IRL looking to carry momentum from last season

SAO PAULO — Coming off a fantastic finish in 2009, the IndyCar Series is looking to build on that excitement this season with a new title sponsor, a new CEO and measures designed to improve racing.

The 2009 title was decided in the closing laps of the final race, capping a thrilling year in which Dario Franchitti edged Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe in one the closest points race in series history.

The three title contenders will be back when the season kicks off in Brazil on Sunday, as will three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, star Danica Patrick and several other drivers who can also challenge for the title.

"The depth of the field is definitely growing," Dixon told The Associated Press. "There is a lot of great drivers and teams again this year. It will be exciting."

The inaugural Sao Paulo Indy 300 will be one of the highlights of the year, taking place on a street circuit that goes through a Sambadrome and a mile-long straight that is the series' longest ever, according to organizers. The stadium-like Sambadrome is where Sao Paulo's traditional Carnival parades were watched by tens of thousands of revelers just a month ago.

Sao Paulo is one of the two new venues this season, along with Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. The only other race outside North America will be the Indy Japan 300 in September.

The series enters the season looking to reach new markets, attract more fans and increase its visibility in the U.S. and abroad. It will begin the year with clothing maker Izod as a title sponsor, and with promoter Randy Bernard as its new CEO. Bernard spent 15 years as the head of the Professional Bull Riders Inc., helping grow the TV audience and attendance at that sport's events.

It will help that the series is keeping one of its most marketable drivers, Patrick, who will drive a full schedule despite a 13-race commitment to NASCAR's Nationwide Series.

There also are four other women on the circuit this year — Milka Duno of Venezuela, Sarah Fischer of the United States and rookies Ana Beatriz Figueiredo of Brazil and Simona de Silvestro of Switzerland. Fischer is not expected to run all races and won't be in Brazil for the opener.

"We know the competition is going to be tougher," Franchitti said. "There will be the usual suspects that were in the title fight last year and I think you'll add a couple more. We'll have to work harder if we want to come home with another championship."

Penske, in its first season since 1990 without longtime sponsor Philip Morris, will enter three cars for the full season, something it hadn't done since 1994. The drivers will be Castroneves, Briscoe and Will Power.

Patrick's teammates at Andretti Autosport will be 2004 points champion Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay, who is on a limited schedule for now. Japan's Takuma Sato, who spent seven years in Formula One, will run for KV Racing Technology.

"It's going to be very challenging," Briscoe said. "There are going to be lots of different drivers vying for wins so we're going to have to be very focused and paying attention all the time."

Officials are hoping the racing will become even more entertaining on the track after they gave drivers nearly twice as much horsepower when pushing the overtake button. The measure should significantly increase passing compared to last year, pleasing fans and drivers alike.

Fans, however, had few reasons to complain after last year's season finale.

Dixon had a five-point lead over Target Chip Ganassi teammate Franchitti and an eight-point advantage over Briscoe entering the deciding race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Franchitti won the thrilling race on fuel strategy, clinching his second series title — the first since an unsuccessful stint with NASCAR in 2008.

The points lead changed hands a record 15 times in 2009, and no more than 33 points separated first to third during the 17-race season. The final margin was 11 points, and of the 40 drivers who started at least one 2009 race, 27 earned a top-10 finish.

The IndyCar series will remain diverse this year, running on eight ovals and nine road or street courses.

The Indianapolis 500, the year's main event, will have one less week in its traditional schedule in May to help teams save money.

Other changes in 2010 include the addition of a reverse gear to cars running on road and street courses, and the recommendation of using a new headrest designed to give drivers more protection in crashes.