Dixon wins fifth IndyCar crown
SONOMA, Calif. — Scott Dixon was fully reclined, quietly watching NASCAR on television with friends, as the clock inched toward the IndyCar season finale. A fifth championship was one steady Sunday drive away, and Dixon wasn’t the least bit stressed.
Dixon needed only an uneventful Sunday at Sonoma Raceway to win the championship and sealed it by finishing second, the same place he started the race, behind Ryan Hunter-Reay. The fifth title moved him into second in IndyCar history, two behind A.J. Foyt.
“I can’t believe this is actually happening,” Dixon said. “You always doubt these situations and think they are never going to happen. It’s all about the people, and I’m the lucky one that gets to take it across the line.”
The 38-year-old New Zealander also won titles in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2015, all with Chip Ganassi Racing. He’s the longest tenured driver in CGR history and helped the team owner cap a strong organizational weekend in which Ross Chastain won the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season finale, Kyle Larson finished second in the opener for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and Dixon gave him a 12th IndyCar championship.
“What an incredible ride it’s been with this guy,” said Ganassi, who celebrated the title the same way he did in 2015, by diving from the championship stage into the crowd assembled below.
Dixon’s task was eased when challenger Alexander Rossi hit teammate Marco Andretti seconds after the start and broke his front wing. Rossi had to pit for a new part, dropped to last in the field — and the championship was pretty much decided.
Dixon held a 29-point lead over Rossi at the start of the day, and even though the race was worth double points, Rossi needed to be perfect to catch “The Iceman.” Dixon’s final points margin was 57 points over Rossi, who rallied to finish seventh. Rossi ended his third season in IndyCar second in the standings.
“It was going to be a tough day to beat Scott anyway,” Rossi said. “It’s unfortunate to go out like that. I wish I could replay that a million more times. We have to look at 2018 and be pretty happy with it, even though we go away second and the first loser.”
As relaxed as Dixon appeared to be all day, he admitted after the race he didn’t let up in the race car after Rossi’s mishap. The title wasn’t secure, he said, until he made it through the final round of pit stops cleanly.
“You just never know; anything can happen,” Dixon said. “We had a lot of grit. Rossi did a hell of a job — he’s been pushing so hard this year, and he’s going to be a star.”
Hunter-Reay won for the 18th time in his IndyCar career and second this season.
“To end this way is unreal,” said Hunter-Reay, who dedicated the win to injured IndyCar driver Robert Wickens. “We wish he was here, he would have made my life a lot more difficult on the track today.”
Hunter-Reay also praised Dixon as the greatest driver of this IndyCar generation.
“It’s unthinkable what he’s accomplished,” Hunter-Reay said. “To share the track with him is awesome, and to beat him is, too.”
Will Power and Simon Pagenaud finished third and fourth for Team Penske.
Power’s finish made the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner third in the season championship standings.