TORONTO – Move over, Mario Andretti, it’s time to make room for Scott Dixon as the second winningest driver in IndyCar history.
Dixon started on the front row and drove a masterful race to win Sunday’s Honda Indy Toronto at Canada’s Exhibition Place.The driver of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing started on the outside of the front row, masterfully saved fuel throughout the race and was able to keep hard-charging Colton Herta in his rear-view mirror all the way to the checkered flag.
Dixon defeated Herta by 0.8106 seconds. It’s an IndyCar-record 20th-straight season that Dixon has won a race.
Click here for the race results.It was Dixon’s 52nd career IndyCar win, tying him with Andretti for second place on the all-time victory list. AJ Foyt is IndyCar’s all-time winner with 67 career victories and is the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times in his career.It was Dixon’s first victory of 2022 and his first since winning at Texas Motor Speedway on May 1, 2021.“The strategy got me the lead early,” said Dixon, who pitted to switch from Firestone Reds to Blacks on Lap 18. “I ended a streak there, which is fantastic. It’s a crazy year for the No. 9. I feel bad for our partners at the Indianapolis 500.“It’s amazing to be this close to Mario Andretti. We still have him and AJ Foyt in the pits. I feel so lucky to be part of this group. Hopefully, we will be in the title hunt now. I’m hoping this is the start of the roll. I think the team deserves it.“It was tremendous to see all the teams at Chip Ganassi Racing do well this weekend.”The win for Chip Ganassi Racing was the latest in a tumultuous week for the team as Alex Palou’s controversial contract situation with CGR and McLaren has dominated the news.Palou drove a great race after starting 22nd. He finished sixth behind his teammate, Marcus Ericsson, who finished fifth.Arrow McLaren SP’s Felix Rosenqvist was third in a Chevrolet followed by Graham Rahal’s Honda.“I hope this weekend makes Zak Brown think over some things,” said Rosenqvist, who wants to remain in IndyCar next season. Brown is the CEO of McLaren and recently signed Rosenqvist to a contract extension, but has yet to assign him to a series.
Presumably, Rosenqvist could either be in IndyCar of Formula E for McLaren.
Ericsson continues to lead the NTT IndyCar Series standings, but Team Penske’s Will Power moved into second place, 35 points behind the leader. Palou is third, 37 points out. Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon both have 44 points, but Newgarden get the position based on his three wins to Dixon’s one.
Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren SP is sixth, 75 back, followed by Scott McLaughlin (-77), Herta (-97), Rosenqvist (-107) and Simon Pagenaud (-108).
More to come.
Keyword: Scott Dixon Ties Mario Andretti With Toronto IndyCar Win