LOS ANGELES -- When Scott Dixon stood next to the Astor Cup on a stage in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, he was still a bit surprised to be so close to IndyCars championship trophy heading into the season finale. DeAndre Yedlin USA Jersey . Just two weeks ago, Dixon needed an enormous amount of help to take control of the overall IndyCar race. Helio Castroneves gave it to him with a broken gearbox during a wild doubleheader in Houston, allowing Dixon to head for California with his third series title in sight. "Its been such an up-and-down season for us that its kind of hard to believe were here," said Dixon, the series champion in 2003 and 2008. "We started so poorly, but we managed to find some redemption at midseason and got back in the hunt. And then Houston happened, and now were here. Its been a wild ride." Indeed, Dixon hadnt been on top of the overall standings all season long until he left Houston with the lead. The last time Dixon led the championship was back in 2009, with one race to go -- and Dario Franchitti sped past him to claim the title. Thats why Dixon isnt cocky about his chances in IndyCars season finale at Fontana on Saturday night. "Its very easy to jinx yourself," Dixon said. "I think maybe you start thinking its a given, and you get too complacent. Everybody knows its not over. If were leading at the end of this race, then job accomplished, but we could still very well lose it." The New Zealander realizes he only needs a fifth-place finish to stay ahead of Castroneves for the overall title, but he wont change tactics just to stay safe. He expects a dynamic race on the long oval east of Los Angeles -- but hopefully without the pyrotechnics of the Houston doubleheader, which ended with teammate Franchitti in a hospital with two broken vertebrae, a broken ankle and a concussion. Castroneves had led the overall standings for 14 of the 18 races this season, and the Brazilian had a 49-point lead in the overall standings heading to Houston. But mechanical failures in both races left him 25 points behind Dixon, who won the first race of the doubleheader and finished second in the second race. Despite the horrific results in Houston, Castroneves hasnt lost his usual chipper demeanour -- or given up hope for a dramatic comeback. Hes the only racer who could mathematically catch Dixon for the title. "The reason Im not mad is because its not over," Castroneves said. "We have a chance. Some things happened in Houston that youd never expect. Breaking the gearbox? No way to predict something like that could happen." Roger Penske said his team "fell on our face" in Houston, a failure that could leave Penske just short of the title for the sixth time since 2006. "In our case, with the scenario, its pretty simple," Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said. "Winning is really the only thing at the end of the day, and then you still have to hope." Dixon was among the first people to realize Castroneves championship hopes were in trouble during that second race in Houston: Oil from Castroneves gearbox doused Dixons car from the second or third lap onward, and Dixon screamed about it into his radio. Even when Castroneves was forced to stop, Dixon got no enjoyment from Castroneves woes. "Youre thinking, If its happening to him, it could very well happen to us as well," Dixon said, realizing Castroneves problems probably were caused by contact with a bump on Turn 1 in Houston. "Youve had so many situations where you think its great, and then five laps later, you have a problem yourself. Its very easy to get ahead of yourself and lose focus." Both Castroneves and Dixon are changing engines for the Fontana race, a common tactic on an oval track that makes the resulting speed more important than the 10-spot penalty on the starting grid for making a switch. Castroneves had easily the fastest race car at the Fontana test last month, and hes counting on that speed to give him a shot at the title. Dixon also will have a new teammate as he goes for the Cup: Alex Tagliani is the temporary replacement for Franchitti with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. "Its going to come down to the last lap, the last corner, probably," Dixon said. "Were going to have to dig deep. Im just excited to be a part of it." Omar Gonzalez USA Jersey . Blown save in the ninth inning? No problem. Timothy Weah USA Jersey .Under the agreement announced Monday, the Cuban defector is guaranteed $68.5 million over six seasons.Tomas gets a $14 million signing bonus that is payable within 30 days of the deals approval by Major League Baseball, and then salaries of $2 million next year, $4 million in 2016, $6 million in 2017 and $10 million in 2018. http://www.soccerusateamonline.com/Wil-Trapp-America-Jersey/ .J. -- Fabian Johnson scored his first international goal and Clint Dempsey doubled the lead after a defensive lapse as the United States beat Turkey 2-1 Sunday in the second of three World Cup warm-up matches for the Americans before they head to Brazil.PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - Cody Corbett and Mitchell Moroz had two goals and three assists each as the Edmonton Oil Kings completed their four-game playoff series sweep of the Prince Albert Raiders with a 6-2 victory on Wednesday in Western Hockey League action. Curtis Lazar and Tyler Robertson also scored for Edmonton, while Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for the win. Craig Leverton and Reid Gardiner replied for Prince Albert. Cole Cheveldave stopped 35 shots in the loss. --- WHEAT KINGS 5 PATS 4 BRANDON, Man. — Jayce Hawryluk had a hat trick — including the winner — and added an assist as the Wheat Kings edged Regina to take a 3-0 series lead. Jesse Gabrielle and Chad Robinson also scored for Brandon, while Chad Robinson stopped 29 shots for the win. Dryden Hunt struck twice for the Pats, while Carter Hansen and Jesse Zgraggen also scored. Daniel Wapple made 20 saves. --- BRONCOS 3 TIGERS 2 SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Jake DeBrusk scored 5:06 into overtime as the Broncos slipped past Medicine Hat to tie their playoff series 2-2. Graham Black scored twice for Swift Current and Eetu Laurikainen made 39 saves. Captain Curtis Valk had both goals for the Tigers and Marek Langhamer stopped 42 shots. --- WINTERHAWKS 6 GIANTS 1 VANCOUVER — Oliver Bjorkstrand had a power-play goal and added two assists to lead Portland past the Giants. Chase De Leo, Adam De Champlain, Keegan Iverson, Alex Schoenborn and Brendan Leipsic roundded out the attack for the Winterhawks, who swept the playoff series in four games. DeAndre Yedlin Jersey. Brendan Burke stopped 32 shots. Carter Popoff was the lone scorer for Vancouver. Goaltender Payton Lee stopped 10 of 13 shots in 17:05 of work for the Giants. Jared Rathjen made 29 saves on 32 shots in relief. --- ROYALS 6 CHIEFS 1 SPOKANE, Wash. — Austin Carroll scored two goals and assisted on another as Victoria took a 3-0 series lead over Spokane. Logan Nelson and Travis Brown had a goal and an assist apiece, and Jordan Fransoo and Ben Walker also scored for the Royals, who were 3-for-6 on the power play. Bradon Magee chipped in with three assists. Liam Stewart scored the lone goal for the Chiefs, and Eric Williams and Garret Hughson combined for 18 saves. Williams started in net, giving up five goals on 22 shots, and Hughson made one save on two shots in relief. Victorias Patrik Polivka made 20 saves for the victory. --- ROCKETS 5 AMERICANS 3 KENNEWICK, Wash. — Marek Tvrdons power-play goal in the second period was the eventual winner as Kelowna held off Tri-City. Tyson Baillie scored and added two assists for the Rockets, who lead the playoff series 3-1. Cole Linaker, Justin Kirkland and Madison Bowey chipped in as well. Jordon Cooke made 25 saves for the win. Justin Hamonic, Philip Tot and Brian Williams supplied the offence for the Americans. Eric Comrie turned aside 27 shots in goal in the losing effort. --- ' ' '