Franchitti expects another close fight for 2010 title

Through 17 events in 2009, on the most diverse set of racetracks in motorsports, four IZOD IndyCar Series drivers swapped the points lead a record 15 times. Dario Franchitti earned the driver championship by outdueling Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon and Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe in a season-finale shootout at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Dario Franchitti celebrates his 2009 Championship Credit: IndyCar Series

That the title was determined in the closing stages of the race was fitting - the three competitors entered the 200-lap race on the 1.5-mile oval separated by eight points. The final margin was 11 points (the third-closest in series history and the fourth consecutive year it's been less than 20 points). No more than 33 points separated first to third in the standings over the course of the season.

Franchitti's second series championship in three years was forged by five victories, eight other top-five finishes that piled up points and 11 bonus points from pole starts and race 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. "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."

Franchitti expects Dixon to again contend for the title during the 17-race schedule that kicks off March 14 on the streets of São Paulo, Brazil, along with the Team Penske triumvirate of Briscoe, Helio Castroneves and Will Power, and Tony Kanaan of Andretti Autosport. He also expects a couple of dark horses to emerge, such as Justin Wilson of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and former Formula One driver Takuma Sato.

Again, the road to the championship will be challenging - with the first four races on road/street circuits and the final four on 1.5-mile ovals; in between is a mix of short and long ovals and street/road courses.

"(At dinner recently with team members) I said this year is going to be harder than last year and we all kind of nodded," Franchitti said. "We know the competition is going to be tougher. There will be the usual suspects that were in the title fight last year and I think you'll add a couple more. We'll have to work harder if we want to come home with another championship.

"To even challenge for another championship we'll have to work even harder. If we do our best, we'll see if we can repeat. Right now, we're just going to with the same attitude as last year, which was let's do our best and hopefully that will put us in contention."

Of the 40 drivers who started at least one race last season, 27 earned a top-10 finish, 18 a top five and 15 wound up on the podium. Castroneves, who has won the Indianapolis 500 three times but is looking for his first series title, has been in the hunt almost every year since entering full time in 2002. He finished fourth in '09 -- missing the season opener because of his federal tax evasion trial.

Briscoe, who recorded three victories in '09 and tied the series record with eight runner-up finishes, predicted that several title contenders will emerge because of the diverse schedule.

"This year, with nine road and street courses, it's going to be very challenging," he said. "There are going to be lots of different drivers vying for wins so we're going to have to be very focused and paying attention all the time."

Franchitti became the fifth different series champion in the past six years. Another battle to the finale is expected.

Dario Franchitti will attempt to be the third driver to follow up an IZOD IndyCar Series championship season with another. How the title-holders have fared:

Year     Champion            Finish following year

2008     Scott Dixon                Second
2007     Dario Franchitti           Did not compete
2006     Sam Hornish Jr.            Fifth
2005     Dan Wheldon                Second
2004     Tony Kanaan                Second
2003     Scott Dixon                10th
2002     Sam Hornish Jr.            Fifth
2001     Sam Hornsih Jr.            First
2000     Buddy Lazier               Second
1999     Greg Ray                   13th
1998     Kenny Brack                Second
1996-97  Tony Stewart               Third
1996     Buzz Calkins, Scott Sharp  10th, 22nd

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