Now we are down to the final two races of the season, and, thankfully, both are on challenging, interesting, drivers' circuits, though I prefer Interlagos to Abu Dhabi. Interlagos has long straights, fast and slow corners, and challenging passing zones, especially the entry to turn one.

The weather seems unlikely to be a factor, with just a 20% chance of rain on race day, but in any tropical area afternoon storms are always a distinct possibility.

For qualifying I expect the usual 5 suspects in the top 5 positions, with Vettel on pole, Alonso second, Webber third, Hamilton fourth, and Button fifth. The others making it to Q3 should be Kubica, Rosberg, Massa, Barrichello, and Schumacher.

Call me a fool, and trust me, you would not be the first or last, but I still believe in Red Bull, in spite of the disaster in Korea. I think Vettel will take the win, with Webber second, and Hamilton third, with Alonso having a mechanically-related dnf. Renault need to improve from their recent troubles, and I believe Kubica will finish in the top five. Button's outside chance to repeat as World Champion will come to an end, leaving him to gnash his teeth and try to help Lewis in Abu Dhabi, if he is still in with a shout.

If my prediction is as far off as others have been lately (I picked the Texas Rangers to win the World Series) and Alonso virtually locks up the title this Sunday, it will leave Vettel and Webber, and the whole Red Bull team, with some long looks in the mirror and months of recriminations over what could, or should, have been. Countless missed opportunities and too many stupid mistakes, for the second year in a row, will leave them wondering if their window of championship possibilities has closed. Is Webber getting a bit old for this young man's sport? Will Vettel ever show the necessary maturity and calculation of the true champion? Will the incredibly talented design and engineering staff be lured to another team?

There is still time for Red Bull to pick up the pieces and regain both titles, as they are clearly capable of dominating at both Interlagos and Abu Dhabi, and I hope they do. It is a good thing, I think, when a new team, and new driver, claims a title. It brings hope to the other underdogs on the grid, that if they can combine the right amounts of driver talent, design and engineering innovation, and tons of money, they too can spray the champagne at the end of the race, and the end of the season.

Regardless of this weekend's outcome, as long as the championship continues to the final round, to keep all of us in at least a little suspense, that is my most fervent hope.

When the engines roar to life tomorrow, I'll be in front of my TV, listening to Bob Varsha, Steve Matchett, and the venerable David Hobbs try to make sense of it all from their bunker in Charlotte, NC. At least they have one member of their team, pit reporter Will Buxton, actually at the track. For all of my nostalgia for "the good old days," and my unhappiness over the direction the sport has taken recently, and my irritation over many of the regulations that strike me as foolish and wrong-headed, I still get goosebumps when those engines roar and those valiant men head out onto the track, even in the comfort of my recliner.

Jim Casey