FONTANA, Calif. - Shortly after the checkered flag, there were two drivers and their racing teams yelling and jumping gleefully, exchanging hugs and high-fives.
Adrian Fernandez had just won the Toyota 400, and runnerup Tony Kanaan had locked up the Indy Racing League championship.
In an unusual but dramatic finish Sunday at California Speedway, the drivers ran five of the last six laps under a caution flag, getting the green for the final trip around California Speedway's 2-mile oval.
Fernandez outdueled Kanaan, with their cars separated by just .0183 second - about 3 feet - when they crossed the line.
"Even on the restart, I got sideways, I put so much power," said Fernandez, who has won consecutive races and three of the past five.
"I wanted to get Tony so bad that I got sideways. I knew I had a stronger car," said the Mexico City native.
Kanaan needed only to finish fourth to beat Andretti Green teammate Dan Wheldon for the points title, with the finale coming Oct.17 at Fort Worth, Texas.
Kanaan wanted to win the race but was still extremely happy about capturing the IRL series championship.
"I tried my best. Now I can relax a little bit," the 29-year-old Brazilian said after running his string of top-five finishes to 14.
Wheldon finished third, and remained second in points.
Two-time defending champion Sam Hornish Jr. was fourth, and reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Buddy Rice was fifth. Dario Franchitti was next, and pole-sitter Helio Castroneves was seventh after leading 145 laps.
The finish was the seventh closest in series history. The tightest was Hornish's .0024-second win over Al Unser Jr. at Chicagoland in 2002.
Darren Manning, who turned in the fourth-fastest qualifying (215.82 mph) was unable to start because of a slight concussion and bruised back.
He was hurt Saturday when his car spun out and rammed into a barrier in the second turn on his second qualifying lap.
NASCAR TRUCKS: Todd Bodine earned his first series victory late Saturday, winning the American Racing Wheels 200 and ending Ted Musgrave's three-race winning streak at California Speedway in Fontana.
Bodine held off Musgrave by 0.049 seconds.
Both drivers avoided Kelly Sutton's crash on the final lap on the 2-mile track.
NHRA: Three points leaders lost in the finals at the Carquest Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill.
Doug Herbert (Top Fuel), Del Worsham (Funny Car) and Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) drove to upsets in their respective categories.
Herbert defeated Tony Schumacher in the final with a 4.516-second pass at 329.75 mph.
Worsham beat 12-time series champion John Force for a category-leading fifth win this season and Connolly beat Greg Anderson, who fouled at the starting line.
