MAVTV 500 2013: Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More

Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon will step into their rides on Saturday night for the MAVTV 500 with a chance of finishing IZOD's IndyCar Series' final race of the year as season champion. 

The same conditions occured last season as IndyCar returned to this oval after a seven-year absence when Ryan Hunter-Reay used a fourth-place finish to overtake Will Power for the series championship after Power crashed in the early stages of the race.

Speaking of Power, he had no problem tackling this track in qualifying. With a speed of 220.775, Power took the pole for the season's final race. This is Power's third pole of the season, although it has to be a bittersweet accomplishment for him. 

His pole relegated teammate Castroneves to second, which could wind up costing him a point. Castroneves, as NBC's Tony DiZinno points out, will be starting in 12th, despite qualifying second due to "an unapproved engine change." Castroneves isn't the only one facing this penalty. Dixon also is, as well as Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, Sebastian Saavedra and Takuma Sato. 

These penalties are not reflected in the qualifying order below. 

Check out the complete lineup and the vitals for this event, and then I'll jump back into the preview. 

When: Saturday, Oct. 1, at 9:10 p.m. ET

Where: Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

TV Schedule: NBC Sports Network

The start time for the race was pushed back by 40 minutes. Looking at the picture below, I think that was an excellent idea.

Qualifying Results

Info via the Associated Press.

1. Will Power, Dallara-Chevrolet

2. Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Chevrolet

3. AJ Allmendinger, Dallara-Chevrolet

4. Sebastien Bourdais, Dallara-Chevrolet

5. Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Honda

6. James Jakes, Dallara-Honda

7. Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda

8. Marco Andretti, Dallara-Chevrolet

9. Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Chevrolet

10. Josef Newgarden, Dallara-Honda

11. James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Chevrolet

12. Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Chevrolet

13. Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda

14. Carlos Munoz, Dallara-Chevrolet

15. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Chevrolet

16. Simon Pagenaud, Dallara-Honda

17. Oriol Servia, Dallara-Chevrolet

18. Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda

19. J.R. Hildebrand, Dallara-Honda

20. Tristan Vautier, Dallara-Honda

21. Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Chevrolet

22. Sebastian Saavedra, Dallara-Chevrolet

23. Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda

24. Pippa Mann, Dallara-Honda

25. Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda

Preview 

Dixon takes a 25-point lead into this race after a fantastic season. He's picked up four wins this year and has nine finishes in the top five as he quests to win his third championship. 

Meanwhile, Castroneves had an even more consistent season. While he only picked up one win, out of the 18 races, he has 15 top-10 finishes. Still, it was just three races ago when he held a 49-point lead in the championship standings, but mechanical woes doomed him in the double-header in Houston. 

Now he has his work cut out for him. If Dixon can finish anywhere in the top five, the championship is his. 

However, if he fails to make the top five, the door is open for Castroneves to retake his lead and claim his first IndyCar championship. 

Whatever happens, this all sets up for great theater in the year's final race.