Brits on Pole

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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.

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.

The tantalising prospect of an all-British line-up at the IRL’s Panther Racing team was floated by Dan Wheldon and team boss John Barnes at the pair’s first interview since the announcement of the Englishman’s move there.

Reigning IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti is to return to the series next year, driving for former rival Target Chip Ganassi Racing at the expense of Dan Wheldon who moves to Panther Racing.

You wouldn’t guess from this slapstick interview that Dan Wheldon recently survived a scare that might have seen him dropped by his team, Target Chip Ganassi, and has just slipped to fourth in the championship.

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.

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.