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IndyCar championship weekend
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AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama
The championship that began in April at St. Petersburg, Fla. will be decided this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Target Chip Ganassi drivers Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti lead the way, with Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe right behind them. Dixon leads Dario by five points, with Briscoe trailing by only eight. On paper, then, it's anyone's championship.
Races, of course, are never run on paper. This is unfortunate for Briscoe, since the last three actual races at Homestead have been won (in dominating fashion) by Ganassi cars. Yes, Briscoe has been stout on the high-banked 1.5 mile tracks in 2009, but Homestead has slight differences (no tri-oval/dog-leg, progressive banking) compared to a Chicagoland, so it's difficult to predict with any certainty.
Briscoe finds himself in the unfortunate position of having to outright beat both Ganassi cars at arguably their best track. For most of the year, Briscoe's been fast and consistent. Unfortunately, that consistency abandoned him in Motegi. He's had a great year, but if he doesn't win the title, he can only blame himself.
Dixon and Franchitti, meanwhile, started off the year slowly. While Dario won Long Beach in dominating fashion, Dixon really struggled early. Obviously, they've recovered nicely, as Dixon has five wins so far (four on ovals) and Franchitti has four victories (three on road and street circuits). They are the last two IndyCar champions; Briscoe, meanwhile, is in his first championship battle.
On paper, then, given the past Ganassi success at Homestead, one would think that Briscoe's chances aren't good. It wouldn't be as improbable as something crazy like Barack Obama winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize (Hey, wait a minute...), but the odds don't look favorable.
But races are never run on paper. All the analysis and prognostication ignores the fact that 300 miles will settle this, nothing else. May the best man win.
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