Dixon strengthens lead heading to Sonoma
Scott Dixon salvaged his championship run with an improbable comeback in IndyCar’s return to Portland (Ore.) International Raceway that put him in control of his race to a fifth title.
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 of Nevada City (Nevada County).
Rossi had a decent race Sunday but finished eighth and lost three points to Dixon.
“Huge day for the team, feels like a win for us,” Dixon said. “The points, whatever it is, is not a huge amount.”
The season-ending IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma is Sept. 16, with the race counting as double the points.
Team Penske drivers Will Power and Josef Newgarden started on the front row Sunday and are the only other drivers mathematically eligible to win the championship. Newgarden finished 10th and Power was 21st. He had a mechanical problem eight laps into the race that seemed to make his car stall as he pulled out of the way and conceded the lead to Rossi.
NASCAR: Brad Keselowski beat leader Kyle Larson out of the pits with 22 laps to go, then pulled away on a restart to win the Southern 500 and sweep the weekend at Darlington Raceway, S.C.
Keselowski took the Xfinity race Saturday when leaders Ross Chastain and Kevin Harvick wrecked late. This time, Keselowski and his crew took advantage on the final caution to move in front with a fast pit stop. Keselowski then did the rest as he opened a 1½second lead down the stretch.
Formula One: Lewis Hamilton denied Ferrari a dream home win at the Italian Grand Prix as he overtook Kimi Raikkonen eight laps from the end to claim a fifth victory in seven years at Monza.
The Mercedes driver beat Raikkonen, who had started on the pole, to tie Michael Schumacher’s record of five Italian Grand Prix victories and extend his championship lead to 30 points over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who finished fourth.