SLEEPY SEASON-ENDER; Dario Franchitti takes the IRL finale.(Indy Racing League, rankings and analysis)

Byline: CURT CAVIN A poke or a punch. Does it matter how Danica Patrick struck Jaques Lazier near the end of the Indy Racing League event at California Speedway? At least it gave observers something to talk about. Dan Wheldon had long since wrapped up the series title, and the four top places in the standings were essentially nailed down. All that was left was to run the race, and the 200-lap affair, entertaining as it tried to be, was relatively anticlimactic. Even the finish was a bit of a snoozer. Andretti Green Racing teammates Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan broke away ...