Race to Castroneves, title to Dixon

For nearly two hours Sunday afternoon in Joliet, Helio Castroneves did everything in his power to deprive Scott Dixon of a second IndyCar Series championship.

The determined Brazilian came from last place to lead the most laps and win the PEAK Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway in a photo finish - and it wasn't enough.

The 28-year-old Dixon, driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, held a seemingly insurmountable 78-point lead heading into the last three races of the season.

But Castroneves put on a late-season charge that included both of his 2008 race wins and put a definite scare into the New Zealander.

"I think we set our minds on having (the championship) tied up a long time before now and I think that's what run us into a bit of trouble," Dixon said. "That was definitely the toughest two weeks I've had and, even today, Team Penske and Helio wouldn't let it go.

"They were pushing to make sure they got the most. You've got to take your hats off to them for doing all that they needed to do."

Castroneves won the race in the second-closest finish in the history of the IndyCar Series, winning by 0.0033 seconds, which translates to 12 1-8 inches.

It was so close that Dixon was initially declared the winner and went to Victory Circle before race officials studied photos of the finish and gave the win to Castroneves.

Only former Team Penske driver Sam Hornish Jr.'s 0.0024 seconds win over Al Unser Jr. in 2002 on this same track has been closer in the 13-year history of IndyCar.

"It was the craziest Victory Circle I've been involved in, where you see your car rolled into position, you get out like you won the race and they roll it off and take your hat off you and say you haven't won," Dixon said.

"That was tough to deal with but, in the back of my mind, we all knew we'd won the championship, and that was the main goal."

Dixon knew coming in he only had to finish eighth or better Sunday to win the title and, after struggling in the middle portion of the race, he left no doubt at the end about the championship.

He came into the race with a 30-point lead and wound up winning the title and the $1 million bonus that goes with it by 17 points.

It was sweet redemption for Dixon, who lost both the race and the title to Dario Franchitti last year at Chicagoland Speedway when he ran out of fuel two turns from the finish.

It was far from a perfect race for Dixon, who didn't lead until 15 laps from the end and fell as far back as 11th in the middle of the 200-lap event.

NASCAR: Not so fast, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. Jimmie Johnson has no intention of giving up his title without a fight.

Johnson stormed into the Chase for the championship by winning his second consecutive race, getting a big boost as he starts his pursuit of a third straight title.

The two-time defending Cup champion passed Tony Stewart and Martin Truex for the lead with 32 laps to go at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, then held off Stewart's late challenge over the final 10 laps.

"I think this - car is going to be ready for this championship battle," Johnson said in Victory Lane. "I think chances are high. We're in the show and we're going to give 100 percent and try to make history."

Johnson is seeking to become the first driver to win three consecutive titles since Cale Yarborough (1976-78).

Busch, winner of 8 Cup wins this season, is the top seed in the Chase. Edwards is second based on his 6 victories and Johnson is third. They are the only three drivers in the field with multiple wins, and five of the contenders start the Chase winless on the season.

Edwards, however, believes all 12 drivers will have a shot at the title when the 10-race Chase begins next Sunday in New Hampshire.

"Anything can happen," he said. "I think it's going to be defined by your bad days."

Formula One: Felipe Massa was declared the winner of the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, after Lewis Hamilton was penalized for cutting a corner during a late duel with world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton crossed the line 14.4 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Massa in a dramatic finish that saw Raikkonen crash into a barrier, but the McLaren driver was penalized 25 seconds for an illegal maneuver.