NEXTEL Cup Series

With four drivers in contention for the IRL IndyCar Championship, this year's final round, the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300, was undoubtedly going to be one of the most hotly contested in recent memory. Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon entered the event seeking their second titles, Marlboro Team Penske's Helio Castroneves valiantly pursued his first major championship while Sam Hornish Jr. triumphantly chased his third crown. More

Marco Andretti captured the attention of millions by coming within a car length of winning his first Indianapolis 500 earlier this May. He added an exclamation point by taking the checkered flags at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma and becoming the youngest winner in IndyCar history at only nineteen. Marco added his name to a list of openwheel victors including Mario, Michael and John Andretti whilst also clinching Rookie of the Year honors. More

Marlboro Team Penske added another near perfect weekend to its impressive 2006 tally following the Meijer Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway. With only thirty-one points separating the top four coming into the event, Team Penske looked to continue its season-long domination while Target Chip Ganassi Racing was ready to take the fight to the Marlboro cars in a desperate bid to catch Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves. More

One week ago a furious Helio Castroneves stormed out of his injured Dallara convinced his championship hopes were dashed after light contact with Ed Carpenter at the Milwaukee Mile. A week and a new track later however, Castroneves was all smiles. A win at Michigan International Speedway that propelled him back atop the championship standings explains the sudden change in mood. More

Nine rounds into the IndyCar season Marlboro Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing were the only teams to have visited victory lane and looked set to sweep the year. By the end of the tenth round however, a new face made its way to winner's circle, Tony Kanaan. After extensive testing at the Milwaukee Mile, Andretti Green Racing knew they were in good shape headed into the ABC Supply AJ Foyt Indy 225. More

Heading into the Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Superspeedway NASCAR was characteristically making racing headlines across the country. What was noteworthy to the openwheel community however were the names attached to the stories: Juan Pablo Montoya and Danica Patrick. The former astonished fans by announcing that he was coming back to the States to race stockcars after an enigmatic season with McLaren-Mercedes, almost immediately rumors tying Patrick to a NASCAR move emerged as well. More

Earlier in the season Sam Hornish Jr. told the racing world that he would be satisfied if his sole win of the year came at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Prior to the SunTrust Indy Challenge Hornish lived up to his word while teammate Helio Castroneves continued to dominate the championship standings on the strength of three wins and three poles. More

Coming off a blisteringly hot Indy 500 the IndyCar Series took to a wet track for the second annual Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix. The grid was set through combined practice speeds after showers and threatening skies all weekend long cancelled qualifying. Though some familiar faces such as Buddy Lazier and P.J. Chesson were absent, Ryan Briscoe made an impressive return to the series substituting for Lazier in the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entry. More

The legendary 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Borg-Warner Trophy have a tendency of bringing out the best in drivers regardless of handicap or experience. In 1996 an injured Buddy Lazier drove to victory while nursing a broken back; as early as last year, rookie Danica Patrick thrilled millions by leading the race in its closing stages. This year was no different. More

Helio “Spiderman” Castroneves has become a household name and fan favorite in the world of American openwheel racing. Although Castroneves has competed at the pinnacle of American auto racing for eight years and has managed to carve his face onto the Borg-Warner twice, he has yet to win an elusive top tier championship. His performance in the first third of this season though might just be what the Brazilian needs to propel himself into the revered status of former IndyCar champions. More

Kurt Busch Wins the O'Reilly 300

One week ago Helio Castroneves looked set to wrap up his first victory of the season at Homestead Miami Speedway; things did not go the Brazilian's way, and with just one lap to go Castroneves was robbed by a wily Dan Wheldon. The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was a very different affair as Spiderman coasted across the finish line on point.  More

Paul Dana 1975-2006