Dixon rallies to finish fifth

PORTLAND, Ore. — Scott Dixon claimed to remember little about his last race at Portland International Raceway, a visit 16 years and four championships ago.

Should he win a fifth IndyCar title this season, his return to the Pacific Northwest will be one he never forgets.

Dixon salvaged his championship run Sunday with an improbable comeback that made the championship his to lose.

Dixon finished fifth, far behind race winner Takuma Sato, but put together the kind of drive that may define his season. He started 11th, was collected in an opening-lap crash, penalized for speeding on pit road and twice drove through the field from 20th. His Chip Ganassi Racing team was forced to change its strategy several times, and caution flags helped Dixon cycle ahead of the other championship contenders. He goes to the Sept. 16 season finale with a 29-point over Alexander Rossi.

“Huge day for the team, feels like a win for us,” Dixon said. “The points, whatever it is, is not a huge amount.”

Rossi had a decent race Sunday but was cycled out of the lead because of cautions. He finished eighth and lost three points to Dixon.

“It’s one of those days. We had a fast car,” Rossi said. “Our tire strategy was going to plan and everything was good until the yellow came on Lap 56. It hurts a lot, and hopefully, it’s not something that costs us the championship.”

Team Penske drivers Will Power and Josef Newgarden started on the front row and are the only other drivers mathematically eligible to win the championship. Newgarden, the defending series champion, finished 10th and is 87 points behind Dixon.

It was a terrible day for Power, the Indianapolis 500 winner. He had a mechanical problem eight laps into the race seemed to make his car stall as he pulled out of the way and conceded the lead to Rossi.

Power later went off course into a tire barrier and finished 21st. He’s tied with Newgarden for third in the standings.