Franchitti captures IRL title

Dario Franchitti's return to IndyCar racing couldn't have gone better. He's the IRL champion once again.

Franchitti successfully emerged from one of the closest points races in series history Saturday, winning the season-ending Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the first caution-free IRL race ever.

The 2007 champion -- who skipped 2008 to explore NASCAR -- held off Target Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon and Penske Racing's Ryan Briscoe.

"I can't believe it," Franchitti said. "It all worked out."

He sat back and saved fuel over much of the final 50 laps, and when the other two contenders pitted late, the title was his.

Franchitti finished with 616 points, 11 ahead of Dixon and 12 ahead of Briscoe.

Logano wins again: Joey Logano avoided a late-race collision and held off Brian Vickers to win NASCAR's Nationwide Copart 300 in Fontana, Calif., his fifth series victory of the season and second in two weeks.

The 19-year-old Logano started on the pole but fell well back after an incident with Greg Biffle early in the race. Logano steadily worked his way back to front and caught a break when Biffle and Denny Hamlin collided with less than 10 laps to go.

Logano took the lead following a caution with two laps to go and pulled away.