IndyCar Series Championship

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Races within the race By Dave Lewandowski - Indycar.com
Thursday, October 8, 2009
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HOMESTEAD, Fla. - There are races within the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. Here's a rundown:

Championship

Most of the promotion has centered on the close chase for the championship, and the new scoring tower at Homestead-Miami Speedway will give spectators a real-time view of the title battle during the race.

Scott Dixon has amassed 570 points, with Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dario Franchitti only five behind and Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe eight points back. The title contenders on Oct. 8 posed with the IndyCar Series Cup and the Miami Dolphins Super Bowl trophies at the team's practice facility in Davie.

Click it: What's at stake in the Firestone Indy 300 on Oct. 10

It's a winner-take-all scenario for Dixon and Franchitti -- as it was in 2007, with Franchitti prevailing on the final lap at Chicagoland Speedway. The race winner earns 50 points, with a 10-point margin to second and another five to third. There are a few additional criteria for Briscoe to claim his first title based on bonus points (one for earning the PEAK Performance Pole Award and two for leading the most laps in the Firestone Indy 300).

• If Briscoe wins the pole and the race, he wins the championship.
• If Briscoe wins the race and leads the most laps, he wins the championship.
• If Briscoe wins the race, earns the pole and leads the most laps, he wins the championship.
• If Briscoe wins the race but doesn't score any bonus points, Dixon can win the title if he finishes second and leads the most laps.
• Dixon will win any tiebreaker over Briscoe.

Each of the contenders accomplished a sweep of winning the pole, leading the most laps and winning the race this season.

"You almost treat it just as a normal race weekend," Dixon said of his mind-set since last competing Sept. 19 at Twin Ring Motegi. "I think if you try to change your strategy or the way you approach the race, it might affect how quick you go over the outcome of the race, and ultimately the outcome of the championship.

"So I think you try to keep it simple. Not put too much pressure on yourself and let it all play out. It's pretty much whoever beats who is going to walk away with the championship. So it's definitely good for all the fans and one of the toughest days for the drivers. I'm definitely looking forward to it. It should be a great show and a happy occasion for one of us.

"It's been a great shootout so far as far as the whole championship's gone, and I think everybody's definitely put in a lot of hard work this season, teams and drivers and everybody else."

Full article here http://www.indycar.com/news/

GO RYAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch Live Saturday 4:00 PM ET on Versus

DirecTV dropped Versus a few weeks ago...

That's too bad.

What a finish! 3 cars on the lead lap Brisco, Dixon and Franchitti. Brisco lead the most laps. In the final laps both Brisco and Dixon had to pit around lap 192 of 200. Franchitti has enough gas to make it if it stayed green. In the history of the IRL they have never had a caution free race until now. Franchitti won the Race and Championship, Dixon 2nd and Brisco 3rd.

Congratulations to Dario and the Target Team!

I wasn't able to see the race, but sounds like a good one. Congrats to Dario!

Sounds like I missed a good race...

Congrats Dario!

Glad that he was able to recover from his ill-fated attempt at NASCAR so quickly!!