NASCAR 2011 – Jimmie Johnson’s clutch on the Sprint Cup crown finally came to an end this season, having dominated the NASCAR circuit for the past 5 years. Putting together an incredible Chase run, owner-driver Tony Stewart was the man to etch his name on the 2011 trophy. Carl Edwards took the title down to the wire but was unable to match Stewart in the final stretch.
With this championship, “Smoke” became the first guy since Alan Kulwicki in 1992 to secure a title while running his own team. It also gave him the honor of being the only man to clinch NASCAR championships under the Winston, Nextel, and Sprint Cup banners.
INDY 2011 – The IRL season ended in tragedy with the loss of 2-time Indy 500 Champ Dan Wheldon in Las Vegas. The final race also bid a terrible farewell to the well aged Dallara chassis that was scheduled to be replaced for 2012, heralding a new era of Indy Racing that should introduce competition between several manufacturers and engine builders once again.
Collecting his 3rd straight title, and 4th overall, Ganassi driver Dario Franchitti once again used his advantage on the ovals to outlast Penske’s Will Power. Franchitti won 4 races in 2011, which puts his career total at 30 between both CART and IRL.
F1 2011 – Coming off a championship season where he never led until the final race, 2010 World Driving Champion Sebastian Vettel picked up right where he left off. Armed with the best car in the field, Vettel put his Red Bull on Pole Position a record 15 times, collecting a total of 11 victories en route to the 2011 crown. Mark Webber took a token win in the final race of the year to top of an incredible season from the Red Bull team.
McLaren were the closest contenders in a year where the battle was truly for second best. Brilliant drives from 2008 and 2009 champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were enough to give them a total of 6 Grand Prix victories though, 3 a piece. The two drivers will view their campaigns very differently however, as Hamilton had several incidents in a truly turbulent season, whereas Button is being roundly hailed for driving his finest year overall.
Ferrari has truly become Fernando Alonso’s team, as he completely dominated his teammate Felipe Massa. Alonso was able to produce several podium finishes in a car that was often off the pace, and he collected a remarkable win at the British GP in difficult wet-dry conditions. If the Italian team can deliver a top car for Alonso next year he will certainly be a contender to collect his 3rd title, but the first since 2006.