IndyCar Odds – Franchitti will take points lead, checkered flag at Richmond

IndyCar betting odds for this week’s race, the SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond International Raceway, should have the usual suspects at the top of the favorites list in your offshore sportsbook. The series has been dominated by Ryan Briscoe, Dario Franchitti, defending series champion Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves. Look for one of these drivers to lay a claim to the championship with a win.

IndyCar Odds – Franchitti goes back to back

• Briscoe working on three-race streak of second-place runs
• Dixon, Castroneves will push towards the front
• Andretti Green drivers need a win desperately

Ryan Briscoe finished second for the third straight race last week - this time at Iowa, when he was beaten by Dario Franchitti after leading a race-high 85 laps. The points leader now has a three-point lead over Franchitti in the standings, and he’ll be looking for a better performance at Richmond than in 2008, which he finished 15th.

Franchitti won this race the last time he participated in 2007, and his two Richmond races previous to that were both top-three finishes. Since finishing 18th at Kansas, Franchitti has not finished lower than seventh, and with his history at Richmond, he’ll definitely be one of the favorites of those who make betting picks.

Dixon finished third at Richmond last year, and won here back in 2003. The defending series champion is coming off a fifth-place run at Iowa, and he hasn’t finished lower than sixth in his last five races.

Castroneves finished second to winner Tony Kanaan in last year’s Richmond race, but he knows where Victory Lane is here as he won in 2005. He also finished seventh at Iowa last week after starting from the pole. Castroneves has had an amazing season, as he missed the first race of the season and is still 28 points out of first place.

The next group of drivers, Danica Patrick, Dan Wheldon, Kanaan and Marco Andretti need to win to stay in the points race, and in this foursome, Wheldon (2004) and Kanaan (2008) have won at Richmond before. Wheldon came in fourth at Iowa, while Patrick had the best finish of any Andretti Green driver with a ninth-place result. Wheldon would be the best pick out of this group.

LEE-ROY’S PICK: Dario Franchitti loves this track, and he’ll become the first driver this season to win back-to-back races with a victory at Richmond. Outside of maybe Castroneves, Franchitti has been the most consistent driver all season long, and he’s been the best at putting himself in a situation to win. Dario Franchitti will take the checkered flag this week, so online betting players should take his IndyCar odds.

For more IndyCar lines and odds, head over to the sportsbook at betonline.com.

Born in the betting capital of Las Vegas, Lee-Roy has grown to appreciate the likes of IndyCar and Formula 1 racing, but his first love is the high-speed ovals of NASCAR and he is a HUGE Tony Stewart fan. When it comes to motorsports handicapping, Buckles takes the checkered flag. Thoughts or questions?