Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Open-wheel racing in America substantially changed in 2008, as the IndyCar Series and Champ Car World Series agreed to unify and end their 12-year spit. The unity had positive results for the series, with the addition of drivers and teams as well as a larger schedule, 19 events in all, including the final Champ Car event in Long Beach, CA. The series produced five first-time race winners, including female driver Danica Patrick. Scott Dixon capped off the year by winning his second series championship, but not without a late-season fight from Helio Castroneves.

DIXON'S CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

Though it came down to the season-ending race in September at Chicagoland Speedway, Dixon won the 2008 IndyCar Series championship in convincing style. Dixon tied the series record for most victories in a season with six, while his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dan Wheldon won six races during his 2006 title campaign.

Dixon kicked off the season in March with the victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In May, the New Zealander started on the pole and led 115 laps, including the final 29, to win his first Indianapolis 500. He also started on the pole the following month at Texas, but had to hold off Penske Racing teammates Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe in the final laps for his third win of the year.

In July, Dixon won the rain-shortened race at Nashville Superspeedway, as well as the inaugural event at Rexall Speedway in Edmonton.

Castroneves gambled on fuel at Kentucky Speedway, but lost the race as he ran out of gas on the last lap. Dixon passed Castroneves heading into the final turn and picked up the victory.

Dixon held a comfortable 78-point lead over Castroneves after Kentucky, but Castroneves ended up making it a battle for the title after all.

Castroneves had finished second seven times this season before the series came to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. The Brazilian driver snapped a 29-race winless streak at Sonoma as he led 51 of 80 laps and crossed the finish line 5.2926 seconds ahead of Briscoe. His victory, coupled with a 12th-place finish for Dixon, allowed Castroneves to move within 43 points with just two races to go.

Castroneves and Briscoe recorded first and second-place finishes in backup cars after their primary cars sustained water, smoke and heat damage earlier that week when a Team Penske transporter caught fire while en route to Sonoma.

Despite a fifth-place finish for Dixon, Castroneves moved to within 30 points of the leader after The Raceway at Belle Isle in Detroit. Castroneves led a race-high 53 laps, but had to give up the lead to Justin Wilson when he was penalized for blocking with less than 20 laps to go. Wilson picked up his first career win, while Castroneves settled for second.

Castroneves nipped Dixon to the finish line by inches to win at Chicagoland, but Dixon wrapped up the series championship by 17 points and collected a $1 million bonus for his title.

"The year on a whole has been amazing," Dixon said. "Getting married, winning the (Indy) 500 and winning a championship in one year. Not too many people can probably say they've done that."

Last year, Dixon trailed Dario Franchitti by just three points heading into Chicagoland. The two battled all the way to the final lap with Franchitti taking the checkered flag and the title. Dixon held the lead on the last lap, but Franchitti passed Dixon, who suddenly slowed when he ran out of fuel. Dixon managed to coast to a second-place finish.

UNIFICATION

In February, executives from IndyCar and Champ Car announced they have "completed an agreement in principle" that would unite the two parties into one American open-wheel racing league. The Champ Car season was cancelled with the exception of the Long Beach Grand Prix, won by Will Power. Events at Edmonton and Surfers Paradise, Australia were added to the 2008 IndyCar schedule.

Following Long Beach, many Champ Car teams moved to IndyCar as they were provided with equipment and financial support by the series.

The unification marked the end of a 12-year debacle for U.S. open-wheel racing that saw the two series struggle for publicity, sponsors and quality drivers.

Last year, Sebastien Bourdais captured his unprecedented fourth-straight Champ Car title, but left the series and returned to Formula One competition. Sam Hornish, Jr., a three-time IndyCar champion, and Franchitti, the 2007 title- holder, both moved to stock car racing.

NOTABLE VICTORIES

Danica Patrick made racing history in April when she became the first woman to win an IndyCar event. Patrick saved enough fuel to take the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi. While the race leaders were forced to pit for gas, the Andretti Green Racing driver held the top spot for the remaining three laps.

"I was excited, obviously," Patrick said after claiming her first career victory. "I've always said that I wouldn't do this, but on my last lap, I was kind of just excited. And then finally when I actually had to talk on my radio, the emotion came out. I really couldn't manage any other words than 'thank you.' And then I was as relieved, as I expected I would be years ago, how I knew I would feel when I won my first race."

Patrick's popularity continued to escalate this year as she was featured in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue in February. Her series of on-track confrontations, particularly a tiff with female competitor Milka Duno in July at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, also attracted a lot of attention for the superstar.

Meanwhile, Graham Rahal overcame rainy conditions and capitalized on fuel strategy to win on the Streets of St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, FL. Rahal, at age 19, became the youngest driver ever to win an IndyCar event.

In his first full season for Rahal Letterman Racing, Ryan Hunter-Reay recorded his first victory in July at Watkins Glen International. Reay also ended Dixon's three-race winning streak at The Glen. Dixon had a chance to capture his fourth-consecutive victory there, but an unfortunate incident with Briscoe in the late-stages of the race cost him an opportunity to make history at the famed road course.

Briscoe won his first two races this year, with the first victory coming in June at The Milwaukee Mile and the second the following month at Mid-Ohio.

DRIVER CHANGES

Franchitti has returned to IndyCar after spending the past year in NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide competition. In September, Franchitti replaced Wheldon in the No.10 car for Ganassi. He is now teamed with reigning series champion Dixon.

"With unification and the new schedule having more road and street courses, it made me think about this more and more," Franchitti said. "I have really enjoyed this last season in stock cars and have not completely closed that chapter of my professional career, but the opportunity that arose was just something I could not pass up."

After terrifying airborne crashes in consecutive weeks at Michigan and Kentucky in 2007, Franchitti and his wife, actress Ashley Judd, were convinced it was time for the Scotsman to leave open-wheel racing. It was one of the major factors that led him to NASCAR.

Franchitti was not hurt last year at Michigan and Kentucky, but he sustained a fractured ankle during a crash in a Nationwide race in April at Talladega.

Wheldon, meanwhile, returned to Panther Racing six years after he made his series debut with the team. He signed a multi-year contract to drive the No.4 entry, replacing Vitor Meira. Wheldon ended his last year with Ganassi by scoring two victories and finishing fourth in points.

Meira joined A.J. Foyt Racing after the season to take over Darren Manning's seat in the No.14 car.

Franchitti, Wheldon and Meira all made debuts with their new teams in October when the series traveled to "the land down under" for an exhibition, non- points race at Surfers Paradise.

UH OH, HELIO

One month after the series championship was decided at Chicagoland, Castroneves was indicted on six counts of tax evasion and another count of conspiracy. Castroneves, the 2001 and '02 Indy 500 champion and last year's "Dancing With the Stars" reality TV competition winner, is accused of failing to report over $5 million in income to the Internal Revenue Service. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 35 years in prison.

Castroneves' bail was set at $10 million, and the original terms of his release allowed him to travel for work in the U.S., but not abroad. However, a federal judge later granted Castroneves permission to compete in Australia.

A trial date has been set for March 2, less than five weeks before the season- opener in St. Petersburg. Attorneys for Castroneves and Penske recently attempted to delay the trial until the season concluded in November, but a judge denied the motion.

Even though Castroneves is under contract to Penske for the 2009 season, his future with the team remains in doubt. Penske would be forced to make a driver change if Castroneves is unable to fulfill his contractual obligations.