Dixon loses race, wins IndyCar Series title

Sports Digest

September 8, 2008

Helio Castroneves barely won the Peak Indy 300, but it wasn't enough to stop Scott Dixon from taking his IndyCar Series second championship. Castroneves came from last place yesterday to win in Joliet, Ill., but Dixon, who knew coming in he only had to finish eighth or better to win the title, took the lead with a perfect pit stop late in the race and nearly held off Castroneves for the victory, crossing the finish line inches behind the winner. It was sweet redemption for Dixon, who lost both the race and the championship to Dario Franchitti last year at Chicagoland Speedway when he ran out of fuel two turns from the finish. Dixon became the fourth straight Indianapolis 500 winner to go on to earn the series championship, following Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish Jr. and Franchitti.

Formula One Belgian Grand Prix: Felipe Massa was declared the winner after Lewis Hamilton was penalized for cutting a corner during a late duel with world champion Kimi Raikkonen in Spa-Francorchamps. Hamilton crossed the line 14.4 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Massa in a dramatic finish that saw Raikkonen crash into a barrier, but the McLaren driver was penalized 25 seconds for an illegal maneuver. Race stewards said in a statement that Hamilton "cut the chicane and gained an advantage" that allowed him to take the lead from Raikkonen in the rain-splashed finale. The penalty demoted Hamilton to third, with BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld promoted to second. Instead of an eight-point edge, Hamilton now leads Massa 76-74 with five races remaining.

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Dixon loses race, wins IndyCar Series title

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Dixon loses race, wins IndyCar Series title

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