The
2006 IRL IndyCar Series season began on March 26 and concluded on September 10.
Sam Hornish, Jr. won his third
IndyCar Series championship. Hornish also won the
90th Indianapolis 500, passing rookie
Marco Andretti on the final lap less than from the finish line. The title chase was very dramatic between
Penske drivers Hornish and
Hélio Castroneves battling
Ganassi drivers
Dan Wheldon and
Scott Dixon. The four drivers occupied the first four positions in the final race at
Chicagoland Speedway, with Wheldon leading Dixon home for a Ganassi 1-2 but Hornish finishing third, edging out reigning champion Wheldon on a tiebreak. Third would have been enough to catapult fourth-place finisher Castroneves to take the title, but he instead ended up two points behind Hornish and Wheldon. Dixon was also in strong title contention, finishing a mere 15 points adrift of the championship.