Truth be told, Sierra Sierra Enterprises and lead driver Raphael Matos didn't even need to show up for the Champ Car Atlantic series finale in Elkhart Lake, Wis., over the weekend.
Matos had clinched the series title nearly three weeks prior, but just the same, he iced his title with an impressive second-place finish Sunday afternoon.
"I'm just very pleased for the team," Matos told Champcaratlantic.com. "The Sierra Sierra team did an amazing job. My engineer Lee Dykstra, my driving coach Dave Empringham and everyone has been working really close together.
"All the hard work we've been doing throughout the season is being paid off with the championship and a solid result in the finale. I'm very happy."
Franck Perera won the race, his third victory of the season, and Matos' Sierra Sierra teammate, James Hinchcliffe, took 14th after battling through a broken front-wing mount. He finished fourth overall in the series standings.
"It was just a really tough weekend and not a great way to end the season," Hinchcliffe said. "We were hoping to go out on a high here, but we struggled all weekend and the damage to the car in the race was really the icing on the cake."
This marked the first year the Minden-based open wheel racing team captured the series title.
ESPN2 will air the race on Aug. 22 at 2 p.m.
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