Perfect record for Dixon after comfortable win
WELLINGTON: New Zealander Scott Dixon has continued his perfect start to the IndyCar season, winning the latest race in Indiana.
The fivetime series champion came from seventh on the grid to take the chequered flag yesterday and make it backtoback victories in the opening two rounds.
Dixon said it was too early to start talking about his overall title chances, but he was pleased to have made amends for making a mistake in qualifying.
‘‘So good to be racing here again at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,’’ Dixon said.
‘‘We’ve had so many runnerup spots here on the road course. We got lucky. The strategy, the team just nailed it. We got lucky with that caution. But as soon as we got the balance right, the PNC Bank No 9 just checked out.’’
Dixon benefited from a welltimed caution period near the midway point of the race and then drove away to dominate the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning by an eventrecord 19.9469sec in the Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
It marked the first victory in this event for Dixon, who had finished second the past three years.
It was the 48th Indy Car victory for Dixon, who is now just four wins behind Mario Andretti for No 2 on the alltime list.
Graham Rahal finished second after making just two pit stops, one fewer than Dixon and the other contenders.
Simon Pagenaud rebounded from a tough qualifying session, jumping from a 20th starting spot to finish third. — RNZ