From Beacon Journal wire services

For nearly two hours Sunday afternoon, Helio Castroneves did everything in his power to deprive Scott Dixon of a second IndyCar Series championship.

The determined Brazilian came from last place to lead the most laps and win the PEAK Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., in a photo finish — and it wasn't enough.

The 28-year-old Dixon, driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, held a seemingly insurmountable 78-point lead heading into the last three races of the season. But Castroneves put on a late-season charge that included both of his 2008 race wins and put a definite scare into the New Zealander.

''I think we set our minds on having (the championship) tied up a long time before now and I think that's what run us into a bit of trouble,'' Dixon said. ''That was definitely the toughest two weeks I've had and, even today, Team Penske and Helio wouldn't let it go. They were pushing to make sure they got the most. You've got to take your hats off to them for doing all that they needed to do.''

Castroneves won the race in the second closest finish in the history of the IndyCar Series, by 0.0033 second, which translates to 121/8 inches. It was so close that Dixon was initially declared the winner and went to Victory Circle before race officials studied photos of the finish and gave the win to Castroneves.

Only former Team Penske driver Sam Hornish Jr.'s 0.0024 second win over Al Unser Jr. in 2002 on the same track has been closer in the 13-year history of IndyCar.

''It was the craziest Victory Circle I've been involved in, where you see your car rolled into position, you get out like you won the race and they roll it off and take your hat off you and say you haven't won,'' Dixon said. ''That was tough to deal with but, in the back of my mind, we all knew we'd won the championship, and that was the main goal.''

Dixon knew coming in he only had to finish eighth or better Sunday to win the title and, after struggling in the middle portion of the race, he left no doubt at the end about the championship. He came into the race with a 30-point lead and wound up winning the title and the $1 million bonus that goes with it by 17 points.

It was sweet redemption for Dixon, who lost both the race and the title to Dario Franchitti last year at Chicagoland Speedway when he ran out of fuel two turns from the finish.

More autos: Massa declared winner

• Felipe Massa was declared the winner of the Belgian Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton was penalized for cutting a corner during a late duel with world champion Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton crossed the line 14.4 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Massa in a dramatic finish that saw Raikkonen crash into a barrier, but the McLaren driver was penalized 25 seconds for his illegal maneuver.

Colleges: Coach Haskins dies

• Don Haskins, credited with helping break color barriers in college sports in 1966 when he used five black starters to win a national basketball title for Texas Western, died Sunday. He was 78.

• East Carolina can't play the underdog role anymore. After opening the season by upsetting two ranked teams, the Pirates earned themselves a place in the AP Top 25 for the first time in nine years. East Carolina was No. 14 in the media poll. Southern California remained No. 1 and Georgia was No. 2. Ohio State's sluggish 26-14 victory against Ohio, without star tailback Chris Wells, on Saturday cost the Buckeyes two spots in the rankings. They fell to No. 5 behind No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 4 Florida.

• Nebraska defensive end Barry Turner has a broken bone in his left leg and probably is out for the season.

• Penn State defensive end Jerome Hayes is out for the year after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Horse racing: Rahy's Attorney wins

• Canadian-owned Rahy's Attorney won the $1 million Woodbine Mile, while favored Kip Deville faded to finish a distant fifth.

• Under Serviced overcame an early stumble to win the $107,300 Schenectady Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares at Belmont Park.

• Power Game drew off in the stretch to win the $65,000 Restoration Stakes at Monmouth Park, beating Meal Penalty by 41/4 lengths.

Other: Bennett wins triathlon

• Australia's Greg Bennett won his third straight Los Angeles Triathlon, followed by Andy Potts of the United States. Becky Lavelle, an Olympic alternate and the 2003 LA champion, won the women's division, in which Americans captured the first four spots.

• Nate Jaqua scored two goals and Kei Kamara had two assists to lead the host Houston Dynamo to a 3-1 soccer victory over the Kansas City Wizards.

• Swimmer Natalie Du Toit won the 100-meter butterfly gold medal at the Beijing Paralympics.

• Asafa Powell won the 100 meters at the Rieti Grand Prix in 9.82 seconds, failing to reprise his world-record effort at the meet last year.