Three points separate Firestone Indy Lights contenders

Raphael Matos

Richard Antinucci

After 15 races on a diverse combination of ovals, road courses and temporary street circuits, the race for the Firestone Firehawk Cup and the Firestone Indy Lights title has come down to a winner-take-all race on the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway.

The combatants have never been closer.

Brazilian rookie Raphael Matos leads Richard Antinucci by three points – the closest race in Firestone Indy Lights history.

Matos, who has won titles in nearly every series he has raced in since moving to the U.S. in 2002, hopes to give AFS Racing/Andretti Green Racing its first series title. He claimed wins on the street course at St. Petersburg 1 and the permanent circuits at Watkins Glen International 1 and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 1. He's also shown speed on the ovals, earning pole positions at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Kentucky Speedway.

The title would be the highlight to his first season with one of open-wheel racing's best teams.

"The championship has been my goal all year," Matos said.

Antinucci, the nephew of Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever Jr., is trying to deliver the third straight drivers championship to Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Antinucci claimed wins at St. Petersburg 2 and Watkins Glen 2 and is seeking his first series championship.

"The points have been tight all year," Antinucci said. "I have a lot of respect for Matos. Matos is considered one of the best up-and-coming open-wheel racers in the whole continent. He's also one of the best I've ever raced against. I'm not surprised that we have to fight tooth and nail to keep the title at Sam's shop because the level this season is quite high."

And both are trying to bring the first Firestone Indy Lights championship back to their country. Thiago Medeiros (2004) is the only Brazilian to win the series title, while Antinucci is quick to point out that A.J. Foyt IV was the last American who was able to pull off a championship run.

"It’s time for a driver who has an American flag on the cockpit to win this thing, right?" Antinucci said.

Remaining Race Chicagoland: Antinucci and Matos have never raced at Chicagoland.