Another Title for Hakkinen

Finland’s Mika Hakkinen won the Formula One championship for the second consecutive year Sunday, finishing ahead of previous leader Ernie Irvine with a victory in the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, Japan.

Hakkinen thought he had won the series title two weeks ago at the Malaysian Grand Prix but a ruling by an appeals committee put his championship on hold.

Hakkinen is only the seventh driver to win consecutive season titles. He finished with 76 season points to 74 for Irvine. Hakkinen was timed 1 hour 31 minutes 18.785 seconds.

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John Force put an exclamation point on an impressive season with his 11th victory of the year at the third annual NHRA Matco Tools Supernationals at Baytown, Texas. Larry Dixon, Rickie Smith and Tony Mullen were also winners at the $1.7-million race at Houston Raceway Park.

Pole-sitter Jeff Green won the inaugural Busch Series Sam’s Town 250 at Memphis Motorsport Park. Green is ranked third in the series points race. Series point-leader Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished second and increased his lead to 156 points over Matt Kenseth.

American Kenny Roberts fought off a dramatic last-minute challenge from Italy’s Max Biaggi and won the season-ending Argentine Motorcycle Grand Prix 500cc race at Buenas Aries by 2.033 seconds.