How do you quantify what counts as a high or a low for an IndyCar Series season during which Milka Duno led more laps than Danica Patrick?
Or one in which Helio Castroneves nearly snuck away with the season championship despite winning only two races to Scott Dixon‘s six? In which Dan Wheldon won two races and finished fourth in the standings, yet lost his job with Target Chip Ganassi Racing?
High: The image of Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George and former Champ Car World Series owner Kevin Kalkhoven as they smiled and shook hands at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Feb. 28, surrounded by a full field of drivers to confirm the merger that ended the American open-wheel war.
Low: The struggle that many of the transition teams from the Champ Car World Series experienced in obtaining parts from suppliers such as Dallara and Xtrac in the early part of the season. Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, the highest-profile team of the new teams, missed a preseason test and entered only one car in the opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway after driver Graham Rahal crashed earlier in the week.
High: An aggressive fuel-saving strategy by Andretti Green Racing allowed Danica Patrick to lead the last three laps at Motegi to claim her historic first IndyCar Series victory.
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Low: Patrick led only one more lap all year, and her best additional results were a pair of fifths.
High: With his mainstream popularity at an all-time high, Helio Castroneves gives the IndyCar Series a boost by committing to a multiyear contract to stay in open-wheelers with Team Penske.
Low: After winning “Dancing With the Stars,” Castroneves turned into a perennial bridesmaid on the track, enduring a winless streak that started in April 2007, the longest of his career.
High: Castroneves ended his winless streak at 29 races by winning the Infineon race in dominant style, cutting Dixon’s points lead in half.
Low: Castroneves lost a near-certain win a week later when he was penalized for blocking during the Detroit Grand Prix. There is little debate that IRL president Brian Barnhart’s call was correct: Castroneves weaved from one side of the track to the other and back again.
High: Dixon’s overall excellence throughout the season. Though the New Zealander had two of his worst outings down the championship stretch, he won six races and led a series-record 899 laps in 2008.
High: The news that 2007 IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti will return to open-wheelers in 2008 as Dixon’s teammate at Ganassi Racing.
Low: In early October, Castroneves was indicted for tax evasion and conspiracy to commit fraud against the U.S. government. Castroneves traded his usual toothy smile for a tearful frown as he appeared in court in handcuffs and leg chains before he was released on $10 million bond. Travel restrictions likely will prevent Helio from competing in the nonchampionship IndyCar Series season finale in Australia.
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