Scott Dixon Wins Exciting Gallagher Grand Prix at Indy

Scott Dixon enjoys the spoils of winning Saturday’s Gallagher Grand Prix at Indianapolis. (Photo: Logan Skidan | The Podium Finish)

SPEEDWAY, Ind. – For the past 18 seasons, 43-year-old Scott Dixon of Brisbane, Australia has been the prime example of consistency and success in the NTT INDYCAR Series.

Long after he hangs up his helmet, he may be as revered as Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt, Al Unser Sr., Al Unser Jr., Michael Andretti, Bobby Rahal, Dario Franchitti and other greats in the open wheel ranks.

Presently, he is still continuing his winning ways as evident with Saturday’s Gallagher Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Then again, it was not the finest of starts for the six-time INDYCAR champion.

Starting from the 15th position, Dixon was involved in a Turn 7, Lap 1 skirmish that involved Josef Newgarden, Marcus Armstrong, Colton Herta and Romain Grosjean. While others simply resorted to damage control, the Chip Ganassi Racing lead footer suffered only cosmetic damage with the rear light blinking from his No. 9 PNC Bank Dallara Honda ride.

Nevertheless, Dixon and his No. 9 crew, with race engineer Mike Hull, parlayed brilliant strategy and a race that was clean and green for the remainder of the 85-lap event. Along with taking advantage of the 2.439-mile, 14-turn FIA Grade 2’s mammoth layout, Dixon had a fast ride.

Meanwhile, Devlin DeFrancesco, who rolled off from the fifth position, led the opening eight laps before Graham Rahal took the lead on Lap 9. Pit stop strategies became the name of the game as Dixon quickly emerged as a frontrunner on Lap 27.

Christian Lundgaard challenged Rahal and Dixon with another fast No. 45 Dallara Honda ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. Then again, Lundgaard’s day was derailed when he was summoned to pit on the same lap as his adjacent competitor in Pato O’Ward.

O’Ward’s No. 5 Arrow McLaren pit crew delivered with a nominal stop that got him ahead of the Danish racer, vexing the latter while catalyzing the Mexican driver to a podium position.

Dixon was simply too much on this race day at Indianapolis. (Photo: Jeremy Bryner | The Podium Finish)

In the meantime, Dixon’s quick pace and his team’s incredible pit strategy propelled him into contention in the closing moments of the race. Rahal, who had not won since Race No. 2 of the 2017 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle, could dream about finally being on the top step of the podium.

However, those dreams were dashed when Dixon pluckily took the lead from him on Lap 64 during the final pit stop cycle. In the race’s final 22 laps, Rahal was determined to close the over six second gap to have a chance at the Indianapolis victory.

Although Rahal closed within a half second of Dixon in the final five laps, it was all for naught as far as the victory was concerned. Dixon tallied his first win of the 2023 NTT INDYCAR Series season as he extended his winning streak to 19 seasons.

Danny Sullivan may have the “Spin and Win” from the 1985 Indianapolis 500. Now, Dixon has the “Spin in Turn 7 and Win” moment that will be a part of the record books from this year’s Gallagher Grand Prix.

“Huge credit to the team for this one,” Dixon said. “I had a fantastic start, but then got T-boned there in Turn 7. But this team never gives up. Honda was amazing today. It was so much fun driving my Honda out there today, getting the fuel mileage, cruising along, and fantastic pace when we needed it.”

That fantastic pace paid off even when Rahal doggedly tried to work his way closer to Dixon’s powerful entry. Although he adeptly summated his feelings as “not bummed but I’m bummed,” he surely turned his fortunes around considering how frustrating Indianapolis was to him in May.

“We have nothing to be ashamed of, our Code Three No. 15 car was excellent today, Honda was excellent today, as always. I mean, I’m not bummed, but I’m bummed,” Rahal said. “Even on a day where we did everything right, lady luck wasn’t quite on our side. I think that first yellow hurt us. It went on for a long time and made a two-stop race possible. I knew during that first yellow that Dixon was going to come into play, and he did.

“On the last two laps, I was on ‘overtake’, but he was too, and I just wasn’t gaining ground. So I couldn’t get close enough to make a lunge at him. But that’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’re going against the best of all time, by far, and we just have keep our heads down, and keep getting better.”

With the championship seemingly out of his grasp, O’Ward is eyeing the best possible points finish and his first win of 2023. Placing third in Saturday’s race, it was a hard fought effort against two quick Hondas.

“It was a very physical race and we had to work for that one,” O’Ward said. “The team did an amazing job. It depends so much on the strategy and that was the right strategy for our car.

“We honestly wouldn’t have picked to do anything else. I’m happy with the work that I did. We’ve still got some work to do to catch up but solid points for us.

Given Dixon’s sterling career and seemingly easy paths to wins, his 53rd career victory was not without guile and desire.

Although a seventh championship is out of the question, Dixon extended an important winning streak. (Photo: Logan Skidan | The Podium Finish)

“The only problem I had all day was I think I pushed too hard on my out lap [after his final pit stop] to build a gap to Graham [Rahal],” Dixon said. “Unfortunately, (he) used the tires up, so it was pretty sketchy at the end.

“But we put on a show for everyone, and we’re going to keep on trying. It’s cool to be here.”

Gallagher Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race Results

2023 NTT INDYCAR Series Top 10 Driver’s Standings (Race No. 14 of 17)