09/07/2008 - Joliet, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2008 IndyCar Series season ended in dramatic fashion Sunday as Helio Castroneves nipped Scott Dixon to the finish line by inches to win the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 at the Chicagoland Speedway. Castroneves finished 0.0033 of a second ahead of Dixon in the second closest finish in series history.
The victory was Castroneves' second of the season and the 14th of his career
"It is awesome," Castroneves said. "We tried everything would could to win. Thanks to my guys, they gave me a great car."
Castroneves led a race-high 79 laps and picked up three bonus points in the process, but Dixon ended up clinching the title by 17 points and a $1 million bonus in the process.
"Team Target (Chip Ganassi Racing) has done a fantastic job all year," Dixon said after capturing his second title. "This season has just been amazing.
Dixon won his first championship in 2003. He ended the 2008 season with a record-tying six victories, including one in the Indianapolis 500. A win at Chicagoland would have broken Dan Wheldon's 2005 record for most victories in a season.
Castroneves won the season-finale from the 28th starting position. His qualifying time was disallowed when he ran below the white line numerous times during his four-laps attempt. Castroneves, however, quickly made his way through the field and grabbed the lead for the first time on Lap 77.
Dixon fell back to 11th, while Castroneves held the lead during the mid-stages of the race. But Dixon managed to capture the lead in the late-going as he won the battle off of pit road. Castroneves came out second.
"We were trying to work out where we needed to be, and I think I got a little complacent in the middle there," Dixon said. "Some of those guys are so quick, some people we didn't expect to be racing with. We got shuffled back in line a little bit but what a great day."
Dixon led 15 laps before Castroneves caught him on the final lap.
Ryan Briscoe, Tony Kanaan and Will Power completed the top-five.
Sam Hornish, Jr. beat Al Unser, Jr. in the closest finish in series history -- 0.0024 of a second in 2002 at Chicagoland.
The IRL will run an exhibition race Sunday, October 26th, at the Streets of Surfers Paradise in Australia.
<< Lopez and M's down Yanks
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Lopez had a pair of solo homers while
Adrian Beltre went 2-for-3 with a two-run blast to extend his hitting streak
to 13 games, as the Seattle Mariners took the rubber match of a weekend set,
5-2, fr
<< Newhan, Astros rally past Rockies
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Newhan hit a go-ahead RBI triple in a
two-run eighth inning as the Houston Astros came back to edge the Colorado
Rockies, 7-5, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Coors Field.
Jose Cast
<< Cowboys' Barber leaves with injury
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber
III left Sunday's 28-10 win over the Cleveland Browns with an apparent injury
to his ribs.
He was sent to the locker room during the final quarter to have X-rays
<< Murray upends Nadal to reach U.S. Open final
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sixth-seeded Andy Murray advanced to
his first ever Grand Slam final with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4 victory over
top-ranked Rafael Nadal on Sunday at the U.S. Open.
The match was suspended on Satu
Romo, Cowboys take down Browns >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tony Romo threw for 320 yards with a
touchdown and an interception on 24-of-32 passing to lead the Dallas Cowboys
to a 28-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the season-opener for both
teams.
Pirates' McLouth leaves after being hit in face >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pirates center fielder Nate McLouth
left in the fourth inning of Pittsburgh's 11-6 loss to the San Francisco
Giants on Sunday after being struck in the face by a batted ball.
McLouth dove to
Warner and Cardinals slide past Niners >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kurt Warner was an efficient 19-of-30 for
197 yards and a touchdown as the Arizona Cardinals edged the San Francisco
49ers, 23-13 in the season opener for both NFC West squads.
Edgerrin James carried
Giants rip hapless Pirates thanks to 10-run frame >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pablo Sandoval went 2-for-3 and drove
in five runs, including a three-run double in San Francisco's 10-run fourth
inning, as the Giants came back to down the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-6 in the
rubber
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
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