Photo / Indycar.com

Kiwi driver Scott Dixon has finished eighth in the opening Indycar race of the season on the streets of St Petersburg.

The six-time series champion struggled for outright speed all weekend but raced inside the top 10 for most of the race.

He was the best of the three-stoppers in eighth.

Fellow New Zealander Scott McLaughlin started from pole and recorded his maiden Indycar race win with a brilliant drive.

He had to hang on in the closing laps as lapped traffic held him up and gave reigning series champion Alex Palou a chance to catch him.

The series continues in Texas next month.