Wheldon Secures Title with One Lap

Wheldon needed to run only one timed lap in today's practice session at Watkins Glen, to take the necessary minimum 12 points for participating in the event, which assures he will finish in the points ahead of rival Tony Kanaan.

"To have won the Indy 500 and the Championship is very special," the 27-year-old Briton said. "The IndyCar Series is a tough series, and I think there's a ton of talented drivers here. To achieve that is a good team effort.

"Obviously, I've had very good cars this year and very fast cars. We've been able to win a lot of races, which is rare in the IndyCar Series nowadays.

"My goal coming into this season was to win the Indy 500. When I achieved that, I had to adjust my mindset, and the goals I had for myself. Obviously, winning the Championship was the next goal."

Wheldon is the 25th driver to win both the Indianapolis 500 and a series championship in the same year, but he is the first driver to accomplish the feat since the split between IRL and Champ Car. Before that, Jacques Villeneuve was the last driver to take the double series honours.