It was at times a bumpy road to get here, especially in Houston, but the IndyCar Series has reached the final event of the season and it is great to see the championship battle come down to the final race — and perhaps even the final laps — again this year.
Scott Dixon leads Helio Castroneves by 25 points heading into the MAVTV 500, the 500-mile finale at a very fast California Speedway on Saturday night. If Dixon finishes the race in fifth spot or better, the Kiwi will capture his third series championship, regardless of what Castroneves does.
There are also several interesting factors that might play a role in deciding the winner. Here are some of the top storylines going into the season finale:
- With Dixon’s Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti recovering from injuries after a scary crash at the last race in Houston, Canadian Alex Tagliani has been recruited back into the series as a substitute for this event. In addition to doing whatever he can to help Dixon secure the title, Tagliani will also be auditioning for an opportunity in the series next year.
- AJ Allmendinger will be back in another Penske car joining Castroneves and Will Power for a three-car effort again this weekend. Before his seatbelt came loose at the Indy 500, AJ had an opportunity to win that race and he should be strong again Saturday night. Allmendinger has a NASCAR gig for next year so his only objective is to help Castroneves win.
- During the recent test session at the speedway, Castroneves posted the fastest lap time. The Chevrolet engines that Penske run have been very fast on ovals this year. Ganassi use Honda power plants.
- It appears as though Castroneves has been taking the “big-picture racing” approach since mid-season, racking up 10 consecutive top-10 results. That’s a strategy that may have backfired when he had two disappointing races at Houston.
- At the beginning of July, Dixon began a roll where he cashed in three straight victories and got himself back in the title hunt. Despite contact and penalties at other events, Dixon put himself in a position as the frontrunner for the title, being hunted as opposed to doing the chasing.
- How will every other team and driver approach this race? Many are trying to secure sponsorship or employment for next season. Canadian James Hinchcliffe is one of the drivers who will be a free agent after the season. With plenty to gain, there could be some very aggressive driving and bold moves made on the track.
- The track itself. California Speedway is wide and fast which presents opportunities for passing, and also for heartbreak, over the 500-mile race distance. It is absolutely possible that the championship will not be decided until both Dixon and Castroneves are coming out of the final corner of the final lap.
And having the race winner and overall champion come down to that final stretch is about as exciting a scenario as you could hope for.