By RICHIE HALL
SPEEDWAY – Scott Dixon went from having a terrible start to a great finish at the Gallagher Grand Prix.
Dixon was caught in a pile-up in the first lap, but quickly regrouped, and gained the lead about a third of a way through the race. He then held off a literally furious challenge from pole-sitter Graham Rahal during the later stages to win the Grand Prix, which took place at a warm Indianapolis Motor Speedway last Saturday.
The win was the 53rd of his career for Dixon, and his first of the 2023 season. That extended his record streak of winning at least one race a year to 19 years. The 43-year-old Dixon also earned another record, making his 319th consecutive start.
“What a day to win on,” said Dixon. “It makes it so fun, especially for this little guy.” Dixon was referring to his 3-year-old son Kit. “He gets to see it. It’s been a while since I’ve had a win, probably over a year.”
Dixon’s last victory did come a few days over a year ago, when he triumphed in Nashville on Aug. 7, 2022. He had to hold off another driver who was trying to end his own victory drought. Rahal’s last victories came in June 2017, when he swept both parts of a doubleheader in Detroit.
The race began in an exciting way, as young Canadian Devlin DeFrancesco jumped into the lead right after the race began. But things took a literal turn midway through the opening lap. Alex Palou touched the rear of Marcus Armstrong’s car in Turn 7, causing Armstrong to spin. As other drivers tried to avoid the incident, Romain Grosjean touched Dixon, sending him into the grass.
Josef Newgarden came upon the scene, and his car was damaged when it was sent over the nose of Armstrong’s vehicle. Newgarden’s front wing was damaged, and although he was able to get the car running again, he was knocked out of contention, finishing the race in 25th place, two laps behind the leaders.
The caution period from the incident lasted for six laps, and after that there were no others. DeFrancesco held on to the lead until Lap 9, when Rahal darted back ahead. He held the lead until Lap 24, when he pitted and Christian Lundgaard assumed first place. Lundgaard stayed in front for three laps until he pitted, then Dixon moved in front on Lap 27.
Rahal jumped back ahead on the 32nd lap, and enjoyed 15 laps in front before pitting again. Lundgaard regained the lead for four laps, then Dixon became the leader on Lap 52. Dixon began to dominate after that, leading Rahal by over six seconds at one point.
Rahal led for a few laps after Dixon pitted, but the two traded the lead again on Lap 64 when Rahal went into the pits. Dixon again blasted out a six-second lead, but Rahal continued to whittle down that advantage until the end of the race.
The leaders had to contend with traffic during the last few laps. At one point, Rahal threw a hand up when he couldn’t overtake a slower car. Eventually everyone acquiesced to Dixon and Rahal, and Graham gave it his all, at one point getting within a quarter of a second with two laps to go. But Dixon held on, eventually winning by slightly under a half second.
“The only problem there toward the end I think on my out laps I pushed it too hard to kind of create that gap on Graham and unfortunately burned the tires up a little bit,” said Dixon. “It was a little sketchy at the end, but we tried to put on a show for everyone.”
Rahal wound up leading the most laps with 36, just ahead of Dixon’s 34. DeFrancesco followed with eight laps, and Lundgaard totaled seven laps in front.
“I thought we did it right today,” said Rahal. “But that’s the way racing goes.”
Pato O’Ward finished third, with Lundgaard placing fourth. Alexander Rossi placed fifth with a consistent run; he was as high as second place during the early laps of the race.
Frustration for Daly
Noblesville’s Conor Daly was hoping to race in the Pennzoil 150 last Saturday evening, but the weather got in the way.
Daly did not advance out of the morning qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, placing 40th out of 42 cars.
“Pretty embarrassing situation today honestly,” said Daly on Twitter. “Wet tire, dry track. No experience driving this car. Had no speed at all, really just simple. Tried to hustle everything out of it but no idea why we were all on wets in the first place. Really sucks for everyone involved.”