KEY POINTS:
On the eve of a potentially thrilling finale to the Indy Racing League, New Zealand driver Scott Dixon says staying calm is key to his claiming a second championship.
Tension between Dixon, who drives for the Target Chip Ganassi team, and the Andretti Green Racing (AGR) team of championship leader Dario Franchitti, of Britain, hit a new high after a controversial end to last Sunday's penultimate round in Detroit.
Dixon, then championship leader by two points, spun after he hit Buddy Rice's car, which had run out of gas on the second-to-last lap.
Dixon's car then careened into the path of a fast-approaching Franchitti in an incident that has been debated since in the United States media.
Franchitti was able to limp home sixth, two spots ahead of Dixon, but AGR teammate Tony Kanaan, of Brazil, won the race leaving him 39 points behind Franchitti and with a mathematical shot at his second title.
AGR co-owner Michael Andretti afterwards alleged Dixon had deliberately manufactured the collision while Franchitti wondered aloud what Dixon was doing.
Dixon said all he had been trying to do was get the car facing forward again.
Chicago-based Dixon, who trails Franchitti by three points, said he was looking forward to the final race on Monday at Chicagoland Speedway.
"It's been a tough season with quite a few ups and downs, [there has been] a lot of pressure on with the kind of teams we drive for and the pressure we put on ourselves - I'm looking forward to how the race plays out."
Dixon has been involved in several tight title battles - in 2003 when five drivers had a chance in the final race and similarly last year when four drivers, including Dixon, were still in the running.
Standings
1 Dario Franchitti (Britain) 587 points
2 Scott Dixon (NZ) 584
3 Tony Kanaan (Brazil) 548
4 Dan Wheldon (Britain) 449
5 Sam Hornish Jr (US) 427
- NZPA
