Kgkiradio.com ESPN Radio Gregg Kielma Predicts The 2009 Indy Car Champ

The Indy Car season has come down to Homestead Miami Speedway. Three men have a shot at the 2009 Indy Car Championship. In no particular order, Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchetti. Auto Racing Expert Gregg Kielma from kgkiradio.com takes a look at the three drivers and gives his prediction who will be your 2009 Indy car Champion.

Kielma on Ryan Briscoe: A tremendous talent with a great team and team owner. In 2005 Briscoe driving for Target Ganassi crashed out of the race in Miami. In 2006 Briscoe raced for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. In 2007 Briscoe raced for Symantec Luczo Dragon Racing. Both 2007 and 2007 were not stellar years for Mr. Briscoe. In 2008 Briscoe again crashed out of the Homestead Miami Race. Briscoe had a good year in 2008 finishing in the money with $ 1,075,000

Briscoe has not had good runs to date at Miami. He's had terrible finishes at a track where he must win next Saturday night. History is not on Briscoe's side. Ryan, his team and owner cannot afford to make any mistakes. Can Penske POWER settle Briscoe down for a run at the championship? I don't think so. Good driver great team. Just not strong enough at Miami to get it done.   

Kielma on Dario Franchetti: Back from a stint in NASCAR Franchetti has not let anyone down this year (2009). Chip Ganassi rolled the dice when he released Dan Weldon from his ride in 2008. Franchetti has not disappointed. Franchetti has allot of seat time at Homestead Miami Speedway. In 2003 he started and finished seventh (7). 2004 saw a starting spot of forth (4) and crashed out finishing seventeenth(17). 2005 saw a good starting spot, fifth (5) andmechanicalproblems caused a twenty second (22) place finish. 2006 Franchetti started fifth (5) and finished forth (4). 2007 was a good year, Dario started third (3) and finished a respectable seventh (7). 2008 Franchetti wanted to spread his wings in NASCAR. He had very limited success and when sponsor issues became apparent, he had no choice but to return where he is a great driver, The Indy Car Series. Franchetti in 2009 has not let his fans down. He will be a player in Miami. He, like his team mate Scott Dixon are proven winners, however this will not be Dario's year.

KielmaonScott Dixon: This leaves me to a guy that I have been impressed with for a very long time, Scott Dixon who will be your 2009 Indy car Champion. Its "back to back" baby for Scott Dixon Lets look at his remarkable Indy Car Career:

First start: March 2, 2003 (Homestead-Miami Speedway)

First victory: March 2, 2003 (Homestead-Miami Speedway)

First pole: April 13, 2003 (Twin Ring Motegi)

Clinched the Indy Car Series championship for Target Chip GanassiRacing with three victories (Homestead-Miami Speedway, his first Indy Car Series start, Pikes Peak and Richmond).

Earned five pole positions (Japan, Richmond, Kansas, Nashville, Nazareth).

Became the first driver in Indy Car Series history to lead consecutive laps over the course of three races. Led the final 84 laps en route to a victory at Pikes Peak and led all 206 laps of the rain-shortened event Richmond.

Led the first 53 laps at Kansas for a total of 343 consecutive laps led.

Finished first in Indy Car Series standings for Target Chip Genesis Racing.

 Won 92nd Indianapolis 500 among six victories. Tied series record at Kentucky with sixth victory.

 Moved into points lead after 500-Mile Race victory.

 Added 14 top-five finishes and six pole starts.

 Became series leader for laps led in a season with 889, and became fifth series driver to lead more than 2,000 laps.

Finished second in Indy Car Series standings for Target Chip GanassiRacing with victories at Watkins Glen, Nashville, Mid-Ohio and Infineon.

Became third Indy Car Series driver to win three consecutive races with victories at Watkins Glen, Nashville and Mid-Ohio.

Joined Dan Wheldon as only drivers to win three consecutive races at one track when he won at Watkins Glen.

Recorded a series-best 13 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. Led a series-best 13 of 17 races.

Finished first or second in 10 of the 17 races.

Won at Watkins Glen International for the second year in a row and at Nashville Superspeedway.

Finished fourth in Indy Car Series standings for Target Chip GanassiRacing, 15 points behind champion Sam Hornish Jr.

Was only Indy Car Series driver to be running at the finish in all 14 events.

Completed a series-high 2,504 of a possible 2,510 laps. Led nine races.

Finished 13th in Indy Car Series standings with one victory (Watkins Glen) and four other top-10 finishes.

Started 13th and finished 24th at 89th Indianapolis 500.

2004 Finished 10th in Indy Car Series standings with best finish of second at Phoenix. Scored two top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes in 15 starts.

Earned two Formula 1 tests with Williams-BMW.

Clinched the Indy Car Series championship for Target Chip GanassiRacing with three victories (Homestead-Miami Speedway, his first Indy Car Series start, Pikes Peak and Richmond).

Earned five pole positions (Japan, Richmond, Kansas, Nashville, Nazareth).

Became the first driver in Indy Car Series history to lead consecutive laps over the course of three races. Led the final 84 laps en route to a victory at Pikes Peak and led all 206 laps of the rain-shortened event Richmond.

Led the first 53 laps at Kansas for a total of 343 consecutive laps led.

NOW how will it all play out?

. If Briscoe wins the pole and the race, he wins the championship.

• If Briscoe wins the race and leads the most laps, he wins the championship.

• If Briscoe wins the race, earns the pole and leads the most laps, he wins the championship.

• If Briscoe wins the race but doesn't score any bonus points, Dixon can win the title if he finishes second and leads the most laps.

• Dixon will win any tiebreaker over Briscoe (first tiebreaker is victories: Dixon leads 5-3).

"It's going to be a great race at Homestead Miami Speedway. Get your tickets at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com