Some numbers to note regarding the IZOD IndyCar Series championship and the Firestone Indy Lights championship.
3 – IZOD IndyCar Series championships for Dario Franchitti, matching Sam Hornish Jr. for most titles in series history. Franchitti has won the title in the last three seasons he has raced. (He did not compete in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2008)
3 – Consecutive IZOD IndyCar entrant championships for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. The first team to win three straight titles. Panther Racing (2001 and 2002 with Sam Hornish Jr.) and Andretti Autosport (2004 Tony Kanaan and 2005 Dan Wheldon) are the only other teams to win back-to-back title.
4 – Firestone Indy Lights drivers’ championships for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. It previously won the drivers’ championship with Thiago Medeiros (2004), Jay Howard (2006) and Alex Lloyd (2007).
5 – Points separating Dario Franchitti and Will Power in the final IZOD IndyCar Series point standings. It’s the second-closest point margin in series history. Scott Sharp and Buzz Calkins tied for the championship with 246 points in the three-race inaugural season in 1996. Sam Hornish Jr. won the title on a tiebreaker – the most victories – over Dan Wheldon when both finished with 475 points in 2006.
5 – Drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 and the national championship in the same season at least twice during their careers. Franchitti (2007 and 2010) joins A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967), Louis Meyer (1928, 1933), Wilbur Shaw (1937, 1939) and Rodger Ward (1959, 1962).
7 – Number of Firestone Indy Lights champion J.K. Vernay. The car also carried Jay Howard (2006) and Alex Lloyd to titles.
10 – Number of IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti. He is the only driver to take the championship using the number.
23 – Points separating J.K. Vernay and James Hinchcliffe in the final Firestone Indy Lights point standings. It’s the second-closest point margin in series history. Jay Howard beat Jonathan Klein by four points (390-386) in 2006.
59 – Points margin overcome by Dario Franchitti in the final four races. It’s the largest margin overcome by the eventual champion in that time frame. The previous best comeback was in 1996-1997 when Tony Stewart (who was fourth, 42-points behind Davey Hamilton with four races to go) won the title by 6 points.
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