Second enables Dixon to clinch fifth Indycar Series title
SONOMA, California: Scott Dixon won his fifth IndyCar Series championship when he finished second in the final race of the season, the Grand Prix of Sonoma, in northern California, yesterday.
The New Zealander entered the race knowing a toptwo finish would assure him of the title ahead of closest rival Alexander Rossi, who had to pit after a mistake on the opening lap and was never able to put serious pressure on Dixon.
The Chip Ganassi driver raced conservatively for a comfortable second behind American Ryan HunterReay. Rossi finished seventh.
‘‘Man, this is so awesome I can’t believe it’s actually happened,’’ Dixon said.
‘‘You always doubt these situations so much that they’re never going to happen.
‘‘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.’’
Dixon won three of the 17 races on this year’s schedule and had 13 topfives.
He previously won the IndyCar championship in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2015.
American A.J. Foyt holds the record with seven openwheel titles on the US circuit from 1960 to 1979.
Dixon’s task yesterday was made considerably easier after Rossi’s early trouble. Rossi made contact with the back of teammate Marco Andretti’s car, which resulted in a damaged front wing and forced him to pit.
He dropped to last and, while he got back into the race later under a yellow flag, he could not threaten the leaders.
‘‘I wish I could replay that a million more times,’’ American Rossi, a former Formula One driver, said.
‘‘The team did a great job to get me back on the road to recovery after the mistake I made.
‘‘A huge congratulations to Scott. He’s a fivetimes champion for a reason. It was a pleasure to race against him all year.’’
Rossi finished second in the seasonlong standings, with Australian Will Power third and HunterReay fourth.
The 38yearold New Zealander has won all five titles with Chip Ganassi Racing.
‘‘What an incredible ride it’s been with this guy,’’ Ganassi, who has 12 IndyCar titles as a team owner, said.
HunterReay won for the 18th time of his career and the first this season.
‘‘To end this way is unreal,’’ HunterReay, who dedicated the win to injured IndyCar driver Robert Wickens, said.
HunterReay also praised Dixon as the greatest driver of this IndyCar generation.
‘‘To share the track with him is awesome and to beat him is, too,’’ HunterReay said.
NEW Zealander Hayden Paddon secured his first podium finish of the World Rally Championship season yesterday, finishing third in Turkey.
With his British codriver Seb Marshall, Paddon stuck to the plan of being consistently fast and clean to take home his seventh WRC career podium finish.
Paddon did not have a great start to the rally as a malfunctioning handbrake led to the 17thequalfastest time in the opening special stage.
The first day was tough for Paddon but he rose up to sixth as he set the quickest time on two stages.
Paddon and Marshall kept their cool in Saturday’s baking hot temperatures in a dramafilled day of rallying as leading WRC crews struggled with broken suspension, drivetrain issues and more. The duo moved from sixth to third on the leader board during the day.
While tyre wear was a major issue for the pair, they continued their consistent run with top four and five stage times throughout Sunday’s 130.62 competitive kilometres of six special stages.
The pair went into yesterday in a clear third place, behind secondplaced JariMatti Latvala by 57.4sec and ahead of fourthplaced Teemu Suninen by more than 2min.
Paddon described the need to preserve his third place with a calm, measured approach as like being in no man’s land.
‘‘It’s about playing the long game in this rally. When you’re in no man’s land it can be really hard because you have to look after the car. It can be really painful but it’s what you have to do.’’
With steady sixth and seventhfastest stage times, they got through the final special stage to finish third.
‘‘I am really happy to take our first podium of the season. It has been a very tough rally. We have adopted a particular strategy this weekend that has required us to hold back and be patient.’’