South Auckland racer Scott Dixon has finished second at the Indianapolis 500 after being pipped to the chequered flag by Takuma Sato in a race the Kiwi dominated throughout.
The five-time Indycar champion and 2020 series leader led for 111 laps of the 200-lap race but faded in the final stint as Sato pounced to grab his second career win.
A late safety car intervention, with five laps remaining thwarted Dixon’s chances of over-hauling Sato, who was going to struggle to make the finish line on fuel.
“Definitely a hard one to swallow for sure. We had such a great day,” Dixon said. “First time I’ve seen them let it run out like that. I thought they’d throw a red.”
Dixon had the dominant car all day and surpassed legends AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti during the race on the all-time laps led at Indianapolis and walks away with one hand on the 2020 title.
He led the field through the opening stint, making the pass on pole-sitter Marco Andretti on the opening lap.
Ed Carpenter was the first to find trouble when he was pushed into the wall and broke the steering arm on his car.
Dixon’s Swedish teammate Marcus Ericsson – the ex-Formula 1 star – went out early when he too got loose and found the wall at turn two of the Brickyard. It forced the second caution within the first 25 laps of the race.
Dixon headed for his first stop along with the other leaders when pitlane opened. He led those cars back onto the track but fell in behind the early stoppers.
The five-time series champion continued to dominate the race through the second full stint and the opening quarter of the race. He got a bit of help when second-placed Alexander Rossi made an error trying to enter pitlane, when he over-cooked it and had to remain out on track an extra lap, losing precious seconds to the Kiwi.
Dixon managed to make it out of the lane in front of all the drivers on the early stop strategy – the only driver to achieve it, which gave him the ability to manage fuel through the third stint.
His lead over his nearest rivals got out to over 10 seconds.
A caution midway through his third stint hurt Dixon however as his huge advantage was wiped out. All drivers pitted during the yellow however, forcing everyone back on the same strategy with the Kiwi still holding the race lead.
Dixon opted to hand the lead over to Rossi after the re-start as he looked to sit in behind his American rival and save fuel. The pair swapped places throughout the stint before taking advantage of another yellow shortly before they were due to stop.
Rossi was adjudged to have made an unsafe release when he made light contact with Takuma Sato during the stop and he was sent to the back of the field.
As he tried to pick his way back through the field, Rossi found the wall and his race was over.
Dixon began to work with Takuma Sato on fuel strategy at the front as the Kiwi tried to make sure he could get home with one more stop.
The New Zealander pitted on lap 170 and despite a slow stop by his Chip Ganassi team’s standards he popped out in front, although Sato moved past him moments later.
With five laps to go Spencer Pigot had a massive crash to bring out a final caution and ensure the race would finish under caution.
Dixon extended his championship lead to 84 points to put him in a commanding position as he attempts to win a sixth career title.
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