Sept. 6 newsstand

It's championship weekend ... almost. Catching up with the drivers & teams heading into Chicagoland

USA Today: Franchitti, Dixon neck and neck for IRL title
Says Dixon: "It comes down to the last race. You beat the other guy, you're the champion. That's a lot of emphasis and a lot of stress on one race, but that's what makes it a championship."

The crash from last week is rehashed. Michael says Scott backing into the wall -- and into Dario's path -- was intentional. TCGR's Mike Hull has the comeback: "He would have to be the reincarnated version of Jim Clark, Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna to make that happen."

Gordon Kirby weighs in with Scott Dixon & Mike Hull on the championship chase (look back to Tuesday for the Franchitti camp's recap).

Mike Hull said changes have been made to reduce grip & slow the cars down, and that's why we have two talented drives in P1 & P2. "I think Dixon and Dario can drive a low grip car and that's one of the reasons why those two guys have been consistently successful throughout the year. On the circuits where it's been more apparent that low grip is a key, those two guys have run consistently at the front. There are other guys who have run close to them but on a consistent, points-gathering basis, that has made a difference. Although it's subtle, this is another difference from last year to this year."

Eurosport: Andretti blasts Dixon over crash
As the Vision Turns, Round 16.

Looking ahead: Silly Season stuff
Alex Lloyd is actively looking for an ICS ride.
AP: After winning IPS title, Lloyd looking for IndyCar ride
Says the author: "(Sam Schmidt) is going to hate to see Lloyd go, although he knows it's likely the driver will move up to the big show."

Quoth Alex Lloyd: "At the moment, we've got a lot of interest, which is great. We'll just have to wait and see what happens." And he's one of those guys for whom IndyCar is a big goal: "I grew up with Formula One as an ambition until I saw the (Indianapolis) 500 for the first time in person, and then all those F1 dreams went out the window, and this is where I want to be. I want to be in IndyCar racing and I want to win the 500."

Lloyd has tested Ganassi's IndyCar & driven a Grand Am car for Ganassi, but at this point, it looks like Dixon & Wheldon are set for 2008 in the TCGR cars. Could Chip be going for a three-car team? (the last time that happened, TCGR had its worst season in the IRL and quickly cut back to two).

On Sam Hornish Jr.
Autosport mentions something we had last week from the Detroit papers -- Tim Cindric admitting that Ryan Briscoe is the No. 1 candidate to replace Sam Hornish Jr. if (when?) Sam goes tintop racing.

Says TC: "At the point where we make that decision if that seat is open, Ryan is certainly the lead candidate to do that."

The original story ran in the Detroit Free Press on Sept. 1.

However, Mike King's IndyCar.com Q&A says Sam isn't going to go south.
Says the silver-toned Voice of the IRL: "Here's why. Sam really loves four things: his wife Crystal, his family, Northwest Ohio and racing. Sam and Crystal are expecting their first child Feb. 10. If you think that Sam would leave Crystal to drive a race car in late January or early February, then allow me to laugh out loud. Sam and Crystal would be miserable if they had to move to North Carolina, away from their respective families. ... My prediction? Sam Hornish Jr. returns to the IndyCar Series next season loaded for bear with, not one, but two teammates: Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe."

TK extends sponsorship
Also, 7-11 is extending its sponsor agreement with Tony Kanaan's car through 2008.

Looking ahead: Chicagoland
IndyCar.com: Graduation day: Mutoh ready for ICS
Autosport: Mutoh relaxed heading into first ICS race
Says Hideki: "It is exciting, but this is my first race so I need to be relaxed and just drive natural. I don't feel much pressure. Just be cool and stay natural is my plan."

More weekend press releases, this one from Firestone. Everything you ever wanted to know about tires (or, for our Euro readers, tyres). Left side compound: used at Homestead, Kansas and Texas. Right side compound: used at Kentucky.

Team/driver stuff
USA Today: A.J. Foyt's return to Detroit results in season-best finish
A.J. fills in his weekly report. Says Mr. Foyt: "It's clear to all of us that we have a lot of work to do over the winter, which we have already started planning out."

Sarah Fisher talks about Belle Isle & her wedding plans on ESPN.com.
Interesting comment, especially from someone who said a month ago that D&R might be cutting back and she'd likely be the odd one out: "I'm excited to continue to build and grow our program for 2008."

And finally
Check out Robin Miller's latest Speed TV chat.
Among the items: RM is banking on San Diego being the 17th race, Dario going to ALMS next year, and Buddy Rice keeping his options open for 2008, and has some CC death watch stuff -- including a full Reuters story on a class-action lawsuit in which Kevin Kalkhoven is a defendant.