Homestead: Honda qualifying notes

Championship Contenders Start in Front at Miami

The three IndyCar Series championship contenders -- Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe -- qualified 1-2-3 Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in preparation for Saturday's season-ending Homestead-Miami Indy 300.

Franchitti's pole was worth one championship point, bringing him within four points of his Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate and series leader Scott Dixon. Third-starting Briscoe is third in the points, eight behind Dixon. There are a variety of scenarios for each driver to claim the title. Either Dixon or Franchitti can claim the crown by winning the race, while Briscoe can also win the championship with a race victory -- as long as Dixon does not finish second and earn the two bonus points available for leading the most laps. With a series-leading five race victories this season, Dixon would claim the title on a tie-breaker with either Franchitti or Briscoe.

Dario Franchitti (#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) pole qualifier, his fifth pole of 2009 and 11th career IndyCar pole: "The extra point certainly helps, and I'll take it. But there's still a lot of work to do tomorrow. I know that both Scott [Dixon] and Ryan [Briscoe] will be giving it everything they have, and so will we. I'm relaxed and confident, and looking forward to taking the green flag tomorrow, then seeing how the race -- and championship -- plays out."

-credit: honda motorsports