One for the ages......

After weeks of tedious road course racing and more drama than a daytime soap opera, IndyCar’s finest put on their most thrilling and competitive event of the season last night in Sparta, KY with Dixon winning his series record-tying sixth race of the season.

The Meijer Indy 300 was dominated by side-by-side racing that had the packed house on the edge of their seats from the drop of the green flag until the waving of the double checkered.

I hope IRL officials took notes last night because that was a perfect example of how every IndyCar event needs to be. No more road courses. No more street courses. Tony George and his marketing team need to get back to the basics of how the IRL won the split:

If people really want to watch road course racing with no passing and even less excitement, they can watch F-1, but I digress.

Right now it is all about the immaculate race showcased in prime-time by the best drivers on the planet.

With the race winding down, some great storylines were developing:

Could Helio Castroneves’ fuel gamble pay off and end his career-long winless streak? Spiderman knew he had a 10th-place car at best, so when he last pitted with 57 laps left, it was go broke or go home. The gamble nearly worked, but Dixon passed Helio in the fourth turn on the final lap.

Vitor Meira, who started second and was never outside of the top-3, appeared in position for his first career victory. Meira ran with the big dogs all night, but simply could not make a move when he needed to. Meira was weaseled out of a podium finish by Helio’s fuel strategy game. So close, yet so far away.

After a year filled with agony, drama and dysfunction, Marco Andretti had the strongest car of the night. He only led 38 laps compared to Dixon’s 151, but Andretti passed Dixon on the track not once but twice. Marco was in perfect position for his first victory since his inaugural win at Sonoma in 2006, but just like Helio and Meira, he came up short.

Despite the possibility of some new magic in IndyCar, it was an all-too familiar scene as the red No. 9 Target machine found its way to victory lane yet again.

But last night IndyCar fans were treated to clean (for the most part) side-by-side racing from start to finish. The final 50 laps was the best competition I have witnessed in years. Anticipation filled the Kentucky air as Meira chased down Marco as the two were separated not by car lengths but by inches.

Just behind the battle for the lead was another pair of side-by-sides for countless laps. The battle for fourth between Kanaan and Wheldon was epic. Neither gave an inch. Both held their line (somewhat) as the two former series champions battled it out lap after lap. Finally, it was Wheldon who surged ahead and left Kanaan by the wayside.

And kudos to Ed Carpenter for one of the best runs of his career. The Indy native was strong from the start. He dusted both Penske cars in the opening laps before doing battle with AGR’s dark horse Hideki Mutoh. Those two went side-by-side for what seemed like an endless amount of time. Carpenter found himself in another battle for sixth place in the last segment with Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay as the three took turns battling it out side-by-side directly behind Wheldon and TK.

When was the last time IndyCars ran side-by-side three-deep?

And the IRL wants to transition away from ovals and continue to add road courses?

Hopefully George DVRed last night’s race and will announce this week that Toronto, Edmonton, Mid-Ohio and St. Pete have been scratched off the 2009 schedule and replaced by four more races at Kentucky.

Simply put, last night's showcase was amazing. It is unfortunate that IndyCar fans will have to endure two more road courses (Sonoma, Detroit) before the series finale at Chicagoland, but it is what it is.

So long from Kentucky.