WATKINS GLEN, New York -- It wasnt by design, but a true wild card has popped up late in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series championship.The cancellation of a proposed Labor Day weekend street race in Boston resulted in the last-minute substitution of Watkins Glen International for a fast-paced road race at a track the IndyCar Series hasnt visited since 2010.With only nine prior races, The Glen isnt steeped in IndyCar history. But its one of Americas most famous and significant road courses and the Boston cancellation created the opportunity for a reunion that just about everyone in the series is looking forward to.These cars belong on tracks like this, said three-time IndyCar champion Bobby Rahal. You can really see what they can do and it separates the best drivers from the rest.Nobody is going around here with one hand on the wheel, I can tell you that.If The Glen was an oval track, it would be a superspeedway. Nearly three and a half miles in length, it links a series of long straights with just eleven corners, all of which require an average speed of 100 mph or more.Combine a recent full repave with a newer generation of Indy cars featuring high-downforce aero kits, and the product is a comprehensive rewrite of the record book.Scott Dixon ran a 1:23.892 second lap in the opening practice session Friday in his Ganassi Racing Chevrolet that was more than four seconds faster than Ryan Briscoes 2010 track record of 1:28.13.Dixons lap works out to an average speed of 144.614 mph, making it the fastest road course in the IndyCar Series this year. Dixon averaged a little more than 142 mph for his best lap in June at Road America.If Dixon or any of the other drivers can find a little more speed over the next 48 hours, Watkins Glen could officially take over from Road America as the fastest road course in IndyCar racing history. Dario Franchittis pole lap at Road America in 2000 corresponds to a 145.924 mph average.Franchitti, now retired from driving, shares Rahals belief that Indy cars belong on wide-open natural terrain road courses like The Glen.Outside of Indianapolis, this is the natural habitat for Indy cars, Franchitti said. Theyre so fast and its just stunning at a place like this.This place was even fun for me in a stock car, so thats saying something!With three career wins at Watkins Glen, Dixon enters the weekend as a strong favorite to score his second win of the season. But the New Zealander is a distant sixth in the IndyCar standings and the focus this weekend is more on the championship battle between Penske Racing teammates Simon Pagenaud and Will Power.Pagenaud leads 2014 IndyCar Series champion (and 2010 Watkins Glen winner) Power by 28 points with two races remaining, including the double-points finale at Sonoma Raceway. Seven other drivers remain mathematically eligible for the title, but they are all remote long shots.By winning four races each this year, Pagenaud and Power have separated themselves from the field and the ace road racers are likely to fight for the title at the front of the pack.But Pagenaud must be wary because the driver who has led the standings with two races remaining failed to finish the job in six of the past nine years. Powers come-from-behind charge to the title in 2014 was one of the exceptions.Although Pagenauds 28-point cushion is the smallest it has been since May, the Frenchman is not concerned.Were just going to keep doing what we have been doing, he said. Were going to keep focusing on ourselves and extract the best out of the situation. I think our team has done the best job all season, and if I drive the best I can, it should take care of itself.IndyCar ran at Watkins Glen from 2005 to 2010 but the series and the track were unable to find a mutually agreeable date and attendance was generally poor.Since then, natural terrain road courses like Road America, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Barber Motorsports Park have enjoyed steady growth in their spectator count. Advance response to this years return has been positive, prompting WGI president Michael Printup to already line up a two-year extension with IndyCar through 2018 on the Labor Day weekend.Elkhart [Road America] and Mid-Ohio were tremendous and there was lots of interest at Watkins Glen when we tested there, observed legendary team owner Roger Penske. At the NASCAR race there was a lot of talk about the Indy cars coming back to The Glen and its great to be back. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Jason-Pierre-Paul-Jersey/ . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Mark-Herzlich-Jersey/ . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Harry-Carson-Jersey/ . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Hats/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/ . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. A panel of ESPN baseball experts is forecasting Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager and Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer to run away with the National League and American League Rookie of the Year awards when the honors are announced Monday between 6 and 7 p.m. ET.We had 27 experts pick who they think will win each award. The voting breakdown for the awards is listed below as well as the votes of our experts.Who will win the AL Rookie of the Year award?1. Michael Fulmer, SP Detroit Tigers VOTES: 23Acquired from the Mets for Yoenis Cespedes at the 2015 trade deadline, Fulmer led all AL rookies in innings pitched (159), strikeouts (132) and wins and was eighth among AL pitchers in WAR (4.9).2. Gary Sanchez, C New York Yankees VOTES:: 4In just 201 at-bats, Sanchez finished tied with Nomar Mazara (516 at-bats) for the lead among AL rookies with 20 homers.dddddddddddd. Sanchez became the first major leaguer ever to hit 11 home runs in the first 23 games of his career and the fastest ever to 19 homers (45 games).Who will win the NL Rookie of the Year award?2. Corey Seager, SS Los Angeles Dodgers VOTES: 27Seager is also a finalist for NL MVP, after hitting 26 homers and driving in 72 runs as the Dodgers starting shortstop. Seager finished fourth in the NL in WAR (6.1). In his first postseason he hit .205 with two homers and four RBIs in 11 games. 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