:53 p.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (March 15 at 0:57 a.m.), Paul Gebardt (2:31 a.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe(3:23 a.m.), and John Baker (4:31 a.m.). The top 10 departed within 11 hr 38 min (by 9:31 a.m.), and the top 20 within 17 hr 57 min (by 2:50 p.m.).


2006 Iditarod, Route, March 15: Burled arch
Nome: Jeff King passed under the "burled arch" on Front Street in Nome in first place, on March 15 at 1:11 a.m.. The remainder of the top 5 were Doug Swingley (at 4:18 a.m.), Paul Gebhardt (5:23 a.m.), DeeDee Jonrowe (6:25 a.m.), and John Baker (7:37 a.m.). The top 10 arrived within 10 hr 57 min (12:08 p.m.), and the top 20 within 18 hr 14 min (by 6:31 p.m.).


2006 Idomeneo controversy
On 26 September 2006 the Deutsche Oper Berlin announced the cancellation of four performances of Mozart's opera Idomeneo, re di Creta, planned for November 2006, citing concerns that the production's depictions of the severed head of the Islamic prophet Muhammad raised an "incalculable security risk". "To avoid endangering its audience and employees, the management has decided against repeating Idomeneo in November 2006", the opera house said in a press release.


2006 Idomeneo controversy
The Idomeneo production, directed by Hans Neuenfels, shows King Idomeneo staggering on stage carrying a bag of the severed heads of Neptune, Jesus, Buddha and Muhammad and placing each on chairs; a departure from the libretto, in which the action is set in the aftermath of the Trojan War. Only Neptune features in the plot, and his power is never destroyed. The scene was intended to symbolize the people's release into freedom without gods or idols.


2006 Idomeneo controversy
According to the BBC, the German press agency DPA said Berlin police have so far recorded no direct threat to the opera house. However, The New York Times reported that there was an anonymous threat in August against the theatre.


2006 Idomeneo controversy
The cancellation sparked a great deal of debate in Europe on the issue of self-censorship and the nature of free speech in a multicultural community that includes potentially violent Muslims. On 27 September 2006, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel stated: "I think the cancellation was a mistake. I think self-censorship does not help us against people who want to practise violence in the name of Islam ... It makes no sense to retreat." Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, after a government-sponsored conference with Muslim representatives held independently of the incident, told reporters that "[t]o send a signal, we could all go to the performance together", and the Muslim representatives agreed that the performance should not be cancelled.


2006 Idomeneo controversy
On 18 December 2006, the Berlin Opera staged Mozart's work with the newly added controversial ending scene amid mixed reactions, but no incidents (with a small security force and large foreign media contingent). Demonstrators were present outside, as well, including supporters of religious tolerance and Christian protesters (presumably relating to the inclusion of the severed head of Jesus).


2006 Idomeneo controversy
Various members of German government attended with German Muslim groups, with the notable exception of the central Muslim Council's general secretary, Aiman Mazyek, who was quoted by Al Jazeera English as saying, "It's part of the concept of freedom of opinion and thought that you also have the right to say you are not going. ".


2006 Idomeneo controversy
Kirsten Harms, director of the Deutsche Opera, said that the public's reaction to the scene was "very civilized".


2006 If Stockholm Open
The 2006 If Stockholm Open was an ATP men's tennis tournament played on hard courts and held at the Kungliga tennishallen in Stockholm, Sweden. It was the 38th edition of the event and part of the ATP International Series of the 2006 ATP Tour. The tournament was held from 9 October through 15 October 2006. Second-seeded James Blake won his second consecutive singles title at the event.


2006 If Stockholm Open, Finals, Doubles
Paul Hanley /  Kevin Ullyett defeated  Olivier Rochus /  Kristof Vliegen, 7–6(7–2), 6–4


2006 If Stockholm Open – Doubles
Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley were the defending champions. Arthurs partnered with Michaël Llodra this year, losing in the first round. Hanley partnered with Kevin Ullyett, winning the title again.


2006 If Stockholm Open – Doubles
Hanley and Ullyett won in the final 7–6(7–2), 6–4, against Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen.


2006 If Stockholm Open – Singles
James Blake was the defending champion and successfully defended his title, beating Jarkko Nieminen 6–4, 6–2 in the final.


2006 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
The 2006 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Ron Zook, who was in his second season with the Illini. Illinois had a record of 2–10, as they did the year before. However, unlike 2005, they suffered few blowout losses, and played competitively with the Big Ten powerhouses, including #1 ranked Ohio State to whom Illinois lost 17–10 on November 4.


2006 Illinois House of Representatives election
The Illinois House of Representatives elections of 2006 determined the membership of the lower house of the 95th General Assembly. The Democratic Party increased its Majority.


2006 Illinois State Redbirds football team
The 2006 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach Denver Johnson and played their home games at Hancock Stadium. Illinois State was a member of the Gateway Football Conference. The Redbirds finished the season with an 9–4 record overall and a 5–2 record in conference play. The team received an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, where they defeated Eastern Illinois in the first round before losing to Youngstown State in the quarterfinals. The team was ranked #8 in The Sports Network's postseason ranking of Division I FCS.


2006 Illinois elections
The 2006 Illinois elections were held on November 7, 2006. On that date, registered voters in the State of Illinois  elected officeholders for U.S. Congress, to six statewide offices (Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of States, Treasurer and Comptroller), as well as to the Illinois Senate and Illinois House.


2006 Illinois elections
The incumbent Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, previously the only Republican elected statewide, made an unsuccessful run for Governor rather than stand for re-election. Democrat Alexi Giannoulias was elected to succeed her, and the Democratic incumbents for the other statewide offices won re-election, making Illinois the only Midwestern state in which Democrats held all statewide offices.


2006 Illinois elections
For the first time since the 1930s, all executive offices and control of the Illinois General Assembly was won by the Democratic Party. The last time any party had met this feat had been the mid-1990s, when the Republican Party held such power following the 1994 Illinois elections.


2006 Illinois elections, Election information
2006 was a midterm election year in the United States.


2006 Illinois elections, Election information, Turnout, Primary election
For the primary election, turnout was 24.84%, with 1,804,624 votes cast.


2006 Illinois elections, Election information, Turnout, General election
For the general election, turnout was 48.64%, with 3,587,676 votes cast.


2006 Illinois elections, Federal elections, United States House
All 19 of Illinois’ seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2006.


2006 Illinois elections, Federal elections, United States House
No seats switched parties, leaving the composition of Illinois' House delegation 10 Democrats and 9 Republicans.


2006 Illinois elections, State elections, Governor and Lieutenant Governor
The 2006 Illinois gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor and Lieutenant Governor Rod Blagojevich and Pat Quinn won re-election to a second four-year term.


2006 Illinois elections, State elections, Attorney General
Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan won reelection to a second term in office


2006 Illinois elections, State elections, Secretary of State
Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White won reelection to a third term in office.


2006 Illinois elections, State elections, Comptroller
Incumbent Comptroller Daniel Hynes, a Democrat, was reelected to a third term.


2006 Illinois elections, State elections, Treasurer
Incumbent Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, a Republican, did not seek reelection to a second term, instead opting to run for governor. Democrat Alexi Giannoulias was elected to succeed her.


2006 Illinois elections, State elections, State Senate
39 of the seats of the Illinois Senate were up for election in 2006.


2006 Illinois elections, State elections, State House of Representatives
All of the seats in the Illinois House of Representatives were up for election in 2010.


2006 Illinois elections, Local elections
Local elections were held. These included county elections, such as the Cook County elections.


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election
The 2006 Illinois gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich won re-election to a second four-year term scheduled to have ended on January 10, 2011. However, Blagojevich did not complete his term, as he was impeached and removed from office in 2009. Many observers expected the race to be close, especially considering the polling, which had shown Governor Blagojevich to have a high disapproval rating. However, the Republicans had fared poorly in elections since 2002 due to scandals involving prior Governor George Ryan, and the increasingly unpopular presidency of George W. Bush.


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election
Exit polls showed Topinka won Whites (46%-41%-13%), while Blagojevich performed well among African Americans (80%-16%-2%) and Latinos (83%-12%-4%).


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election, Election information
The primaries and general elections coincided with those for congress) and those for other state offices. The election was part of the 2006 Illinois elections.


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election, Election information, Turnout
For the primaries, turnout for the gubernatorial primaries was 23.13%, with 1,680,207 votes cast and turnout for the lieutenant gubernatorial primaries was 20.60% with 1,496,453 votes cast. For the general election, turnout was 47.29%, with 3,487,989 votes cast.


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election, Republican primaries, Governor, Campaign
On November 7, 2005, Topinka announced that she would not seek re-election as state treasurer — instead, she entered the gubernatorial primary, hoping to challenge Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich. The Republican primary was deeply divisive; her tenure as Party Chairman destroyed her support from the conservative wing of her party, and it was feared that her pro-choice and positive gay rights positions would be detrimental to her standing with the same conservatives. In December she announced that she would join forces with DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election, Republican primaries, Governor, Campaign
In February 2006, the candidates for the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor began running their first TV ads for the March statewide primary election. Rival candidate Ron Gidwitz's advertisements, attacking Topinka, were rebuked in the same week by the Illinois Republican Party: "In an unprecedented action, the Illinois Republican Party has officially rebuked the Gidwitz campaign for this ad because the Party found that the ad violates the Party's "Code of Conduct", which was enacted to police proper conduct among Republican candidates."


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election, Republican primaries, Governor, Campaign
Later in February, candidate Jim Oberweis, another rival for the Republican Gubernatorial nomination, started a series of attack ads for television markets, against Topinka, that were even more widely criticized, mostly for using "fake" headlines on the images of actual Illinois newspapers. These ads, like Gidwitz's ads, also came under review by the Illinois Republican Party. Because of the controversy generated, several television stations withdrew Oberweis's ads.


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election, Republican primaries, Governor, Campaign
A number of media outlets reported that Oberweis received a significant absolute number of write-in votes in the November general election, and he spontaneously re-appeared in some polls in October 2006 at up to 2 per cent, all apparently without endorsement or co-ordination by the candidate or his organisation . . . the official count was 20 607 votes or a little over 0.59 per cent (see below); where this fits in terms of standard deviation and other normal curve statistics has not been published.


2006 Illinois gubernatorial election, Establishment of Green Party
The Green Party became an established political party statewide, according to Illinois state election law, when Rich Whitney received more than 5% of the total vote for governor. The new status provided the party with several new advantages, such as lower signature requirements for ballot access, primary elections, free access to additional voter data, the ability to elect precinct committeemen, run a partial slate of candidates at any jurisdictional level, and slate candidates without petitioning. The only other statewide established political parties were the Democratic and Republican Parties. It is rare for a new political party to become established statewide in Illinois, the last to do so being the Solidarity Party in 1986 and the Progressive Party before that.


2006 Imola Superbike World Championship round
The 2006 Imola Superbike World Championship round was the eleventh round of the 2006 Superbike World Championship season. It took place on the weekend of September 29 – October 1, 2006 at the Imola circuit.


2006 Independence Bowl
The 2006 PetroSun Independence Bowl, part of the 2006–07 NCAA football bowl season, took place on December 28, 2006 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The competing teams were the Oklahoma State Cowboys, from the Big 12 Conference, and the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference. Oklahoma State won the game, 34–31.


2006 Independence Bowl
This was the only 2006–07 bowl game in which both teams finished 6–6 in the regular season, and the first meeting between the programs on the gridiron. With the dismissal of Alabama head coach Mike Shula occurring in November, Joe Kines served as the Tide's head coach for this contest, with Nick Saban being hired as coach the following January.


2006 Independence Bowl, Game summary
Alabama played Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl on December 28, 2006. The Cowboys scored first on a Dantrell Savage 1-yard touchdown run to lead, 7–0. Alabama responded later in the first quarter on a Matt Caddell 18-yard touchdown reception from John Parker Wilson to tie the game at 7–7. Oklahoma State responded with 10 consecutive points on a Keith Toston 4-yard touchdown run and later on a 28-yard field goal by Jason Ricks to take a 17-7 lead. Alabama responded with Tim Castille 1-yard touchdown run, only to have the Cowboys get a Keith Toston 7-yard touchdown run to take a 24-14 lead at the half.


2006 Independence Bowl, Game summary
After bringing the score to 24-17 in the third on a 24-yard field goal by Jamie Christensen, Oklahoma State responded with an Adarius Bowman 10-yard touchdown reception from Bobby Reid early in the fourth to extend their lead to 31–17. The Tide responded with 14 straight points on an 86-yard punt return by Javier Arenas and a throwback to offensive tackle Andre Smith  at the 2-yard line to even the score at 31–31. The Cowboys would seal the victory with only 00:08 remaining in the game on a 27-yard, game-winning field goal by Jason Ricks. For the game, the Cowboys' 34 points and 419 yards were the most allowed by the Alabama defense for the 2006 season.


2006 India-Pakistan field hockey test series
The 2006 Indo-Pak series (known as the Airtel Trophy for sponsorship reasons) was the 8th series of bilateral field hockey matches between Pakistan and India.


2006 India-Pakistan field hockey test series
The six match series was played over two legs on home and away basis with three matches hosted in each country from 17 February to 2006 to 26 February 2006. Pakistan won the series 3–1. Pakistan won their fourth consecutive and overall sixth series against India. This was the first time India did not lose the away leg of the series and remained unbeaten in Pakistan.


2006 India-Pakistan field hockey test series, Background
Prior to the start of the series Pakistan had won five out of seven bilateral series where as India won one and one was drawn. The two teams had met in December last year earlier in Chennai at the 2005 Champions Trophy with India winning 2–3. Both teams participated in a 4-Nations tournament in Netherlands month before that but did not face each other Pakistan won the tournament defeating Australia 4–3 in the final.


2006 India-Pakistan field hockey test series, Squads
India announced its squad on 2 February 2006. India named a rather young squad leaving out many veteran players like Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur, captain Dileep Tirkey, Viren Rasquinha and Prabhjyot Singh. The Pakistan squad was announced on 8 February 2006. The team was announced by Chief Selector Akhtar Rasool after the two days trials in Islamabad. Muhmmad Saqlain was named as captain despite his ill disciplinary record recently.


2006 India-Pakistan field hockey test series, Statistics, Goalscorers
There were 21 goals scored in 6 matches for an average of 3.5 per match


2006 Indian Rajya Sabha elections
Rajya Sabha elections were held on various dates in 2006, to elect members of the Rajya Sabha, Indian Parliament's upper chamber. The elections were held to elect respectively one member from Sikkim, 58 members from 15 states, two members from Jharkhand, and three members from Kerala, for the Council of States, the Rajya Sabha.


2006 Indian Rajya Sabha elections, Elections, Members elected
The following members are elected in the elections held in 2006. The list is incomplete.


2006 Indian Rajya Sabha elections, Bye-elections
The following bye elections were held in the year 2006.


2006 Indian Super Cup
The 2006 Indian Super Cup was the 6th Indian Super Cup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's National Football League and Federation Cup competitions. However, since Mahindra United won both the 2005–06 National Football League and the 2005 Indian Federation Cup, the match was between Mahindra United and East Bengal (runner's up of the 2005–06 National Football League), with East Bengal winning 2–1 to clinch their second Super Cup title. The match was played at Cooperage Ground, Mumbai, on 27 May 2006.


2006 Indian Super Cup, Summary
Mahindra United had the best ever season in their history by winning the 2005–06 National Football League and the 2005 Federation Cup. The team coached by Derrick Pereira had been one of the consistent performers throughout the season, losing just 3 matches in the entire league. East Bengal on the other hand missed out on the National League title, finishing second by five points. Coached by Belgian manager Philippe De Ridder, East Bengal wanted to end the season on a high.


2006 Indian Super Cup, Summary
Mahindra United fielded a strong lineup, wanting to complete the hat-trick of trophies for the season with Yusif Yakubu and Jose Ramirez Barreto both starting upfront. However, Belgian coach Philippe De Ridder had made other plans as East Bengal dominated the proceedings and won the game by 2–1. Nigerian attacker Guy Ndem Herve opened the scoring with a header off Alvito D'Cunha's corner in the 23rd minute and just 10 minutes later, Alvito scored directly from the corner to put East Bengal two nil ahead.


2006 Indian Super Cup, Summary
The defensive pairing of Guy Mertial and Muttah Suresh with Sashti Duley as right-back did their job perfectly to stop the dangerous duo of Yakubu and Barreto. Yakubu did reduce the margin in the second half but it was a mere consolation as East Bengal went on to lift their second Indian Super Cup title.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests
The 2006 Indian anti-reservation protests were a series of protests that took place in India in 2006 in opposition to the decision of the Union Government of India, led by the Indian National Congress-headed multiparty coalition United Progressive Alliance, to implement reservations for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in central and private institutes of higher education. These protests were one of the two major protests against the Indian reservation system, the other one being the 1990 anti-Mandal protests.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests
The government proposed to reserve 27% of seats in the premier educational institutions of India like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and other central institutions of higher education for the OBCs in order to help them gain higher levels of representation in these institutions. This move led to massive protests, particularly from students and doctors belonging to the forward castes, who claimed that the government's proposal was discriminatory, discarded meritocracy and was driven by vote-bank politics.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Origin of reservation
India is divided into many endogamous groups i.e. castes and sub-castes, as a result of centuries of following Varnashrama Dharma, a social system which translates to "types" or "order". In olden times, the castes which were considered high in the Hindu caste hierarchy i.e. Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, Shudras.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Origin of reservation
During the British Raj, some methods for upliftment of these lower castes were introduced by the British, progressive thinkers and Hindu reformers. These included reservations in the legislature and in government jobs. After independence, the Indian constitution introduced provisions for reservations for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/ST) in government institutions, to give a fair representation to the weakest sections of society i.e. Dalits and Adivasis. 22.5% of the seats (SC- 15%, ST- 7.5%) in higher education institutes and public sector undertakings at both state and central level were set-aside for them. Uplifting the SC/ST's representation par with the upper castes has not yet been achieved.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Origin of reservation
In 1989, the then-Prime Minister of India V. P. Singh accepted and implemented nationwide the proposals of the Mandal Commission, which had been established by the Morarji Desai-led Janata Party government in 1979. The proposals of this commission recommended 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public sector undertakings and state-level educational institutions. OBC's were a group of castes which fell in-between the upper castes and Dalits; they were historically not oppressed and socially boycotted as the Dalits and Adivasis, but were still socially, educationally and economically backward compared to the upper castes.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Origin of reservation
Though some Indian states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh had already implemented the OBC reservations earlier in their higher educational institutions, this decision now forced every Indian state to implement OBC reservation. By combining this 27% quota for OBC's and the earlier 22.5% reservation for the SC/ST's, the percentage of general (unreserved) seats in any medical, engineering or other institute falling under the state government reduced to 50.5%. This included even the unaided private colleges. As a result, there was widespread protests from the students belonging to the unreserved category (forward castes), claiming that they were being discriminated and that merit was being discarded.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Extension of 27% reservation
On 5 April 2006, Congress leader and then-Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, promised to implement a 27% reservation for OBCs in institutes of higher education (twenty central universities, the IITs, NITs, IIMs and AIIMS) after the State Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal, in accordance with the 93rd Constitutional Amendment which was passed unanimously by both Houses of Parliament. The 93rd Constitutional Amendment allows the government to make special provisions for the "advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens", including their admission in aided or unaided private educational institutions. Gradually this reservation policy is to be implemented in private sector institutions and companies as well. Private sector institutions and companies had never come under the purview of reservation.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Extension of 27% reservation
Greater access to higher education including professional education, is of great importance to a large number of students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other socially and educationally backward classes of citizens. The reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes of citizens in admission to educational institution is derived from the provisions of clause(4) of article 15 of the constitution. At present, the number of seats available in aided or State maintained institutions, particularly in respect of professional education, is limited, in comparison to those in private aided institutions.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Extension of 27% reservation
Clause(i) of article 30 of the Constitution provides the right to all minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. It is essential that the rights available to minorities are protected in regard to institutions established and administered by them. Accordingly, institutions declared by the State to be minority institutions under clause(1) of article 30 are excluded from the operation of this enactment.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Extension of 27% reservation
To promote the educational advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes of citizens,i.e., the Other Backward Classes or of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in matters of admission of students belonging to these categories in unaided educational institutions, other than the minority educational institutions referred to in clause(1) of article 30, the provisions of article 15 were amplified. The new clause(5) of said article 15 shall enable the Parliament as well as the State legislatures to make appropriate laws for the above mentioned purpose.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Historical background, Extension of 27% reservation
This move led to opposition from students, as the proposal would reduce seats for the general category from the existing 77.5% to less than 51% (since members of OBCs are also allowed to contest in the General category), despite assurance from the government that the number of seats in these educational institutes will be increased so that effectively there will be no reduction in the number of seats available for the general category. The opposing students also felt that the government's move was merely to placate and consolidate the OBC vote bank. The private sector organisations too opposed the move, saying it would impede merit and reduce the competitiveness of the students.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
The protests began from 26 April 2006 with medical students protesting in New Delhi against the government's proposal, where students were lathi-charged and water cannons and tear gas were fired on the students. Another such protest was carried out by medical students in New Delhi on 13 May 2006 where students were again lathi-charged and detained for few hours. Medical students held a protest in Mumbai on 14 May 2006, where students were lathi-charged, despite the protest being banned by the Bombay High Court. They were lathi-charged by the police. In retaliation of the police action toward the anti-reservation protestors, a nationwide strike was launched by the "anti-reservation" medical students. Doctors from all over India who opposed the government's proposal too joined the protest.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
The government took measures to counter the protesting doctors by serving them with suspension letters and asking them to vacate the hostels to make way for newly recruited doctors. Some states invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and gave notices to the doctors to return to work, failing which legal action would be taken against them. The government also put on alert 6,000 men from the Rapid Action Force to take care of any untoward incident. However, in most places the protesters remained defiant despite ESMA. Most forward caste students across India took to the streets, boycotting classes.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
In Delhi, a human chain rally was organized on 20 May by the students of IIT Delhi with the support of PanIIT, the IIT alumni organisation, to protest the OBC reservation. Nearly 150 students of New Delhi's 5 Medical Colleges went on a 'relay' hunger strike in AIIMS which lasted for about a month.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
A resolution signed by 2,500 IIT Roorkee students expressing their opposition to the OBC reservation, was sent to the then-President Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the then-Chief Justice of India Y. K. Sabharwal and the Election Commission of India. A peaceful protest march was then organised by them on 23 May. Many anti-reservation protesters now began to group under the aegis of Youth For Equality. The following were the demands made by "Youth For Equality"-


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
Setting up of an academic, non-political panel of experts to review the existing reservation policy and explore alternate forms of affirmative action.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
Vacant positions in reserved government jobs to be thrown open for other eligible candidates.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
A white paper issued on the reservation policy and a concrete statement on the issue by the Prime Minister.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
After the government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing reservations, the protesters called for a "Civil disobedience movement". Their protests were also supported by the traders in Delhi, who threatened to shut shops if the government didn't roll back on its decision to extend the OBC reservation. The AIIMS Faculty Association went on a mass casual leave from 25 May 2006 to support the anti-quota stir, but made it clear that basic health-care services would not be disrupted. However, whether health care services were really unaffected is questionable. On 27 May 2006, a massive rally was organised in Delhi. The rally was attended by participants from all over India, numbering almost 100,000. It was declared that the strike by students and junior doctors would continue.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
On 28 May 2006, the government set up an Oversight Committee to "prepare a road map with a time-bound programme to implement 27% reservation for OBCs without compromising merit and addressing apprehensions aired by students propose an effective way to implement reservations keeping the interests of all sections of society in mind". This committee, headed by Union Minister and former Karnataka Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily, would submit its report by 31 August 2006.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Events
On 31 May 2006, in deference to the Supreme Court directive, resident doctors resumed hospital works from 1 June 2006, as the health service was affected seriously due to the strike. However, protest from the part of students (both medical and other streams) continued and a national coordination committee comprising representatives of medical colleges, IITs and several other educational institutions had been proposed to be formed to lead the agitation. The Supreme Court has also sought the government to clarify the basis on which the reservation policy was being implemented. However, these protests slowly died down and eventually ended.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Political reactions and opinions
The 93rd Constitutional Amendment was passed unanimously in the Lok Sabha except for two abstaining members. Barring a few, most of the political parties supported the move to extend the OBC reservation to premier educational institutions.


2006 Indian anti-reservation protests, Aftermath
On 10 April 2008, the Supreme Court upheld the law for the provision of 27% quota for candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes in IITs, NITs, IIMs, AIIMS and other premier educational institutions. But it directed the  government to exclude the "creamy layer", families whose annual salary in more than ₹4,50,000, among the OBCs while implementing the law. However, the "creamy layer" exclusion would not be applied to the SC/STs.


2006 Indiana Fever season
The 2006 WNBA season was the 7th for the Indiana Fever. The Fever matched their record from 2005, but lost in the first round to eventual champion Detroit Shock.


2006 Indiana Hoosiers football team
The 2006 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University Bloomington during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hoosiers were coached by Terry Hoeppner, who was in his final season as head coach before he died of brain cancer in mid-2007. The Hoosiers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.


2006 Indiana elections
The 2006 Indiana Elections was held on November 7, 2006, as part of the 2006 midterm elections. Republicans maintained their Indiana Senate seat, Democrats retook the majority in the congressional delegation but maintained a hold on all statewide offices up for election


2006 Indiana elections, United States Senate
Incumbent Richard Lugar did not face an opponent from the Democratic Party, and faced Libertarian Steve Osborne Exit polls and polling data showed that he would win by a huge margin - which he did. Lugar got 87.3% of the vote. This seat would be up for contention again in 6 years.


2006 Indiana elections, United States House of Representatives
Going into this election, the Republicans had the majority of this congressional delegation, 7–2. But after the events of this election, Republicans lost 3 seats, reducing their number of seats to 4. Democrats retook the majority in this congressional delegation. Combined with the Democratic wave year, Democrats won a lot of the seats up for grabs.


2006 Indiana elections, State Secretary of State
Incumbent Republican Todd Rokita faced strong opposition from Joe Pearson. He won by 51% of the vote, while his Democratic Challenger Joe Pearson got 45% of the vote.


2006 Indiana elections, State Auditor
Term -limitted Republican State Treasurer Tim Berry went against Democrat Judy Anderson. He won by 51%


2006 Indiana elections, State Treasurer
Due to the Incumbent Treasurer Tim Berry being term-limited, the Republican Party nominated Richard Mourdock, and the Democrats nominated Michael Griffin. Republican Richard Mourdock won by nearly 52% of the vote.


2006 Indianapolis 500
The 90th Indianapolis 500 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana on Sunday May 28, 2006. Sam Hornish, Jr. won from the pole position. It was Hornish's first and only win at Indianapolis, and the record fourteenth Indy victory for Penske Racing. Hornish would later win the IndyCar Series championship, the second driver in a row to sweep the Indy 500 and season championship in the same season.


2006 Indianapolis 500
In one of the most dramatic finishes in Indy history, 19-year old rookie Marco Andretti took the lead with three laps to go, after passing his father Michael Andretti on the outside of turn one. Marco Andretti battled Sam Hornish, Jr. over the final two laps, holding off the challenge until the final straightaway. On the final lap, Hornish passed Marco Andretti about 450 feet from the finish line to take the win. It was the first time a driver successfully made a pass for the lead on the final lap for victory in the 90-year history of the event.


2006 Indianapolis 500
The margin of victory was 0.0635 seconds - just over one car-length - which was the second-closest finish in Indy history at the time. (As of 2019, it is the third-closest). Hornish had earned the pole in qualifying with a four-lap average of 228.985 mph (368.516 km/h), and second place Marco Andretti was unanimously voted the Rookie of the Year. Defending race winner and defending IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon dominated much of the race, leading 148 of the 200 laps. However, a small tire puncture forced him to make his final pit stop earlier than planned, which coupled with an untimely caution period, saw him slip to fourth at the finish.


2006 Indianapolis 500
The race was sanctioned by the Indy Racing League and was part of the 2006 IndyCar Series season. With a high temperature of 89 °F (32 °C), it was one of the hottest days on record for the running of the Indy 500. Rain and cold temperatures washed out the first weekend of time trials, and washed out or delayed numerous days of practice. Race weekend, however, was sunny with no precipitation.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Background
Chevrolet and Toyota withdrew from the series, leaving Honda as the sole engine provider for all teams for 2006 through 2011. Three races preceded the Indy 500, and Hélio Castroneves, with two wins and one second place, held a large points lead going into the month of May.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Background
A new series initiative introduced the use of ethanol fuel. As part of a two-year roll-out, all entries for 2006 were required to utilize a 10% ethanol/90% methanol fuel blend (E10). Previously, from 1974 to 2005, methanol was the only fuel permitted, and from 1965 to 1973, the rules were crafted in such a fashion as to encourage the use of methanol in order to be competitive.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Background, Team and driver changes
Several drivers shuffles occurred during the offseason. Defending Indy 500 winner and 2005 IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon switched from Andretti Green Racing to Ganassi. Wheldon started off the season with a victory at the season opener at Homestead. However, the race was marred by the death of Paul Dana during the morning practice session.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Background, Team and driver changes
Marco Andretti moved up from the Indy Lights series and took over the vacated spot at Andretti Green Racing. In December, team owner Michael Andretti announced he would come out of retirement to race at Indy, alongside his son. Similarly, owner/driver Eddie Cheever announced he would get back into the car, participating in four races, including Indy.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Background, Team and driver changes
Tomas Scheckter moved from Panther to Vision Racing. Vítor Meira took over the vacant spot at Panther, leaving the Rahal team. Paul Dana was signed as the third car for RLR, but was replaced by Jeff Simmons after his tragic fatal crash. Rahal maintained the services of Buddy Rice and Danica Patrick.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Background, Team and driver changes
After a brief retirement, Al Unser, Jr., who missed the 2005 race, signed with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Unser would race alongside teammate Buddy Lazier, who signed on for a partial season ride at DRR.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Background, Team and driver changes
Hemelgarn Racing signed P. J. Chesson with financial backing from NBA basketball player Carmelo Anthony. An aggressive marketing campaign nicknamed the entry "Car Melo," and also acquired the services of Jeff Bucknum for a two-car effort. However, by month's end, a disastrous result saw the two cars crash out together on lap 2, placing 32nd-33rd respectively. Hemelgarn subsequently closed its doors for the remainder of the season.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race schedule
* Includes days where track activitywas significantly limited due to rain


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 1), Rookie Orientation - Sunday May 7
Opening day featured rookie orientation and refresher tests. The day opened with the Andretti family celebrating three generations (Mario, Michael, and Marco) taking a ceremonial lap around the track together.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 1), Rookie Orientation - Sunday May 7
Michael Andretti, Al Unser, Jr., and Arie Luyendyk Jr. participated in refresher tests. Rookies P. J. Chesson and Marco Andretti passed the four-phase rookie test. Townsend Bell took only "shake down" laps. Michael Andretti (220.999 mph) was the fastest car of the day.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 1), Rookie Orientation - Monday May 8
The second day of rookie orientation saw Thiago Medeiros pass the rookie test. Townsend Bell (221.381 mph) was the fastest car of the day.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 1), Tuesday May 9
The first full day of veteran practice. Sam Hornish, Jr. (224.811 mph) was the fastest car of the day.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 1), Wednesday May 10
Sam Hornish, Jr. (226.056 mph) was the fastest car of the day. The track closed early due to rain at 3:30 p.m.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 1), Thursday May 11
Rain delayed the start of practice until nearly 2 p.m. Marty Roth spun in turn two, but made no contact. Sam Hornish, Jr. (226.789 mph) was the fastest car of the day.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (first weekend wash out), Saturday May 13
Time trials was scheduled for four days. The "11/11/11" format was to be utilized, with eleven positions available on pole day. However, rain washed out time trials for the day. Pole day qualifying was rescheduled for Sunday May 14.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (first weekend wash out), Sunday May 14
The "11/11/11" format was scheduled to be used, and thus 22 position were to be open for qualifying on Sunday May 14. Rain continued to fall, but the track dried shortly after 1 p.m. The cars took to the track for practice for about an hour, and Dan Wheldon turned the fastest lap of the month at 228.663 mph. At 2:15 p.m., the rain resumed, and the track was closed for the day. Time trials was washed out for the entire weekend for the first time since 1983.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 2), Wednesday May 17
Sam Hornish, Jr. (224.381 mph) was the fastest car of the day. Rain closed the track early at 4:26 p.m.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 2), Thursday May 18
Rain kept the track closed until 3:45 p.m. Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Thiago Medeiros suffered crashes. The brief session was ended at 5:52 p.m., as rain fell again. Sam Hornish, Jr. (224.381 mph) was the fastest car of the day.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Practice (week 2), "Fast" Friday II May 19
Sam Hornish, Jr. (227.925 mph) was the fastest car of the day. Hornish led the speed charts on all three practice days during the second week. Marty Roth spun but made no contact. Jeff Simmons crashed in turn one, but was uninjured.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Pole Day - Saturday May 20
Since the first two days of time trials were rained out, 33 positions were available for time trials on May 20. The field was filled to 32 cars by the end of the day. Sam Hornish, Jr., won the pole with the fastest four-lap qualifying speed of 228.985 mph (368.516 km/h).


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Pole Day - Saturday May 20
Only one driver waved off during the day. Dario Franchitti experienced engine trouble after three laps, but later completed his attempt after an engine change. Although the new qualifying rules allowed qualified cars to be withdrawn and re-qualified in hopes of gaining a better starting position (with a maximum of three attempts per day), only one driver took the opportunity to do so. Townsend Bell's qualification run of 223.659 mph (359.944 km/h) was withdrawn, and he achieved an average of 224.374 mph (361.095 km/h) on his second attempt. This improved his starting position by only one spot.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Bump Day - Sunday May 21
The day opened with one position open in the field, and two drivers prepared to make an attempt. Rookie Thiago Medeiros, who had crashed his lone car on Thursday, returned to the track for practice.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Bump Day - Sunday May 21
Most of the afternoon focused on race day practice for already-qualified cars. Sam Hornish, Jr. (226.256 mph) led the speed charts for practice laps, capping off a month where he led the speed chart every day he took practice laps except one.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Bump Day - Sunday May 21
Marty Roth was the only driver besides Medeiros that was looking to make an attempt. At 3:30 p.m., polesitter Sam Hornish, Jr. spun in turn one and hit the outside wall while practicing in a backup car. He was uninjured.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Bump Day - Sunday May 21
With about an hour to go, AJ Foyt brought a backup car to pit lane, driver Ryan Briscoe was getting settled into the car, fueling rumors of a late qualifying run.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Bump Day - Sunday May 21
At 5:08 p.m., Thiago Medeiros completed a qualifying attempt, and filled the field to 33 cars, however he was slowest and now on the bubble.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Bump Day - Sunday May 21
With 23 minutes left in the day, Marty Roth spun during a practice run, and crashed into the outside wall in turn 1. He was not injured, but the car was wrecked, and his chances to qualify were finished. The day ended with Medeiros the only car to complete an attempt for the afternoon with Briscoe deciding against making a run.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Carb Day - Friday May 26
Sam Hornish, Jr. once again led the speed charts (220.698 mph). It was the ninth day of the month that Hornish completed the fastest practice lap.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Time trials (second weekend), Carb Day - Friday May 26
Penske Racing with driver Hélio Castroneves won the 30th Annual Checker's/Rally's Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Start
After considerable rain during the month, race day was sunny and hot. Temperatures topped out at 89 °F (32 °C), one of the hottest days for the Indy 500 on record.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Start
Due to the state of Indiana observing Daylight Saving Time, the start of the race was scheduled for 1:11 p.m. EDT. Mari Hulman George gave the command to start engines at 1:04 p.m. EDT, and all 33 cars pulled away for the pace laps, with Lance Armstrong driving the pace car.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Start
Sugar Ray Leonard waved the green flag to start the race, and polesitter Sam Hornish, Jr. took the lead into turn one. Down the back stretch, Hélio Castroneves passed Hornish for the lead, and Dan Wheldon moved into second. Castroneves led the opening lap.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Start
On the second lap in turn two, Jeff Bucknum spun out and collected his teammate P. J. Chesson, taking both of the entries from Hemelgarn Racing out of the race and sadly out for the remainder of the season.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, First half
After the Hemelgarn incident, a long period of green-flag racing ensued, lasting 60 laps. During this period, Dan Wheldon dominated the race, briefly losing then regaining the lead during a round of green-flag pit stops around laps 36-39. By lap 64, Wheldon had built up a 19-second lead—nearly half a lap—over the next nearest competitor, and after 65 laps had lapped twenty-five of the other cars in the race, including all five of the other former 500 winners, leaving only eight cars on the lead lap.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, First half
The field tightened during a yellow flag on lap 67 due to a crash by Tomas Scheckter. The crash sent debris into the inside grandstand, injuring five spectators, none seriously. Wheldon maintained the lead through a series of pit stops, and led at the halfway point.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Second half
Wheldon gave up the lead briefly during pit stop on lap 108, which allowed Scott Dixon to lead.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Second half
On lap 110, Hélio Castroneves struck Buddy Rice from behind, taking out both cars. It was the first time two former winners had been involved in the same crash in the Indy 500 since 1992. It was also the first time in his career that Castroneves failed to finish the race.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Second half
Sam Hornish, Jr., took the lead from Wheldon on lap 130. Wheldon, however, would regain the lead on lap 145 and hold it through lap 182.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Second half
On lap 149, Al Unser, Jr. precipitated a caution period after spinning down the back-stretch and crashing in turn 3. During the caution, Jeff Simmons left the pit area with the fuel hose nozzle still attached. The hose tore, and Simmons's car dropped the nozzle out on the track in turn 3. On lap 150, the leaders pitted. Sam Hornish, Jr. started to pull out of his pits with the hose still attached. The hose ripped, but Hornish stopped in the pits allowing the crew to disengage the nozzle. Team owner Roger Penske accepted responsibility for the error, having told Hornish to go before the fueling was complete. Fuel spilled in the pit stall, but Hornish was able to return to the track and stay on the lead lap.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Second half
Still under caution on lap 155, the field was preparing to go back to green when Jeff Simmons wrecked in the north chute. The caution was prolonged. On lap 160, Michael Andretti and Sam Hornish, Jr. ducked into the pits to top off their fuel. Both would be able to make it to the finish without another pit stop.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Second half
On lap 163, the green came back out with Dan Wheldon leading. Sam Hornish, Jr. was assessed a "drive-through" penalty (being required to drive once through pit road, without stopping, obeying the pit road speed limit). Hornish returned to the track over 30 seconds behind the leader.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Second half
Tony Kanaan took the lead on lap 183. By lap 187, members of Andretti Green Racing held the top four spots (Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti, and Michael Andretti). Sam Hornish, Jr. in sixth barely clung to the tail end of the lead lap.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Late Race Caution and Finish
Dan Wheldon (lap 184) and Marco Andretti (lap 190) went to the pits for their final fuel stops. As Marco Andretti was pitting Felipe Giaffone crashed in turn two, bringing out the yellow. Marco Andretti (legally) slipped by the pace car exiting the pits, and avoided losing a lap in the shuffle. Leader Tony Kanaan, who still needed to pit, was stuck out on the track as the pits were closed at the onset of the yellow. The pits re-opened as the field came by for lap 193. Kanaan and Dario Franchitti ducked into the pits for fuel.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Late Race Caution and Finish
Fan-favorite Michael Andretti stayed out on the track, and assumed the lead. Michael had come out of retirement to race with his 19-year-old son Marco, who shuffled up to second place. In his 15th Indy 500, Michael was still looking for his first Indy victory. Scott Dixon was lined up third, and Sam Hornish, Jr. was now up to fourth.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Late Race Caution and Finish
The green came out with 4 laps to go. Michael Andretti led the field, with his son Marco close behind in second. Hornish made a desperate pass deeper in the field, and emerged in third place as the field exited turn 2.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Late Race Caution and Finish
With three laps to go, Marco Andretti pulled outside of his father down the front-stretch, and passed his father for the lead in turn 1. Marco began to pull away as Michael now assumed a blocking role to protect his son's lead. Down the back stretch, Michael tried but failed to hold off the charging Hornish, and Hornish took over second place.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Late Race Caution and Finish
With two laps to go, Marco led Hornish by a half second, with Michael still in third. Down the back stretch, Hornish tried to squeeze past Marco as they approached turn three. He was pinched down, and ran out of race track, and had to back off. Hornish lost his momentum, and Marco pulled out to a 1-second lead at the start/finish line with one lap to go.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Late Race Caution and Finish
On the final lap, Marco held his lead down the back stretch. In turn three, however, Hornish began to reel him in. As the two cars exited turn four, Hornish executed a slingshot pass in the final 400 feet. He beat Marco Andretti to the finish line by 0.0635 seconds, the equivalent of about 15 feet (4.6 m). It was the second-closest finish in Indy 500 history. It was also the first time in Indy history that a driver made a pass for the lead to win the race on the final lap.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Late Race Caution and Finish
Afterwards, Hornish commented on his last-second pass, "I figured I came all this way, I ought to give myself one more shot at it. I kind of looked at it as, I was going to drive over him if I had to. For Marco to come as a rookie and drive like that he should be proud no matter what."


2006 Indianapolis 500, Race summary, Late Race Caution and Finish
Third-place finisher Michael Andretti had high praise for his son: "I felt so bad for Marco, but I'm so proud. He drove a hell of a race. I drove with him a hell of a lot in that race. He drove like a champion. He drove like he's been out there 10 years." But Marco wanted more: "I do not want to wait until next year. I have to take advantage of everything because second's nothing," he said.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Box score
*C Chassis: D=Dallara; P=Panoz. All cars in the 2006 Indianapolis 500 used Honda engines and Firestone tires.


2006 Indianapolis 500, Box score
W  = Former Indianapolis 500 winner;  R  = Indianapolis 500 rookie