GEARING UP

1 Lewis Hamilton could become the first rookie to win the Formula One world championship Sunday at the season finale in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

But the 22-year-old English driver holds only a four-point lead over Fernando Alonso, the reigning title holder and his teammate at McLaren Mercedes, while Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen is only seven points back.

And in the Champ Car World Series, Sebastien Bourdais -- who is moving to Formula One next year -- could clinch an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car title Sunday by finishing 14th or better at the Surfers Paradise street course in Australia.

2 NASCAR’s Nextel Cup series holds the sixth race in the Chase for the Cup championship playoff Sunday at the 0.526-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

Jeff Gordon holds a 68-point lead over reigning champion Jimmie Johnson, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, and a 78-point edge over Clint Bowyer of Richard Childress Racing.

3 Irwindale Speedway plays host to the fifth annual NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown on Saturday night, which brings together the nation’s top drivers in the sport’s developmental series for a 250-lap race.

Three-time Cup champion Darrell Waltrip is scheduled to be the race’s grand marshal.

The half-mile track also plays host to two stock-car races tonight: A late-model race and a last-chance qualifying event to fill out the Showdown field.

4 The World of Outlaws sprint-car series visits the Perris Auto Speedway on Saturday night, its first appearance at the half-mile clay oval in Riverside County since 2004.

Scheduled entrants include Steve Kinser, 53, who has 542 victories but has never won the main event in the series’ 10 previous races at Perris.

5 The National Hot Rod Assn.’s second-tier Xplod Sport Compact drag-racing series competes Saturday and Sunday at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. The American Le Mans Series holds its season finale Saturday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey.