Franchitti wins IRL title

Well, say what you want about the Indy Racing League, they know drama and there was plenty of it yesterday in Chicago. You must have a lucky charm somewhere if your two drivers fighting for the championship, separated by only a couple of points are 1-2 neck and neck going into the final lap of the season. As we waited for the green flag to drop on the final couple of laps, I was fairly certain that Dixon was going to win it and thus the mismanagement at AGR could have been the talk of the off-season. But they got lucky and now Dario Franchitti is the champion and likely retires from the IRL as champion. Who knows, maybe he’ll take that seat at NHL racing. I just don’t see him doing 36 Cup races a year. But then again, why not? he's in shape and they would quickly be one of the most powerful couple of the paddock. Sportscars make the most sense though for a man of his stature (re: age).

And you have to love Ashley Judd, don’t you? Her husband takes the checker and the championship and after giving him his props, goes on a tirade on Milka Duno (re: IRL) for having these slow drivers compete with the likes of her husband. Say what you want about her timing, I just hope that the Indy Racing league will listen to her and the many drivers and journalists who have complained that a few drivers out there have no business being out there. As she was ranting, it was right about that time that I noticed Marty Roth was in the race! Regardless, a great win for Dario and a valiant effort by the series to have a great finish to a season that was rather tumultuous and at times right down embarrassing. The Embarrassing part coming from all the off-track excursions by the likes of Patrick, Hornish Sr or whoever happen to crash on a given weekend. Fighting and shouting only gets you so much media attention. After a while it gets tiring and predictable and thus people tune out. Keep the focus on the racing and don’t lose sight of that.

The other big race this weekend was the NASCAR Saturday night race, which saw Dale Jr. not win. That’s about all I can tell you from that race. Jr. didn’t win. Who did? Not sure. It was tough to tell from my living room, as all I saw and heard was Dale not making the Chase. I felt for him. That post-race interview had him just about in tears. You can tell this meant a lot to him. And now he’ll ride out the season hoping to get a win (or two) for his soon to be former teammates. What? Oh, I’ve just been told that Jimmie Johnson won the race.