Dixon wins finale, championship

SONOMA, Calif. – A heartbreaking week.

A jaw-dropping final few laps.

A tiebreaking finale.

A familiar face hoisting the championship trophy.

Scott Dixon captured his fourth IndyCar championship Sunday by winning the season finale to snatch the title from Juan Pablo Montoya.

Montoya led the standings from the season-opener until the final lap of the year. But in a race worth double points, Dixon dominated and overcame a 47-point deficit to tie Montoya in the standings.

The title went to the New Zealander based on number of wins: Sunday was Dixon’s third of the season, while Montoya had two.

“There was still a chance, and that’s what we were hoping for,” Dixon said. “I still can’t believe it. We were such a long shot.”

Dixon and team owner Chip Ganassi celebrated by leaping from the championship stage to crowd surf. It was one of the few uplifting moments at the end of a somber week following the death of Justin Wilson.

Wilson was struck in the head by a piece of debris from another car last Sunday at Pocono Raceway and died a day later from his injuries. Dixon was one of the many supporters who remained in Pennsylvania to stay with Wilson’s family at the hospital.

“We all raced with heavy hearts this weekend,” Dixon said. “It’s been a very tough week. It’s such a small community. But Justin would have wanted us to go out and race, and today I gave it my all from when the green flag dropped. Much love to the Wilson family.”

The victory was the 100th for Chip Ganassi Racing, while a Team Penske driver failed to win a championship in the finale for the ninth time since 2002. It also marked Chevrolet’s fourth consecutive manufacturer championship since the company returned to IndyCar in 2012.

“I’m shocked,” Ganassi said. “We knew we had a car to be at the front, and then a lot of other things had to happen. And they happened.”

Wilson was honored before the race with a tribute video, a moment of silence and the playing of “God Save the Queen,” England’s national anthem.

Oriol Servia flew in from London overnight Wednesday to drive Wilson’s car, a request made by Wilson’s family. He finished 12th.

Truck Series

Erik Jones won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, to take the series points lead.

The 19-year-old Jones beat Canadian road racer Alex Tagliani to the first turn off a restart with two laps left on the 2.459-mile road course and easily held off two-time defending series champion Matt Crafton. Tagliani lost a gear and slipped to fifth.

Jones raced to his second series victory of the year and fifth in 32 career starts.

He also won at Iowa in June and has two Xfinity Series victories this year.