Sage Karam

Sage Karam, 18, has earned his opportunity on the IndyCar circuit.

(IndyCar photo courtesy Chris James)

Andretti. Unser. Foyt and soon Karam.

Yes, the IndyCar series awaits Sage Karam.

Karam, the Nazareth Area High School senior from Bushkill Township, won the Indy Lights championship Saturday night by finishing third at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

The 18-year-old Karam now has an opportunity to move to IndyCar next season as the reigning champion.

Gabby Chaves finished second in Saturday's race, falling short in his bid to snatch the championship from Karam, his Sam Schmidt Motorsports teammate.

Karam entered the race with a 16-point lead over Chaves. His championship season was built on three wins, nine top three finishes, two poles and 163 laps led. He edged Chaves by 11 points.

It gave Schmidt Motorsports its fourth consecutive Indy Lights title and seventh overall.

"I was crying on that last lap, just to know the dream is almost in reach and to be in the IndyCar Series racing with my heroes," Karam said.

"This season started out OK and it went really bad in the middle. We bounced back somehow and we're champions now," he said. "The team just put together an awesome car week-in, week-out. I can't thank them enough. I'm pretty sure when we talk about next year, Sam (Schmidt) is going to be the first guy we talk to."

Karam's father, Jody Karam, the wrestling coach at Liberty High School, said that by winning the championship, Sage can access financing -- a scholarship of as much as $1 million -- that would make a shot at the IndyCar series possible. He also mentioned that Schmidt Motorsports will be the first team with which Sage meets.

"Sage's current contract expires this week," Jody said. "He'll meet with Sam Schmidt Racing this next week and negotiations will start about an IndyCar contract. They will have first crack at signing him."

Sage will join Marco Andretti, also of Bushkill Township, on the IndyCar circuit.

Jody talked about his pride in his son, who will return this week and prepare to wrestle his senior season at Nazareth Area High School, although Sage said that depending upon the contract he signs and the commitments involved, he may have to cut back on wrestling. He hopes to be able to take to the mats this winter, though.

"As a dad, it is a great day to be Sage's father. Tomorrow I may not say that," Jody joked. "But today is really a great day.

"Sage has handed all this terrifically. He's stayed calm and made his dream a reality. He's shown real emotional maturity throughout it all, even if he was in tears during his final lap on Saturday."

Sage is excited about taking the next step and hopes to get everything resolved quickly.

"This is a big step," Sage said. "I've won at every level but now I'll be going against the best in the world. The first step is to find a team. I've been meeting with them (Schmidt Motorsports), and they've put out an offer. I'll explore other options because I still have time. The first off-season test (practice) isn't until mid-November."

Whoever he decides to race with, Karam will take with him the $1 million scholarship to help defray his expenses. Sage hopes to have a decision made before Thanksgiving. He said last year he waited until about a week before the season started to sign a contract, which led to a lot of stress over the holidays.

"I'd really like to spend the holidays this year with my family and not have to worry," Sage said. "We're probably about 80 percent of the way there. I think we'll be able to get it done before Thanksgiving."

The IndyCar season starts on March 30 with the "World's Fastest Spring Break Party'"on the 1.8-mile street circuit in St. Petersburg, Fla.