INDYCAR NEWS AND NOTES – Sept. 24, 2013

Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:

1. Turning two at Houston could be key to Dixon’s title hopes

2. Texas race extended for 2014

3. Fans design helmets for Hinchcliffe, Rahal

1. Turning two at Houston could be key to Dixon’s title hopes: Scott Dixon knows a strong weekend at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Speedway at Reliant Park will help his chances in chasing down points leader Helio Castroneves.

The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston doubleheader on the 1.683-mile, 10-turn temporary street circuit features full points in both 90-lap races, which provides another opportunity for Dixon to make up ground. It’s also a chance to claim another $50,000 for earning another SONAX Perfect Finish Award with a Houston sweep.

Dixon, who trails Helio Castroneves by 49 points heading into the Oct. 5-6 races, has been the top performer of all drivers who have competed in the two doubleheader events this season with top-five finishes in each race. 

He won a $100,000 bonus by winning the SONAX Perfect Finish Award at Toronto – part of a three-race win streak in July that saw him vault from seventh in the championship to second. Dixon has a pole and a pair of fourth-place finishes at the Raceway of Belle Isle to give him an average finish of 2.5 in the four previous doubleheader races.

“The last couple of races probably haven’t gone as smooth as we would have liked. In short, we need to close the points gap (and) make sure we’re in the championship fight for the last race at Auto Club Speedway,” said Dixon, who has finished first, second or third in the standings each of the past six seasons. “We’ll dig deep and try to make sure we have a good shot at it.”

2. Texas race extended for 2014: INDYCAR fans will get more racing at Texas Motor Speedway in June.

Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage announced the track’s 2014 schedule on Sept. 23, which includes the traditional IZOD IndyCar Series date two weeks after the Indianapolis 500. The June 7 race on the 1.5-mile oval will be 248 laps and been retitled the Firestone 600.

Practice and qualifying will be held June 6, followed by the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race (the series have been paired dating to the speedway’s opening in 1997).

Helio Castroneves, the championship front-runner, takes a 49-point lead over Scott Dixon into the Oct. 5-6 doubleheader race weekend in Houston. His victory at Texas Motor Speedway from the sixth starting position moved Castroneves into sole position of first place in the series standings, which he has held through eight succeeding races.

“It’s always fun racing for the fans in Texas so now they’ll have a little bit more to cheer about,” Castroneves said. “I’m also looking forward to going back there to try and defend our win from this season. Team Penske has had great success at Texas and I personally love racing there so hopefully we can make it five wins at Texas Motor Speedway in 2014.”

3. Fans design helmets for Hinchcliffe, Rahal: The design of Vincent Venegas, a graphic artist from Racine, Wis., was selected from five finalists to be painted on the helmet Graham Rahal will wear in the MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway on Oct. 19.

Following the race, the Graham Rahal Foundation will auction the helmet at to raise funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer and SeriousFun Children’s Network.

James Hinchcliffe will wear a helmet designed by fan Erick Vidal of Oakville, Ontario, who received the most votes for his winning design in the contest for the season finale. 

Vidal will receive a replica helmet signed by the Andretti Autosport driver.

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The next IZOD IndyCar Series race is the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston presented by the Greater Houston Honda Dealers doubleheader on Oct. 5 and 6 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Speedway at Reliant Park. Both races will be televised live by NBC Sports Network (3 p.m. ET on Oct. 5 and 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 6) and broadcast by the IMS Radio Network, including on Sirius and XM Channels 211, www.indycar.com and the INDYCAR 13 App for most smartphones and tablets. The next Firestone Indy Lights race is the Grand Prix of Houston on Oct. 5 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Speedway at Reliant Park. The race will be televised by NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 6.