[MotorSports News]

HOMESTEAD, Fla. --φRyan Briscoe would have welcomed -- begged and prayedφfor actually -- a yellow flag.
But theφfirst caution-free race in IndyCar Series history was the bane of the Team Penske driver and played into the late-race strategy of Target Chip Ganassi Racing andφDarioφFranchitti, who claimed hisφsecond series championship by accomplishing the only thingφhe needed to do -- win the race.
Briscoe, the race leader who led in points (614-610 over Scott Dixon) with seven laps left in the 200-lap race on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway, had to pit for a splash of ethanol because of the blisteringφpace of the Firestone Indy 300 (201.420 mph average; second-fastest in series history).
Click it: Firestone Indy 300 box score
Franchitti, who was 24.9643 seconds back as Briscoe's No. 6 Team Penske car hit the pit lane, moved to the front as Briscoe hit the acceleration lane. Though Briscoe was more than a mile per hour quicker on the final two laps, Franchitti went on to win byφ4.7888 seconds. Dixon, the 2008 series champion and Franchitti's first-year teammate,φfinished third. The final points: Franchitti (616), Dixon (605), Briscoe (604).
So, on theφ10th day of the 10th month, the No. 10 car won it all. It also was theφ10th victory of the season for the team, split evenly between the drivers.φIn this fuel-mileage race, Franchitti hit all the right numbers.
"What a year for this Target team," said Franchitti, who returned to the series after a partial 2008 season in stock cars. "It was so much fun to be a part of. I've been really lucky my whole career to have a great team. I can't thank the team enough and I can't thank Target enough.
"Scottφand I raced each other the whole season and it just came down to this. I'm bloody delighted right now."
The scenario was reminiscent of 2007, when Franchitti and Dixon battled to the conclusion of the season finale with the title in the balance. Dixon's car was starved for fuel on the final lap, enabling Franchitti to charge ahead, win the race and the championship in anφAndretti Green Racing car.
"Like 2007, I just had to try to save some fuel and stay on strategy," said Franchitti, who became the series' third multiple champion. "We're always trying to go a little farther (final service stop on Lap 150). The car was a bit imbalanced on the first stint and that allowed Scott and Ryan to get away a little bit. We made it a lot better the second stint and the car was really good, but by then we were fuel conservation mode. I was going as fast as I could, but they had me turnφ(the fuel setting)φway down."
Dixon, like Briscoe, pitted on Lap 144 and had to come in for a splash (192 for Dixon; 194 for Briscoe) or risk running the 22-gallon fuel cell dry.
"At the start of the race, I didn't think it would be wise to go out and burn a lot of fuel," said Dixon, who started next toφFrankchitti the pole sitter. "It ended being the fact.φYou always think there's always going to be a yellow.φWe just came up a little bit short on fuel. You just have to take it on the chin and come back and try again next year."
Briscoe led a field-high 103 laps to clinch the two bonus points and was leading the race - everything he needed to do to clinch his first major motorsports title (and become the sixth series champion in as many years).
"It's pretty frustrating," said Briscoe, who finished with a series record-tying eight single-season runner-up finishes. "It was one of the best races I've ever run. I just hate that it came down to fuel strategy. I thought it was going to be between me and Scott, definitely. I guess the 10 car had the advantage."
Tony Kanaan advanced from his 15th qualifying position toφfourth (his highest finish in the past five races), while Helio Castroneves finished fifth and Hideki Mutoh sixth.
"We did what we could tonight," said Kanaan, the 2004 series champion. "The No. 11 car was OK, but it just was not fast enough. I was trying to win in my hometown, but we'll get it next year. Those three guys were unbeatable.φI'll take fourth place. After the season we had, being in the top four is a great way to finish. φI have to say, the best part of my year was getting to see my best friend win the championship again."
Rafael Matos ofφLuczo Dragon Racing, participating in its first full season, clinched the Apex-Brasil Rookie of theφYear award with a 14th place.
"It couldn't be better," said Matos, the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights champion. "This title means a lot to me and a lot to the team. There are a lot of famous names in the Rookie of the Year gallery and I dreamed about (joining them). I think this shows that we are ready for bigger and better things in the series."
Mario Moraes recorded his fourth consecutive top-10 finish (seventh), while Alex Lloyd was eighth in his debut with Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. Tomas Scheckter finished ninth and Justin Wilson claimed 10th to move to ninth in the standings. Graham Rahal's 11th place secured seventh in the standings.


10/10 :: Hail the champion