Three drivers, two teams, a single IndyCar Series championship trophy to be won this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

With only eight points separating Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Ryan Briscoe, the reigning champion believes the math will be easy to figure.

“It’s pretty much whoever beats who is going to walk away with the championship,” Dixon said.

A look at the combatants:

Scott Dixon

Ganassi Racing

THE SKINNY: Leads the series heading to the final race for the third time since 2003. Won both other times.

HIS BACKGROUND: Quietly moved through the ranks, perhaps because as a junior racer he was small for his age. At 13, his most embarrassing moment came when he crashed, accidentally revealing that he had a cushion tied to his bum to help him see the road. Came to the U.S. from New Zealand with the help of former CART driver Stefan Johansson, who remains his manager. Won the Indy Lights title in 2000 with six wins in 12 races. CART’s top rookie in 2001. Joined Chip Ganassi’s team the next year, where he has won 21 IndyCar races.

KEY TO HIS SEASON: Winning at Kansas after finishing 16th in St. Petersburg, Fla., and 15th in Long Beach, Calif., to open the season.

KEY NUMBER: 15. Wins in the past three IndyCar seasons (in 50 races, a 30 percent rate).

WHAT’S AT STAKE: Joining Sam Hornish Jr. as the only drivers in the 15 years of the Indy Racing League to win three IndyCar titles, two in succession.

Dario Franchitti

Ganassi Racing

THE SKINNY: Back in title contention after taking a year off to try NASCAR. Won the 2007 IndyCar title.

HIS BACKGROUND: Scotsman’s big break came when Formula One champion Jackie Stewart tabbed him for his family’s junior team in Europe. Made CART debut for Hogan Racing in 1997. Spent 10 seasons with Team Green and its successor, Andretti Green Racing, winning the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar title in same season. Sampled NASCAR last season with Ganassi until program disbanded, lacking sponsorship.

KEY TO HIS SEASON: Returning to IndyCar for the exhibition race in Australia at the end of last season primed him for a good start to this season. He finished fourth in St. Petersburg and won in Long Beach.

KEY NUMBER: 22. Career victories in Indy-style racing tied for tops among active drivers with Helio Castroneves.

WHAT’S AT STAKE: A chance to capture the title with raw speed. He inherited the race lead (and the trophy) in ’07 when Dixon ran out of fuel on the final lap of the season at Chicagoland.

Ryan Briscoe

Team Penske

THE SKINNY: Went from first to third in standings with pit road mistake in Japan, but still only eight points out of the lead. Actually nine, because Dixon owns the tiebreaker (most wins).

HIS BACKGROUND: Was a rising star with Toyota’s grand prix program until he moved to Chip Ganassi’s IndyCar program for the 2005 season. That year didn’t go well, however, with a failed passing attempt at Sonoma, Calif., that knocked Castroneves and Danica Patrick out of the race. His season ended the next week with injuries in a crash at Chicagoland. Worked his way back into IndyCar with Dreyer&Reinbold and then Roger Penske’s sports car program.

KEY TO HIS SEASON: Winning in St. Petersburg set the tone early and a strong summer run gave him the confidence to win this title.

KEY NUMBER: 5. Second-place finishes in a seven-race stretch in June and July. He has seven runner-up finishes this season.

WHAT’S AT STAKE: A championship would be his first in a major series.