For the seventh consecutive year, the IZOD IndyCar Series championship will be decided in the final race of the season.Ryan Hunter-Reay made sure of that with a stirring victory in the second Grand Prix of Baltimore. Driving the No. 28 Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda car, Hunter-Reay started 10th and overtook leader Ryan Briscoe on the front straight of a Lap 70 restart.A full-course caution on the same lap for a four-car pileup in Turn 4 gave Briscoe, who won a week earlier at Sonoma, another shot. But Hunter-Reay used the last of his 90 seconds of push to pass on the Lap 73 restart and went on to a 1.4391-second win over Briscoe, who started 14th in the No. 2 PPG Automotive Refinishes Team Penske car.Hunter-Reay made up 20 points on front-runner Will Power, who finished sixth in the 75-lap race on the 2.04-mile, 13-turn temporary street circuit and takes a 17-point lead into the finale Sept. 15 on the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway oval."We still have a shot," a beaming Hunter-Reay said on pit lane after recording his fourth victory of the season. "We all want it bad enough; we can go get this thing. The team deserves it; it's a matter of if we can put it together."Hunter-Reay has four Indy car oval victories, including two this year (Milwaukee and Iowa). Power's lone oval victory came in 2011 on the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway."I knew it would be a day like this. It never comes easy," said Power, who earned the three bonus points for earning the pole and leading the most laps (22). "We just have to do our best and fight like a dog till the end. We'll come out swinging."Simon Pagenaud, who a week earlier clinched the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award, finished third for the two time in the past three races and Scott Dixon was fourth in his 200th Indy car start. Rubens Barrichello overtook Power on the final restart to claim fifth. Oriol Servia, who started 16th, finished seventh.Earlier in the day, Tristan Vautier reclaimed the Firestone Indy Lights points lead with a commanding victory in the Grand Prix of Baltimore. The 2011 Star Mazda champion, driving the No. 77 Mazda Road to Indy/Sam Schmidt Motorsports with Curb Agajanian car, takes an 11-point advantage over teammate Esteban Guerrieri into the Sept. 15 race at Auto Club Speedway.Vautier swept the bonus points for earning the Sunoco Pole Award and leading the most laps. He won by 15.3783 seconds over Gustavo Yacaman, who won the 2011 race."This win feels great. From the start of the weekend the car was hooked up," said Vautier, who turned 23 on Aug. 22. "We scored lots of points so that was very good for us with an oval at Fontana coming up next. We have to stay focused and arrive ready in California."DAY 3 NOTEBOOK:Medical update from Dr. Michael Olinger, INDYCAR Medical Director: Firestone Indy Lights driver Emerson Newton-John was checked and released from University of Maryland-Baltimore Shock Trauma Center Saturday night. He has been cleared to race.***The following changes have been made to the chicane on the Pratt Street straightaway for today's races:           A short stack of tires has been placed at the apex of the turn. The tire stack is short enough so drivers can see over it.           The wall on drivers' left has been moved to a less harsh angle           The wall at drivers' right was not moved.***Less than 24 hours after the checkered flag falls on the Grand Prix of Baltimore, Ed Carpenter and Graham Rahal will unwind on the golf course.Or will they be able to? The IZOD IndyCar Series drivers will be seeking long drives on the 7,316-yard Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., which this week plays host to the PGA Tour's BMW Championship, in the Celebrity Shootout.Carpenter and Rahal will join course architect Pete Dye, Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel, former Masters and U.S. Open champion Fuzzy Zoeller, and former IZOD IndyCar Series driver A.J. Foyt IV among others in the nine-hole scramble tournament. A donation of $5,000 will be made to the winning team's preferred charities."I've been playing a little bit more lately. Once I found out I was going to play in the event I felt a little more pressure to try to improve my game," said Carpenter, the only team owner-driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series. "I don't play as much as Graham or Simona (de Silvestro), but it will be fun and hopefully we'll raise some money for charity."Zoeller's namesake company, Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka, is the primary sponsor of Carpenter's No. 20 car. Carpenter said that Zoeller's demeanor relaxes recreational golfers such as him in events on championship courses."He always keeps it loose, especially in events that are for charity. He makes sure everyone around him is having a good time, and he's always having a good time," Carpenter said.In March, Rahal was a member of the team that won the Kenny G Gold Pro-Am preceding the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.Foyt competed in INDYCAR in 2002-08 (winning the Indy Lights championship in '02) and now is a scouting assistant with the Indianapolis Colts.The BMW Championship at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Ind., is the penultimate event of four in the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedEx Cup and determines the field of 30 for the TOUR Championship. There's a 70-player field based on qualifying points.***One thing stood out to Bruno Junqueira as he raced between the IZOD IndyCar Series and American Le Mans Series paddocks over the weekend: "I love this new car."Junqueira, thrice a CART championship runner-up, drove the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing car in lieu of rookie Josef Newgarden (recovering from surgery on his left index finger). The 2012 Dallara chassis and Honda engine package obviously impressed the veteran driver from Brazil."It's a real rocket ship. It's very fast and brakes really well. I haven't gotten to drive a single-seater race car for a while so this was a real treat," said Junqueira, who was competing in his first IZOD IndyCar Series road/street event since 2008.Junqueira qualified 10th on the 2.04-mile, 13-turn temporary street course. He started from the Prototype Challenge pole position and finished second with co-driver Tomy Drissi in the ALMS race."I'm in cars a lot," Junqueira said. "You have to completely change your mind-set when you are moving between the two cars. They are very different night and day."***In June at the annual Chip Ganassi Racing Teams Motorsports Summit, all partners were given a "create your own helmet" project. Each partner had the opportunity to design a mini replica race helmet as they would like to see a driver wear.No guidelines. Just multiple-color markers.

As a surprise to the partners, two helmets were selected by Ganassi and guest speaker Joe Montana to be produced and worn in races. This weekend, Rahal wore a helmet designed by Mickey Holmes of Lincoln Electric. It will be signed and presented to Holmes.***Dreyer & Reinbold Racing co-owner and former IZOD IndyCar Series driver Robbie Buhl celebrated his 49th birthday Sept. 2. ... Simona de Silvestro, driver of the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy Lotus HVM Racing car, turned 24 on Sept. 1. ... U.S. Army Col. Gregory Gadson was the grand marshal.   

***The following cars will have grid penalties for today's IZOD IndyCar Series race: #14 Conway (fitting sixth engine at Baltimore); #15 Sato (fitting seventh engine at Baltimore); #67 Junqueira (fitting sixth engine at Baltimore) #78 De Silvestro (carry-over for fitting seventh engine at Sonoma) and #83 Kimball (unapproved engine change).***The following cars: #77 Pagenaud, #8 Barrichello, #22 Servia, #83 Kimball, #26 Andretti, #67 Junqueira, #38 Rahal, #5 Viso, #4 Hildebrand, #15 Sato and #78 De Silvestro will start on the primary black tires. All cars must use a new set of alternate red tires for two green flag laps in today's race, unless rain tires are used due to weather.GRAND PRIX OF BALTIMORE RACE SPECIFICS:The race is 75 laps, 150 miles on the 13-turn, 2.04-mile road course. The time-limit of 2 hours, 30 minutes will go into effect in the event of rain.The pit road speed limit is 50 mph.Pole sitter Will Power has chosen to grid drivers' right.The green flag to start the race will be shown the second time by the start-finish line.Drivers will have 90 seconds of overtake assist available during today's race.The E85 ethanol allotment for today's race is 70.5 gallons with a fuel window of 23-27 laps under green flag conditions.Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will drive the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Pace Car.There will be no tow-ins or returns from the garage within the final 15 minutes of the race.GRAND PRIX OF BALTIMORE RACE RUNNING:At 2:30 p.m., the ambient temperature was 82 degrees, with a relative humidity of 73 percent. Skies were overcast. The track temperature was 96 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.2:40 p.m. - American hero Col. Gregory Gadson gave the command, "Drivers, start your engines." All cars but #2 Briscoe are running and rolling on the grid. #2 Briscoe joins at the end of the grid and will be allowed to start from his original starting position.Lap 1: #12 Power leads the field into Turn 1.

Lap 2: #5 Viso and #78 on pit lane for four tires and fuel. #78 De Silvesto also replaces the nosecone. #5 Viso also takes red tires.Lap 3: #12 Power leads #9 Dixon by 2.5259 seconds. Reports of sprinkles on the race course.Lap 5: #12 Power leads #9 Dixon by 3.3423 seconds.Lap 6: #8 Barrichello and #4 Hildebrand on pit lane for four red tires and fuel.'Lap 7: #38 Rahal on pit lane for four red tires and fuel.

Lap 8: FULL COURSE YELLOW. #20 Carpenter has stopped on course on the main straightaway after contact at the exit of the chicane. Leaders under caution are: #12 Power, #7 Bourdais, #9 Dixon. #15 Sato and #26 Andretti pit for four tires and fuel.***#12 Power leads for the 10th time in 2012. He has led at every road/street course race except at Belle Isle.#20 Carpenter has retired from the race due to contact. He had been the only driver to finish every race in 2010.***Lap 13: #15 Sato on pit road for fuel only.Lap 14: GREEN. #12 Power leads the field into Turn 1. #14 Conway spins in Turn 5 after contact from #3 Castroneves. #67 Junqueira has also spun in Turn 5. FULL COURSE YELLOW. #67 Junqueira in need of assistance. #7 Bourdais spins in Turn 11 under caution.Lap 15: #10 Franchitti on pit road for four black tires and fuel.

Lap 16: #5 Viso and #67 Junqueira on pit road for four rain tires and fuel.***IZOD IndyCar Series officials have ordered #7 Bourdais to fall to fifth position for the restart after his spin.***Lap 18: #98 Tagliani and #4 Hildebrand on pit lane for GREEN. #12 Power leads the field into Turn 1. #3 Castroneves and #5 Viso off course in Turn 1.***IZOD IndyCar Series officials have penalized #4 Hildebrand with a drive-through for avoidable contact with #67 Junqueira on Lap 14.***Lap 19: FULL COURSE YELLOW. #26 Andretti makes contact with the tires in Turn 1. Most of the leaders pit for four tires and fuel, including #12 Power, #9 Dixon, #77 Pagenaud, #7 Bourdais. Most of those who stopped have fitted wet tires. New leader is #28 Hunter-Reay.Lap 21: GREEN. #28 Hunter-Reay leads the field into Turn 1. #10 Franchitti is off course in Turn 1 after contact from #78 De Silvestro. FULL COURSE YELLOW. Leader is #28 Hunter-Reay. #10 Franchitti is assisted by the Holmatro Safety Team and has rejoined the race.Lap 23: Leader, #28 Hunter-Reay, #2 Briscoe, #18 Wilson 9 Dixon, #77 Pagenaud, #7 Bourdais and #8 Barrichello on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #27 Hinchcliffe.Lap 25: GREEN. #27 Hinchcliffe leads the field into Turn 1. #15 Sato takes the lead into Turn 1.Lap 26: #15 Sato leads #38 Rahal by 5.2944 seconds.Lap 28: #12, #9, #98 and #5 on pit lane for four red tires and fuel. #15 Sato leads #38 Rahal by 7.3469 seconds.Lap 30: #27 Hinchcliffe on pit road for four tires and fuel. #15 Sato leads #38 Rahal by 5.7671 seconds.Lap 32: #15 Sato leads #38 Rahal by 1.0250 seconds. FULL COURSE YELLOW. #19 Jakes makes contact with the tires in Turn 4. Leader under caution is #15 Sato. #7 Bourdais on pit road for four tires and fuel. Crew reports issue on the car.Lap 33: #38 Rahal, running second, on pit road for four red tires and fuel.***#7 Bourdais has retired from the event with a mechanical failure in the suspension.ED CARPENTER (No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka/Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet): "I was trying to gain time through the chicane and I just pushed too hard and hit the wall. I really feel badly for our crew guys and the Fuzzy's Vodka folks. I am pretty frustrated. We had an opportunity to pick up some points and have a good street race. It was a good weekend for us overall and this is a disappointment for our team. The good news is we improved the car throughout the weekend and we felt we had a good chance for a solid finish here. We have been making progress with our new team. We'll just lick our wounds and get ready for the big oval at Fontana (Calif.). I'm disappointed that we ended our finishing record too. Our crew has done a great job throughout the season with a well-prepared race car to finish every race. We'll regroup for the season finale (in Fontana). I know we'll have a strong car for that race."***Lap 37: GREEN. #15 Sato leads the field into Turn 1. Hunter-Reay passes for the lead at the line. #77 Pagenaud, who restarted sixth, makes move for the lead in Turn 1 and completes the pass of #28 Hunter-Reay. #27 Hinchcliffe stops on course in Turn 2. FULL COURSE YELLOW. Leaders under caution are #77 Pagenaud, #28 Hunter-Reay, #83 Kimball, #11 Kanaan and #15 Sato.Lap 40: GREEN. #77 Pagenaud leads the field into Turn 1. #78 De Silvesto makes contact on the frontstretch and stops on the frontstretch. FULL COURSE YELLOW. Leaders under caution are #77 Pagenaud#83 Kimball, #28 Hunter-Reay, #11 Kanaan and #15 Sato.***SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS (No. 7 TrueCar Dragon Racing Chevrolet): "I thought it was something was sitting on the right rear, or I thought I had a cut in the right rear, but that wasn't it. It was something in the suspension."***Lap 41: #2 Briscoe on pit road for four tires and fuel.Lap 42: #9 Dixon on pit road for four tires and fuel.Lap 43: GREEN. #77 Pagenaud leads the field into Turn 1.***IZOD IndyCar Series officials have penalized #38 Rahal with a drive-through for passing under the yellow.***Lap 45: #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by .7853 of a second.Lap 47: #15 Sato on pit road for four tires and fuel. #77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 1.0973 seconds.Lap 48: #4 Hildebrand on pit road for four tires and fuel.Lap 50: #83 Kimball on pit road for four tires and fuel. 77 Pagenaud leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 2.7415 seconds. Leader, #77 Pagenaud on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #28 Hunter-Reay.Lap 51: #14 Conway, running fourth, on pit road for four tires and fuel. #15 Sato on pit lane after slowing on course. #11 Kanaan off the pace on frontstretch after contact with the wall at the exit of the chicane.Lap 52: Leader #28 Hunter-Reay and #8 Barrichello on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #12 Power.Lap 54: #12 Power leads #22 Servia by 7.1220 seconds.Lap 56: #12 Power leads #22 Servia by 10.3639 seconds. #28 Hunter-Reay is fifth, 13.8 seconds behind. Leaders #12 Power and #22 Servia on pit road for four tires and fuel. New leader is #98 Tagliani.Lap 57: Leader, #98 Tagliani, pits for four tires and fuel. New leader is #2 Briscoe.Lap 58: #2 Briscoe leads #28 Hunter-Reay by .5702 of a second.Lap 60: #2 Briscoe leads #28 Hunter-Reay by .8417 of a second.Lap 62: #2 Briscoe leads #28 Hunter-Reay by .9618 of a second.Lap 65: #2 Briscoe leads #28 Hunter-Reay by 1.0089 seconds. #83 Kimball stopped on course at exit of Turn 3. FULL COURSE YELLOW. Leader under caution are: #2 Briscoe, #28 Hunter-Reay, #77 Pagenaud, #9 Dixon and #12 Power.***#12 Power has clinched the 2 bonus points for most-laps led.***Lap 70: GREEN. #2 Briscoe leads the field into Turn 1. #28 Hunter-Reay takes the lead into Turn 1. There is a multi-car accident in Turn 4 as the track is blocked after contact by #14 Conway, who collects #18 Wilson. Leader under caution are: #28 Hunter-Reay, #77 Pagenaud, #2 Briscoe, #9 Dixon and #12 Power.***Lap 73: GREEN. #28 Hunter-Reay leads the field into Turn 1.

Lap 74: #8 Barrichello and #22 Servia pass #12 Power for fifth place in Turn 3. WHITE: #28 Hunter-Reay leads #2 Briscoe by .5794 of a second.Lap 75: CHECKERED: #28 Hunter-Reay wins the Grand Prix of Baltimore by 1.4391 seconds.GRAND PRIX OF BALTIMORE POST-RACE NOTES:           This is Ryan Hunter-Reay's fourth win of the season - most of any driver this season. It is his ninth (9th) career Indy car victory. His last victory was Toronto earlier this year.           Hunter-Reay previously won at Milwaukee, Iowa and Toronto.           Ryan Briscoe finished second, his fifth top-five finish in 2012.

           Simon Pagenaud finished third. He has finished in the top-4 in his last six starts at Sonoma.           Scott Dixon finished fourth, his seventh top-five in the last three races. Dixon is the only driver to record top-five finishes in the two races at Baltimore           Rubens Barrichello finished fifth, his second-straight top-five.           Will Power finished sixth, his 10th top-10 finish of the season. Power's IZOD IndyCar Series' championship point lead was trimmed to 17 points.GRAND PRIX OF BALTIMORE POST-RACE QUICK QUOTES:RYAN HUNTER-REAY (No. 28 Team DHL/Sun Drop Citrus Soda Chevrolet): ""We still have a shot. We all want it bad enough, we can go get this thing. The team deserves it; it's a matter of if we can put it together."WILL POWER (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet): ""I knew it would be a day like this. It never comes easy. We just have to do our best and fight like a dog till the end. We'll come out swinging."