Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

motor sports:

IndyCar racers competing for millions Sunday at Las Vegas track

Dario Franchitti, Will Power separated by 17 points for series title heading into final race of the season

Dario Franchitti-Will Power-Mandalay Bay

Darrin Bush/Las Vegas News Bureau

IndyCar drivers Dario Franchitti and Will Power pose with the IndyCar Champions Trophy in The Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay on Oct. 12, 2011.

IndyCar News Conference

Will Power and Dario Franchitti take part in a news conference Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, to publicize Sunday's Izod IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Launch slideshow »

IndyCar drivers take to the Strip

KSNV coverage of an IndyCar event on the Strip in anticipation of Sunday's championship race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Oct. 13, 2011.

Danica Patrick Autograph Session

Indy car driver Danica Patrick signs autographs for fans on the corner of Charleston and Las Vegas Boulevard Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Patrick will be driving in her last Indy car race on Sunday before moving to NASCAR full time next season. Launch slideshow »

Oscar Goodman Welcomes IndyCar to Las Vegas

Former Mayor Oscar Goodman welcomes IndyCar to Las Vegas at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on Oct. 11, 2011. Launch slideshow »

This won’t be your typical IndyCar Series race.

The IZOD IndyCar World Championship race Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the final event of the series season, pitting rivals Dario Franchitti and Will Power in a battle for the series championship and a $1 million bonus.

Franchitti, who has won three of the last four titles and enters with a slim 18-point lead, is always one of the series’ biggest draws. But on Sunday, he’ll be sharing the spotlight in the 200-lap race. And he won’t be the only one with a chance to win millions.

England’s Dan Wheldon, the Indianapolis 500 champion, will share $5 million with a fan from New Jersey if Wheldon goes from the last starting position to win the race as part of the Go Daddy IndyCar Challenge.

This will be the first IndyCar race at the speedway in more than a decade. An IndyCar record 34 cars are entered, meaning there will be little room for drivers to maneuver on the 1.5-mile Las Vegas track.

The race is also Danica Patrick’s last on the open-wheel circuit before she moves to racing stock cars full-time for NASCAR.

“That is what is going to make this race fun and exciting,” Randy Bernard, the chief executive officer of IndyCar, said about one of the race’s many subplots.

Franchitti and Power have combined to win 10 of IndyCar’s 17 races this year. Power has six wins; Franchitti four.

But Franchitti, who doesn’t have a win since July, moved to the front of the standings at the Kentucky Indy 300 in early October after Power was involved in a pit road accident and finished 19th.

“It has been a good battle,” Power said. “It has been good for IndyCar. It is amazing how many times you think you are on the right track, and you have a points lead, and like that it can change.”

Franchitti has a small familiarity with the Las Vegas track from having raced in NASCAR during the 2008 season. Even if Power wins the race, Franchitti could still capture the season title with a second-place finish.

“I’m glad I don’t have to find those 18 points going into this race,” Franchitti said. “It’s been one of those seasons with great battles all of the way through. I don’t think any of us will give an inch on Sunday.”

Wheldon, the 2005 league champion, will face the daunting task of starting from the last position and winning the race — a victory that would also give fan Ann Babenco of High Bridge, N.J., a piece of the winnings.

“It is going to be a strong 33 cars in front of me, there is no doubt about it,” Wheldon said. “I’m sure there are some people wanting to stop me from achieving this. I will give it everything I have.”

Schedule of events

  • Friday, Oct 14 – Ticket gates open at 8:30 a.m.
  • 8:30-9:30 a.m. – NASCAR Truck Series practice.
  • 9:45-10:30 a.m. – Indy Lights practice.
  • 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – NASCAR Truck Series final practice.
  • 12:30-1:15 p.m. – IndyCar Series practice (Group 1).
  • 1:15-2 p.m. – IndyCar Series practice (Group 2).
  • 2:15-3 p.m. – Indy Lights qualifying (2 laps, all positions).
  • 3-4:30 p.m. – IndyCar Series qualifying (2 laps, all positions).
  • 4:30 p.m. – NASCAR Truck Series qualifying (2 laps, all positions).
  • 7 p.m. – Neon Garage closed.
  • 7:30-8:30 p.m. – Free NASCAR Truck Series driver autograph session at Stratosphere
  • Saturday, Oct 15 – Ticket gates open at 10 a.m.
  • Noon – NASCAR Truck Series driver introductions.
  • 12:30 p.m. – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Smith’s 350 (146 laps, 219 miles).
  • 5 p.m. – Neon Garage closed.
  • Sunday, Oct 16 – Ticket gates open at 8 a.m.
  • 9:45-10:45 a.m. – Firestone Indy Lights Series race (67 laps, 100 miles).
  • 11:15 a.m.-noon – Los Lonely Boys concert in Neon Garage.
  • Noon – IndyCar Series driver introductions.
  • 12:45 p.m. – IZOD INDYCAR World Championships Presented By Honda (200 laps, 300 miles).
  • 4 p.m. – Neon Garage closed.

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