Ryan Briscoe, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon the only contenders left for IRL title

August 24th, 2009 Franchitti wins Sonoma Grand PrixSONOMA, Calif. — Dario Franchitti hoisted a celebratory glass of red wine to his lips in a long-awaited moment for the IndyCar driver at Infineon Raceway.

July 4th, 2009 Briscoe wins pole at The GlenWATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Ryan Briscoe has won the pole for the Camping World Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International.

June 21st, 2009 Castroneves awarded pole for Iowa 250NEWTON, Iowa — Helio Castroneves was awarded the pole for Sunday's Iowa Corn Indy 250 after the qualifying session was canceled because water had seeped into the track. The Iowa 250 will instead be stacked based on entrant points.

May 30th, 2009 Indy 500 winner hits wall in Milwaukee qualifyingWEST ALLIS, Wis. — Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves has crashed in qualifying at the Milwaukee Mile.

May 10th, 2009 Castroneves wins third Indy poleINDIANAPOLIS — When uncertainly about his future had Helio Castroneves down in the dumps, he thought about his true love — being in a race car. Saturday, less than a month after being acquitted of charges of tax evasion, Castroneves was right where he wanted to be, back in the cockpit and on the pole for the Indianapolis 500.

May 10th, 2009 Gleeful Castroneves wins third pole for Indy 500INDIANAPOLIS — A gleeful Helio Castroneves was back on top of the racing world Saturday, winning the pole for the Indianapolis 500. On a cool, windy Saturday full of strategic guesses on when to qualify and when to stay off the track, the charismatic Brazilian driver — back in racing less than a month after being acquitted of charges of tax evasion — took a big gamble, voiding a fast qualifying effort from earlier in the day and knocking Penske Racing teammate Ryan Briscoe off the pole.

May 9th, 2009 Castroneves takes provisional pole from teammateINDIANAPOLIS — Helio Castroneves took the provisional pole for the Indianapolis 500 with less than two hours remaining Saturday in the first round of qualifying. The two-time Indy winner voided an earlier qualifying effort that was third on the tentative grid and made the decision pay off with a four-lap average of 224.864 mph that knocked Penske Racing teammate Ryan Briscoe's 224.131 off the top spot for the May 24 race.

May 9th, 2009 Castroneves take provisional pole from teammateINDIANAPOLIS — Helio Castroneves has taken the provisional pole for the Indianapolis 500. The two-time Indy winner voided an earlier qualifying effort that was third on the tentative grid and made the decision pay off with a four-lap average of 224.864 mph that knocked Penske Racing teammate Ryan Briscoe's 224.131 off the top spot for the May 24 race.

May 9th, 2009 Penske drivers 1-2 in early qualifying at IndyINDIANAPOLIS — Ryan Briscoe was the early leader Saturday in pole qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. The fastest driver in practice this week showed the way on a cool, windy afternoon with a four-lap average of 224.131 mph.

May 9th, 2009 Rookie Doornbos fastest in early practiceINDIANAPOLIS — Rookie driver Robert Doornbos is the fastest during early practice for the Indianapolis 500. Thursday's practice began about 20 minutes after its scheduled start because of a still-wet track, but by midday Doornbos was at more than 223 mph, just ahead of Penske teammates Ryan Briscoe and two-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves.

May 9th, 2009 Briscoe, Franchitti 1-2 at IndyINDIANAPOLIS — Ryan Briscoe took the provisional pole position for the Indianapolis 500 in early qualifying on Saturday. The fastest driver in practice this week showed the way on a cool, windy afternoon with a four-lap average of 224.131 mph.

May 8th, 2009 Teammates Doornbos, Rahal following Indy game planINDIANAPOLIS — Robert Doornbos is trying to keep it simple. Graham Rahal is trying to keep it fast.

May 8th, 2009 Marco Andretti fastest in Indy 500 practiceINDIANAPOLIS — Marco Andretti is the fastest driver after the first full day of practice for the Indianapolis 500. Thirty-two drivers were on the track Thursday, with Andretti's top lap at 225.478 mph.

April 27th, 2009 Lazier, Duno enter Indy 500 qualifyingINDIANAPOLIS — Former Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier and Milka Duno have been added to the entry list for the May 24 race. Lazier, who won in 1996, joins Helio Castroneves, Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon as former winners who have entered.

April 27th, 2009 Dixon wins at Kansas SpeedwayKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Scott Dixon took advantage of Ryan Briscoe's tough-luck pit stop with 47 laps left, then held off Helio Castroneves down the stretch to win the Road Runner Turbo Indy 500 on Sunday.