Dixon dominant in first Detroit Indycar race
AUCKLAND: Kiwi Indycar driver Scott Dixon gave his championship charge a massive boost by winning the first race in the Detroit doubleheader yesterday.
The 37yearold joined Michael Andretti in a share of third on the alltime wins list with his 42nd career victory. Only the legendary AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti have won more races.
It also marks the 14th consecutive season that Dixon has won a race and he extended his own record in the process.
The fourtime series champion started from second on the grid and took control of the race by the end of his first stint. He dominated from that point on, building up a big lead before a safety car intervention bunched the field up behind him straight after his final pit stop.
The race had been green until that point but that prompted closer racing and it produced another yellow shortly after the restart.
But Dixon held his nerve and eased away to win his first race of the season.
‘‘It was big,’’ a delighted Dixon said. ‘‘It is nice to get that first win out of the way — we came up a little short in the last few races.
‘‘I am super proud of this team. Honda has been working extremely hard to bounce back after last week [at Indianapolis].
‘‘This is awesome. It is always good to be back in the winner’s circle.
‘‘Right now in the Indycar Verizon Series the competition is just so tough.’’
Ryan HunterReay finished second and Alexander Rossi was third in a clean sweep of the podium positions for Honda.
Dixon moved up to second the championship standings and Rossi took the lead.
A second race on the Belle Isle street circuit awaits tomorrow. — NZME