Dorm storm

Although it's meant to be one race between 33 teams, the end of Saturday's 55th running of the Little 500 turned into two separate races -- one for first and second places and another for third and fourth.\nDodds House and Phi Gamma Delta sprinted down the stretch for first, while Briscoe and Delta Upsilon battled for third.\nWhen it was all over, the Dodds House riders stood victorious as this year's men's Little 500 champions. \n"It's just an amazing feeling coming across the line to not see anyone in front of you," senior Dodds rider Craig Luekens said of his sprint to the finish. "I can't describe it."\nFiji came in a close second behind Dodds. Delta Upsilon won the second close race of the day finishing third, while Briscoe finished fourth. \n"I'd be lying if I said I was happy we didn't win, but fourth place in my last Little 5, we were in it in the end," said Briscoe senior Tim Smith. "It sucks now, but looking back I'm pretty happy."\nThe lead lap ended with four teams, but more than seven were in contention for the title at lap 180. At that lap three five-second penalties were dealt to Alpha Tau Omega, LiSiHi and pole sitter Phi Kappa Psi, who sat in fifth, sixth and seventh place, respectively. The penalties were given due to an earlier yellow flag around lap 170. The teams were said to have been "creeping during yellow," or trying to move up in the field during a caution. After serving their penalties ATO, Phi Psi and LiSiHi returned to the race. After being almost 10 seconds behind the top four teams at lap 180 ATO, Phi Psi and LiSiHi lost enough ground to do serious damage to their cause. \nATO finished the race in fifth, Phi Psi in sixth and LiSiHi in eighth. \nOther teams were also caught up in a case of bad luck before any of the teams had a chance to complete a full lap. Coming into the first turn after the start, teams began to pick up their pace and suddenly more than 13 teams were caught in a wreck, including ATO, Chi Phi, Collins, LiSiHi, Sigma Nu and Team Major Taylor. \n"That was something you don't normally see in the guy's race," said Fiji senior Joe Keck. "But you gotta' give ATO credit because they went down and they fought back to get back on the pack. It was unfortunate for them."\nAnother team that had to fight hard while they were behind was Cutters. With their only veteran rider, junior David Caughlin, sidelined around lap 12 with what onsite EMS said could be a concussion, the team rode the rest of the race with three riders. Cutters was down one lap for most of the race. Near lap 180 the team improved its position and gained ground to finish seventh. \n"These guys are stepping it up," Caughlin said inside infield EMS tent. "I was supposed to ride a big bulk of the laps. All the other guys are rookies, but it looks like they're making the most of it."\nAt lap 195, the laps began to get faster with Dodds, Delta Upsilon, Briscoe and Fiji in contention. Freshman Daniel Houchens came off the bike for Dodds and Luekens jumped on. Briscoe and Delta Upsilon also made exchanges, and one lap later Fiji's senior Matt Davis mounted the bike in preparation to make the final sprint for the team. \nAs the teams entered lap 197 it was obvious Dodds and Fiji would battle to the finish as Briscoe and Delta Upsilon were nearly a half lap behind. \nIt could be seen in both teams' pits -- this was it. Fiji team members, still on their warm-up bikes in their pit, peddled as Davis sped past them on lap 198. It was opposite in the Dodds pit; the team stood still until Luekens neared, then cheering erupted.\nThe final lap approached and inches away from each other Fiji and Dodds, Luekens and Davis, rounded the fourth turn and sprinted to the finish.\nDodds won without question.\n"It was great, it was so much fun," Houchens said. "It was all worth it, but it was a long time coming; I'm ready for this."\n-- Contact Senior Writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.