Scott Dixon Seizes Late Victory at Honda Indy 200
Lexington, Ohio – Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing clinched a dramatic victory at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, overcoming a challenging start and capitalizing on a rare mistake by teammate Alex Palou late in the race.
Dixon, starting from ninth on the grid, initiated his race strategy effectively despite a difficult qualifying session. The first major incident occurred on lap one, when Josef Newgarden lost control, triggering a multi-car collision that included Graham Rahal.
“The cautious start confirmed our two-stop strategy,” said Dixon. “We focused on fuel mileage during the warm-up, which set us up for the race.”
Critical to Dixon’s strategy were two key caution periods. The first caution allowed for early pit stops, and the second, on lap 31 when Christian Rasmussen ran out of fuel, proved particularly advantageous. “That yellow helped us greatly; if it had lasted only one or two laps, our plan would have faltered,” noted Mike Hull, Dixon’s strategist.
Upon switching to alternate tires, Dixon faced challenges in his second stint, particularly with tire degradation. “The first stint went relatively smoothly, but the second was tough—we struggled with the left front tire. It was demanding to keep a loose car under control,” Dixon remarked.
As the race approached its final laps, Palou appeared poised for victory after his final stop on lap 72, rejoining two seconds ahead of Dixon. However, he made a critical error at Turn 9, running wide and allowing Dixon to take the lead with just six laps remaining.
Palou acknowledged the mistake, stating, “I hesitated, thinking I was navigating around a lapped car. I didn’t expect to see Scott gain on me so quickly.”
Dixon’s win, his first of the season, reinvigorates his campaign after a series of frustrating performances. “This has been a tough year for us. It’s a massive boost for morale, knowing we can win again,” he concluded.
Dixon’s victory adds momentum to his title chase as the IndyCar series progresses, further emphasizing the competitiveness of the season.
