The three IndyCar Series championship contenders -- Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe --qualified 1-2-3 Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in preparation for Saturday’s season-endingHomestead-Miami Indy 300.
Franchitti’s pole was worth one championship point, bringing him within four points of his Target ChipGanassi Racing teammate and series leader Scott Dixon. Third-starting Briscoe is third in the points,eight behind Dixon. There are a variety of scenarios for each driver to claim the title. Either Dixon orFranchitti can claim the crown by winning the race, while Briscoe can also win the championship with arace victory -- as long as Dixon does not finish second and earn the two bonus points available forleading the most laps. With a series-leading five race victories this season, Dixon would claim the title ona tie-breaker with either Franchitti or Briscoe.
This weekend’s 200-lap race, the 17th and final round of the 2009 IndyCar season, starts Saturday at 5
p.m. EDT, with live television coverage on Versus.
Dario Franchitti (#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) pole qualifier, his fifth pole of 2009 and
11th career IndyCar pole:
“The extra point certainly helps, and I’ll take it. But there’s still a lot of work to
do tomorrow. I know that both Scott [Dixon] and Ryan [Briscoe] will be giving it everything they have, and
so will we. I’m relaxed and confident, and looking forward to taking the green flag tomorrow, then seeing
how the race -- and championship -- plays out.” |
October 9, 2009
