[MotorSports News]

A race-worn Firestone Firehawk tire provided a temporary resting spot for the sweat-soaked Ryan Briscoe immediately following the IndyCar Series' championship-deciding race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Head in hand, Briscoe's respite before facing the media horde was 49 percent physical after setting a blistering race pace with the racetrack temperature hovering at 135 degrees and 51 percent mental. He came so close to claiming his first major motorsports title, and the "what ifs" began a haunting that will carry into the 2010 season opener.
Through 17 events, on the most diverse set of racetracks in motorsports, three versatile and gentlemen racers battled for the championship that was determined in the closing stages of the finale.
"Ryan, Dixie (Scott Dixon) and I decided beforehand that whatever happened we would go out and have a beer Saturday night," Dario Franchitti said before receiving his prize package at the Indy Racing League Championship Celebration at the W Hotel on South Beach. "That was cool. I'm glad we did."
Franchitti's thrilling victory in the Firestone Indy 300 clinched his second series IndyCar Series championship - which was forged by five total victories, eight other top-five finishes that piled up points and 11 bonus points from pole starts and laps led.
"I didn't think I'd win five races and a championship in my first year back (after the shortened by economics foray into stock cars)," Franchitti said. "I knew driving for Team Target I'd have good equipment. (It was) just a question of could I get back into it and compete at a level that I had already because Scott is a better driver than he was in '07 and Ryan came in every single week, as well as other people who made appearances and won races. It just seemed that Scott and Ryan every week were tough competition.
"From that win at Long Beach, I knew we could get it done."
And so he did, with a big helping hand in the season finale on the 1.5-mile oval from the first caution-free race in series history. Briscoe finished second in the 200-lap shootout and Dixon third; they finished reversed in the final standings, separated by one point.
So here's a look at each of the title contenders' points were accrued:
Dario Franchitti (No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing, 616 points)
• Victories (5): Long Beach, Iowa, Toronto, Infineon, Homestead
• Other top 5 (St. Petersburg, Milwaukee, Texas, Richmond, Edmonton, Mid-Ohio, Chicagoland, Motegi)
• Races led most laps (3 for 6 bonus points): Long Beach, Toronto, Infineon
• PEAK Performance Pole Award (5 for 5 bonus points): Texas, Richmond, Toronto, Infineon, Homestead
• Running at finish: 16 of 17 races (contact at Kansas)
• Worst finish: 18th at Kansas; one other outside top 10
Click it: Franchitti bio, stats and more
Average startφ
4.23
Averageφfinish
4.64

Scott Dixon (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing, 605 points)
• Victories (5): Kansas, Milwaukee, Richmond, Mid-Ohio, Motegi
• Other top 5: Texas, Iowa, Watkins Glen, Toronto, Edmonton, Chicagoland
• Races led most laps (6 for 12 bonus points): Kansas, Indianapolis, Richmond, Kentucky, Mid-Ohio, Motegi
• PEAK Performance Pole Award (1 for 1 bonus points): Motegi. Note: Also started from pole at Kentucky based on entrant points after qualifications were rained out.
• Running at finish: 16 of 17 (contact in St. Pete season opener)
• Worst finish: 16th at St. Pete; two others outside top 10
Click it: Dixon bio, stats and more
Average start
4.29
Average finish
5.0

Ryan Briscoe (No. 6 Team Penske, 604 points)
• Victories (3): St. Petersburg, Kentucky, Chicagoland
• Other top 5: Kansas, Milwaukee, Texas, Iowa, Watkins Glen, Toronto, Edmonton, Mid-Ohio, Infineon, Homestead. Note: Briscoe tied series record with eight runner-up finishes.
• Races led most laps (5 for 10 bonus points): Milwaukee, Texas, Iowa, Chicagoland, Homestead
• PEAK Performance Pole Award (4 for 4 bonus points): Milwaukee, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Chicagoland
• Running at finish: 16 of 17 (contact at Richmond)
• Worst finish: 19 at Richmond; two other outside top 10
Click it: Briscoe bio, stats and more
Average start
3.52
Average finish
5.41


10/16 :: Do the math