By Paul Kelly
indy500.com
Friday, September 8, 2006
Sam Hornish Jr. could join an elite club Sunday, Sept. 10 at Chicagoland Speedway in the final race of the IRL IndyCar Series season, and he doesn't need to look far to see the latest member.
Hornish will become the second consecutive Indianapolis 500 winner to also win the IndyCar Series championship in the same season if he prevails in the four-way title fight in the PEAK Antifreeze 300 presented by Mr. Clean at Chicagoland Speedway. The 300-mile race will be televised at 1:30 p.m. (EDT) on ABC Sports.
One of Hornish's three rivals for the title, Dan Wheldon, pulled off the Indy 500-title double last season. He was the first driver to achieve the feat since the Indy Racing League debuted in 1996 and the first to claim such a double since Jacques Villeneuve won "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" and the CART title in 1995.
The title chase is a battle among four drivers from two teams with impressive Indy 500 pedigrees.
Helio Castroneves leads Marlboro Team Penske teammate Hornish by one point, 441-440, in the standings. Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Wheldon and Dixon are third and fourth, respectively, 19 and 21 points behind Castroneves.
Hornish earned Marlboro Team Penske's record 14th Indy 500 victory in May, while Target Chip Ganassi Racing won the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with Juan Pablo Montoya behind the wheel. Wheldon won the title and "500" last season for Andretti Green Racing before moving to the Ganassi team this season.
If Hornish falls short to Castroneves at Chicagoland, he can take solace in his two IndyCar Series titles in 2001 and 2002, both with Panther Racing. But Castroneves is seeking his first IndyCar Series title, as he was second to Hornish in 2002 and third to Dixon in 2003.
If Dixon wears the season crown Sunday, he will join Hornish as the only two-time IndyCar Series champion. But he'll have to wait until the 91st Indianapolis 500, on Sunday, May 27, 2007, to try and earn his coveted first victory in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." His best finish in four starts at Indy is fourth, in 2003 and 2006.
***
2007 Indianapolis 500 tickets: The 91st Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 27, 2007. Fans are encouraged to submit their ticket applications for the race to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as soon as possible. The most convenient, fastest method is online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
Related Stories
- J. Andretti Rolls With Changes Through Three Decades At Indy
- McDonald's Pit Stop Challenge Showcases Top Indy 500 Crews
- Indy 500 Race Countdown Begins With Public Drivers' Meeting
- Tour Bus Takes Dixon For Ride Down Memory Lane At Indy
- Dixon Enjoys Sharing Memories Of Indy Victory With Letterman
| Indianapolis 500 Talkback | Post Comment |
|
|
|