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Dario Franchitti wins the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 and the 2007 IndyCar Series Championship, winning at fuel-mileage roulette over Scott Dixon.

Vitor Meira came out of the pits on lap 133 and ended up making contact with the turn 4 SAFER on lap 137, backing it in much the same as Marco Andretti did on lap 35 in another single-car crash. After emerging from the Care Center, Meira claimed that "something broke on the car." The timing of the Meira crash was unfortunate, because most of the field had pitted under green, and the crash came as points challenger Scott Dixon was entering his pit, while points leader Dario Franchitti was continuing to stretch his pit stop distance, having been the last to pit on lap 90 under green. Dixon was credited with stopping on lap 136, just before the Meira crash, while Dario came in on lap 140. IndyCar officials claimed that Dixon got off pit road ahead of Dario, who had to slow under the caution flag, and while I don't know if there is TiVo backup like the last time, when the series officials decision was supported, but that's plausible enough for me. That meant that both Dixon and Franchitti were a lap ahead of the field before the wave-around, and when Dixon and TCGR opted to top-off their fuel tank, AGR had Franchitti pit as well. That stop caused the rest of the field to line up just behind the two leaders, with three lapped cars in between. Two of those drivers opted to go to the back of the field, but Ryan Hunter-Reay remained, and played a roll in Sam Hornish assuming the race lead on lap 160. Every driver BUT Dixon and Franchitti would have to pit again for fuel only, very late in the race and it was a coin-flip if the two points contenders could make it to the end. Pit windows had been predictable for me all day, if you choose to read the recap, at 44-45 laps. The race was restarted on lap 151, which meant Dixon and Franchitti would be 3 or 4 laps short, but once Hornish got past Dixon, Scott was in drafting mode, while Franchitti couldn't remain close, got caught up in traffic and was burning more fuel.

Neither driver would have finished the race (that too would have been interesting) if Danica Patrick hadn't spun on pit-in, heading for her gas-and-go. The Black Helicopter folks will claim Danica either did it on her own or under team orders, but I'm sure that Patrick, who has had pit-in/pit-out issues, was just trying a little too hard. Anyway, Danica brought out the yellow flag that saved the day for the points contenders, or at least Dario, who in my opinion, didn't have anything for Dixon. I thought that on the restart Sam Hornish would mix it up and win the race, but Dixon got the jump at the green flag and Dario followed. I don't know if by intent or not, but Sam let 'em race, I guess because he was a lap down, and as Dario started around Dixon at the end of the backstretch, Dixon ran out of fuel. Franchitti, with probably the 5th fastest car in the field, almost made left front to right rear contact with Dixon, but once clear, Dario won it all.

Going heads-up against the NFL opener, I only hope somebody was watching as IndyCar put their best effort forward, and settled the only "real" and un-manipulated points battle in major American racing.

2007 IndyCar Champion Dario Franchitti runs out of the draft at Chicagoland Speedway, and still had enough fuel to finish the race and limp around for a lap-plus...

Scott Dixon out of his car and doing the required interviews after running out of Ethanol in the lead of the race Sunday on the final lap...

Early race action, showing Helio Castroneves leading Sam Hornish Jr. Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon...

The IndyCar Safety Team rush to the aid of Marco Andretti after something broke on the left rear corner of his car, sending him backwards into the turn four SAFER barrier. Andretti appeared to be OK, but was transported to a local area hospital for observation.

IndyCar PHOTO BY JIM HAINES

Its Race/Championship Day at Chicagoland Speedway, the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 begins at 4:00 p.m. EDT..,

The IndyCar season comes to what I feel is a premature, unwelcome and ill-advised conclusion today, yielding two more months of the generally excepted racing season to others rather than fight NFL football on television. This in spite of being telecast on the ABC/ESPN family of networks that generally only has a nighttime NFL presence on the tube. Well, what we have is what we have, while I dislike being without IndyCar for closer to seven months than six, it is their decision, I'll live with it.

Vitor Meira came out of the pits on lap 133 and ended up making contact with the turn 4 SAFER on lap 137, backing it in much the same as Marco Andretti did on lap 35 in another single-car crash. After emerging from the Care Center, Meira claimed that "something broke on the car." The timing of the Meira crash was unfortunate, because most of the field had pitted under green, and the crash came as points challenger Scott Dixon was entering his pit, while points leader Dario Franchitti was continuing to stretch his pit stop distance, having been the last to pit on lap 90 under green. Dixon was credited with stopping on lap 136, just before the Meira crash, while Dario came in on lap 140. IndyCar officials claimed that Dixon got off pit road ahead of Dario, who had to slow under the caution flag, and while I don't know if there is TiVo backup like the last time when series officials were vindicated, that's plausible enough. That meant that both Dixon and Franchitti were a lap ahead of the field before the wave-around, and when Dixon and TCGR opted to top-off their fuel tank, AGR had Franchitti pit as well. That stop caused the rest of the field to line up just behind the two leaders, with three lapped cars in between. Two of those drivers opted to go to the back of the field, but Ryan Hunter-Reay remained, and played a roll in Sam Hornish assuming the race lead on lap 160. Every driver BUT Dixon and Franchitti would have to pit again for fuel only, very late in the race and it was a coin-flip if the two points contenders could make it to the end. Pit windows had been predictable for me all day, if you choose to read the recap, at 44-45 laps. The race was restarted on lap 151, which meant Dixon and Franchitti would be 3 or 4 laps short, but once Hornish got past Dixon, Scott was in drafting mode, while Franchitti couldn't remain close, got caught up in traffic and was burning more fuel.

Neither driver would have finished the race (that too would have been interesting) if Danica Patrick hadn't spun on pit-in, heading for her gas-and-go. The Black Helicopter folks will claim Danica either did it on her own or under team orders, but I'm sure that Patrick, who has had pit-in/pit-out issues, was just trying a little too hard. Anyway, Danica brought out the yellow flag that saved the day for the points contenders, or at least Dario, who in my opinion, didn't have anything for Dixon. I thought that on the restart Sam Hornish would mix it up and win the race, but Dixon got the jump at the green flag and Dario followed. I don't know if by intent or not, but Sam let 'em race, and as Dario started around Dixon at the end of the backstretch, Dixon ran out of fuel. Franchitti, with probably the 5th fastest car in the field, almost made left front to right rear contact with Dixon, but once clear, Dixon held up Hornish long enough for Dario to win the race and the championship. Going heads-up against the NFL opener, I only hope somebody was watching as IndyCar put their best effort forward, and settled the only "real" and un-manipulated points battle in major American racing.

IndyCar PHOTO BY JIM HAINES

Dario Franchitti leads fellow points contender Scott Dixon early in the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 today. Franchitti won the race and 2007 IndyCar Series Championship as Scott Dixon ran out of fuel on the next to the last lap of the race.

(The start) The first three cars were single file at the start, but I've seen worse. Franchitti jumped the start, Hornish ducked in behind him and Kanaan was 3rd. On the 2nd lap Castroneves and Hornish hooked up on the backstretch and drafted past Franchitti. Dario will yield leading the most laps to Team Penske as long as he remains ahead of Dixon in the race. While I've struggled with pit windows on roads and streets, I do know my ovals, look for green flag pitting around lap 43/44, and every 45 laps after that.

***

(Lap 18) Tony Kanaan in the pits with a flat right rear tire. The top-5, Hornish, Castroneves, Wheldon, Dixon and Franchitti.

***

(Lap 35) Marco crashes again, another single car crash where the car snaps around in turn 4, and hits the safer , wing first. Meanwhile Tomas Scheckter lost his right rear tire, even though he had run more than 35 laps and hadn't pitted. Watching the rerun of Andretti's crash, I concur that something on the right rear corner of Marco's car broke. Pit stops were up next, far enough in the run that everyone but perhaps Kanaan will pit, and TK did stay out. Scheckter stopped once for a new tire and wheel then perhaps stopped again for fuel and the rest of his tires. During the round of stops there appeared to be contact on pit road between Sam Hornish and Dan Wheldon. The big winner on pit road was Dixon, now 2nd to Helio. Franchitti went into the pits 5th and came out 5th...

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(Lap 64) Danica Patrick is looking racy in 6th, but she can't and won't get in position where she separates Dixon from Franchitti, right now Franchitti has Wheldon between him and Dixon, and that's one too many. Kanaan in on lap 70 for fuel and tires. The rest of the pack should pit on lap 84/85. Darren Manning is out of the race with "severe handling issues," and Ed Carpenter is on pit road with the engine cover off. Tomas Scheckter in with engine problems as well, perhaps the same issue Carpenter is having.

***

(Lap 85) Both Penske cars hit pit road, Helio holds onto his lead. Wheldon in on the next lap, Dixon in on lap 89, Dario into the lead and still out. Franchitti will pit at the start of lap 92. Dario made a quick and normal stop, but cycled back behind those same 4 cars that were beating him, a good distance back.. Franchitti was complaining of a push, but the team didn't address the issue, unless it was with tire pressure. With Dario pushing the fuel window, if this cycle goes green all the way, he just might to go race distance with only one more stop (it would be a stretch), but he would need a caution AFTER his next stop. Dario would need to stretch this stop to as close to lap 150 as possible. Team Penske will have to stop by lap 130. Dario's problem is that he is running far enough back of the lead pack that he is out of the draft. Unless Dario is parked back there to avoid any trouble, I don't think he may have the car to contend today. Five laps after voicing my concern about Dario's ability to keep up, he is tight behind Wheldon and again.

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(Lap 129) Penske cars in again under green, right when I guessed they would, and this time Hornish beat Helio off pit road. Wheldon in on lap 135, Dixon headed for pit road on lap 136 and Meira hits the SAFER AFTER Dixon and Wheldon pitted. Franchitti could be a lap ahead, once he pits he will be behind the pack, still almost a lap ahead. Then the wave-around rule comes into play. Franchitti will lead Dixon, Patrick Hornish and Castroneves. That is unless IndyCar figures Dixon cleared pit road before Dario passed him, and THAT looks to be the call. I don't think there is TV backup for this one, whatever, IndyCar rules. There was SAFER damage that will have to be fixed while the cars continue to circle the track. Ten more laps of this and Dixon, if the crew didn't rush the stop and not fill the tank, and Franchitti could go the race distance without another stop. Look for everyone BUT Dixon and Franchitti to top off, Dixon will be forced to remain off pit road if Dario does. Dario stopped close to lap 140, and they get close to 4-mpg under caution. I think if the race resumes before lap 155, everyone has to stop again. It's moot, Dixon and Franchitti in, everyone should stop before the restart IMHO, but they didn't, and they will have to stop one more time before race-end.

***

(Lap 151, the restart) Slow cars got out of the way except Hunter-Reay, and he impeded Danica long enough for Hornish to get past her and split Dario and Dixon. Dario has no speed and is backing up, Danica is told to go for the lead but she is forced below the white line on the backstretch and has to back off. Meanwhile Hornish takes the lead with Dixon and Wheldon behind him, Helio is 4th, Dario 5th, Danica 6th. It appears AGR missed on Danica's gearing, and she has rev-limiter troubles.

***

(16 laps to go) Nobody BUT Dixon and Dario topped off at the end of the last caution, rolling the dice for another yellow flag they didn't get. As everyone peeled off for stops, Hornish got held up by Chesson, but it ended up not hurting him. Danica spun on pit in and brought out the caution BOTH Franchitti and Dixon needed, as both are on fumes. It came down to Dixon and Dario for the win and championship, and in the end, Dixon was the one that ran out of fuel. Neither driver had the fastest car in the race, either of the Team Penske cars probably did. Dixon did appear to have Franchitti covered, but when it was AGR that first brought up saving fuel, and than Mike Hull of TCGR, it was Dario that was still riding around slowly long after the race ended, until he too ran out of fuel and made it to Victory Circle at the end of the tow rope.

Sam Hornish had a bitter on-air moment at the end of the race on the radio feed, where he professed to doubt how two "equal" cars could run 15 laps further than he could. I'm not sure Sam realized that both Dixon and Franchitti topped off their fuel tanks before the green flag with however many laps remaining. I was so caught up in the possibilities that I didn't notice, and I'll have to wait until they post the stats to crunch the numbers. Unfortunately, while waiting to greet Dario and celebrate after the race, Ashley Judd made the comment a bout Milka Duno that everyone was thinking. If nothing else, it wasn't very gracious, but it was her husband and nearly every other driver that had to dodge her all day. Still, to be fair to Milka, who finished 15th (even though the stats don't show her slowest laps) her fastest lap 208.798 mph mid-race, when no other driver failed to break 210. Surprisingly, the fastest lap in the race was posted by Hideki Mutoh, 216.648 mph.

Here's the unofficial order of finish"

Pos	Driver	Best Time	Best Speed	Best Lap	Last Lap
1	Dario Franchitti (27)	25.2863	216.402	74	200
2	Scott Dixon (9)	25.3477	215.878	94	200
3	Sam Hornish Jr (6)	25.3368	215.970	102	199
4	Helio Castroneves (3)	25.3628	215.749	155	199
5	Scott Sharp (8)	25.3936	215.487	183	199
6	Tony Kanaan (11)	25.3362	215.976	68	199
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay (17)	25.4022	215.414	178	198
8	Hideki Mutoh (60)	25.2578	216.646	173	198
9	Buddy Rice (15)	25.4403	215.092	154	198
10	AJ Foyt IV (22)	25.4481	215.026	157	198
11	Danica Patrick (7)	25.3492	215.865	181	198
12	Sarah Fisher (5)	25.7404	212.584	16	196
13	Dan Wheldon (10)	25.3213	216.103	124	193
14	Marty Roth (25)	26.0028	210.439	5	190
15	Milka Duno (23)	26.2071	208.798	97	184
16	Ed Carpenter (20)	25.4880	214.689	133	164
17	Kosuke Matsuura (55)	25.5999	213.751	47	156
18	Vitor Meira (4)	25.5109	214.497	50	133
19	PJ Chesson (76)	25.7812	212.248	15	94
20	Tomas Scheckter (2)	25.3760	215.637	7	73
21	Darren Manning (14)	25.6773	213.107	19	62
22	Marco Andretti (26)	25.3435	215.913	33	34

Its Race/Championship Day at Chicagoland Speedway, the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 begins at 4:00 p.m. EDT..,

What I do like is what I expect to see from this race and the race for the points championship today. I can't help but think back to last year when TCGR drivers Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon, with only a remote chance of wresting the series title from Sam Hornish Jr., raced each other for the race lead, side-by-side and wheel-to-wheel until team leaders cried "enough!" Both drivers needed to lead the most laps to win the championship, but ONLY if Hornish had trouble. and Sam didn't comply.

Today we have a different breed of cat to skin, essentially the points battle boils down to two drivers, Dixon again, trailing Dario Franchitti by 3 points, with former IndyCar champion Tony Kanaan, 39 points back, and needing DNF's from both drivers ahead of him, and needing for that to happen early. Both Franchitti and Dixon need to lead the most race laps as possible, Franchitti to "protect," and Dixon to gain. Failing to do that, both drivers would hope one of their teammates would lead the most laps, Dan Wheldon for Dixon, or Kanaan, Patrick or Andretti for Dario. Add Danica Patrick's desire to win a race before season's end, and Team Penske drivers Sam Hornish Jr and Helio Castroneves' desire for redemption for season-long frustrations or simply to play a spoiler roll, and this looks to be quite a race.