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IndyCar News
Castroneves wins in second ever closest finish and Dixon claims the title
09/09/2008
Helio Castroneves claimed his second IndyCar victory of the season on Sunday 7 September at the PEAK Indy 300 in Joliet, Illinois, but the win was not enough to prevent Scott Dixon from taking his second championship title.
Castroneves started from last place on Sunday due to a penalty during qualifying, though the Brazilian driver raced his way through the field to take the lead on lap 78. Dixon, who knew he had to place eighth or higher to take the title managed to reclaim the lead on lap 185 with a perfect pit stop and nearly held off Castroneves for the victory. With only two laps remaining Castroneves pulled alongside Dixon for a battle to the finish.
Castroneves won the race by a mere 0.0033 seconds, a finish so close that Dixon was initially declared the winner and went to Victory Circle before race officials studied photos and gave the win to Castroneves. Only Sam Hornish Jr.'s 0.0024 seconds win over Al Unser Jr. in 2002 on this same track has been closer in the 13-year history of the sport.
Dixon held a seemingly uncatchable 78-point lead heading into the last three races of the season, but by the time the series arrived at Chicagoland Castroneves had slashed this lead to 30 points after a late season-charge. Dixon wins the title and the $1 million bonus by 17 points.
Helio Castroneves, #3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone, said:
"We tried everything we could. I have to thank Team Penske and my guys, they did an awesome job, and my teammate Ryan [Briscoe] was helping me out all day. We didn't change tyres on our last pit stop, and the Firestone Firehawks held up really well - so I rode those 'Magic Ring' tyres as hard as I could, and they took me to victory today!"
IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, said:
"The Firestone Firehawk tyres have been fantastic all season. We've definitely won a lot of races on them! Compared to last year, I think the consistency of the tyres has been even better this season - we've had great durability and wear. As I've said before, they've been the least of our problems this year."
Al Speyer, Executive Director, Firestone Racing, said:
"That was one of the most incredible races I've seen. With a full field of 28 cars running two and three wide, slicing and dicing all day long, it was thrilling from start to finish. And I can't think of a better compliment for Firestone Racing than to have all of the top contenders elect not to change tyres on their final pit stops of the race and of the season - especially with a championship on the line."
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