Brits on Pole

Almost two months after Scott Dixon wrapped up the 2008 IndyCar championship in Chicago, the series has run its final race of the season - a non-points holiday jaunt to Surfers Paradise in Australia.

Justin Wilson made a successful return to the Texas Motor Speedway as his Newman/Haas/Lanigan team used their final test of the 2008 season to work on their lack of oval racing experience.

Scott Dixon lost the Indy 300 to Helio Castroneves by the second closest margin in IRL history - but his runner-up spot was easily enough to crown him champion in a thrilling final race of the season.

Helio Castroneves can still win the IndyCar Series championship tonight - but he’s going to have to do it the hard way.

Justin Wilson won the Detroit Indy Grand Prix at Belle Isle to score his first IRL victory - but only after Helio Castroneves was ordered to surrender the lead for blocking the Englishman’s overtaking attempts.

After seven second places, a season full of frustrations and a trailer fire that destroyed his first-choice car, Helio Castroneves finally managed to take the chequered flag first and win an IndyCar Series race.

Not even the destruction of their first-choice race cars in a fire could stop Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe from seizing the front row in qualifying for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County.

Scott Dixon’s seemingly-unstoppable march to this year’s IRL championship continued in Kentucky with a last lap overtake of the luckless Helio Castroneves to take victory in the Meijer Indy 300.

Justin Wilson escaped unhurt after crashing heavily during testing at the Kentucky Speedway for the forthcoming Meijer Indy 300 - but his Newman/Haas/Lanigan team is fast running out of cars for its drivers.

Scott Dixon stretched his championship lead by beating closest challenger Helio Castroneves into second place in the Rexall Edmonton Indy - while Justin Wilson flew the flag for the ex-Champ Car drivers by taking third.