Dixon makes top start but campaign ‘horrendous’

Kiwi Scott Dixon’s attempt at winning a second Indianapolis 500 title is off to a flying start.

He and Takuma Sato topped the speed charts for a second time in free practice in the run-up to next weekend’s “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

Dixon topped the charts in the morning of the first day of practice and Sato in the afternoon. Day two was washed out due to rain, and on day three, Sato and Dixon were onetwo at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Two-time Indy 500 winner Sato led at 366km/h, with six-time IndyCar champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner Dixon second at 365km/h.

“Let’s see what the rest of the week brings,” Dixon said.

Drivers will get one more practice before qualifying Saturday and Sunday. Speeds are set to increase, as the cars receive a turbo boost, with an extra 90bhp.

This will be Dixon’s 20th Indy 500, winning for the only time in 2008. The 41-year-old has started from pole four times, finishing second three times and third once.

By his own admission, Dixon has had a “horrendous” start to his 2022 campaign. He has placed no higher than fifth in his five races and is fifth overall on 133 points, 37 behind leader Will Power and 19 behind fellow Kiwi Scott McLaughlin in third.

“I’m just frustrated, man. I think everybody can see that. We’re making swings where we shouldn’t be, and it’s just a different car every time we go out,” Dixon said on the Peacock broadcast. “Honestly, it sucks right now. We’ve got to sort it out. Our race pace has been good, and everyone on the PNC Bank car side has done a tremendous job, but if you qualify this far back, it’s just horrendous.

“It has been pretty horrendous in some circumstances. And then I think we kind of got into a weird snowball effect on the road course and honestly just changed way too much stuff, and when you do that, you lose the balance. With how tight the competition is right now, you’re going to be out to lunch.”