Fantastic finish: Veteran Dixon wins closest IndyCar race in Mid-Ohio history

LEXINGTON — Powerful Team Penske started three racers in the top four spots Sunday in the NTT IndyCar Series Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio.

Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist made sure the checkered flag looked far different than the green.

The 39-year-old Dixon, aka “Mr. Mid-Ohio,” earned his sixth IndyCar win at the 13-turn, 2.258-mile permanent road course, holding off his hard-charging rookie teammate.

It was far from easy for the New Zealand native against his 27-year-old teammate. In the fact, the two actually touched wheels in Turn 2 on the final lap of the 90-lap race before finishing 1-2.

Dixon, who was racing on rapidly fading tires, bested Rosenqvist by 0.0934 seconds (about 3/4 of a car length), the closest Indy car finish at Mid-Ohio and third closest on a road course in Indy car history.

A relieved Dixon, who drives the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda, said the final result may have been different had his closest competitor not been a teammate.

“Oh, man, that was crazy,” said Dixon. “(I was) just a sitting duck … and if I wasn’t his teammate I think he would have (knocked) me off.”

Rosenqvist, from Sweden, is a European racing veteran in his first year on the IndyCar circuit. In his No. 10 Clover Honda, the rookie was chasing his first win in the series.

He was urged by his team to “go for it” while also keeping in mind Dixon is a teammate who still has hopes for another points championship.

“A bit of a mixed (message),” Rosenqvist said with a laugh, adding he was confident Dixon would race him fair. “He’s always on the right level of aggression and safety.”

Rosenqvist said it appeared Dixon slowed in Turn 2.

“I saw he was struggling with fuel and especially with tires,” he said. “I thought he might have let me go because he was a bit slower. He veered back in and we bumped and I picked up some dirt on my tires. He is clever and will never be easy to pass.”

Dixon, who led 38 laps during the race and utilized a two-pit stop strategy, saw his sizable lead evaporate on the final laps as Rosenqvist and his three-stop strategy nearly paid off.

“With about 15 (laps) to go, I started moaning to the team that I thought we had to pit again,” Dixon said. “It was a lot of bad choices on my end. I was too aggressive. I have huge respect for Felix. He drove clean, but it was going to be hard for any car to come pass.

“That’s what IndyCar racing is – it produces the best racing in the world,” Dixon said.

The victory was the 46th in Dixon’s career and moved to within six of Mario Andretti (52) for second place on Indy car’s all-time list. A.J. Foyt ranks first with 67.

Dixon also scored his second win of the season, a victory that allowed Chip Ganassi’s team to break a tie with Newman-Haas Racing for second-most wins in history with 108. Team Penske has won 210.

Dixon also moved back into title contention, made easier when series leader Josef Newgarden of Team Penske had contact with Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay in a fight for third place on the final lap in Turn 2. 

Newgarden’s No. 2 PPG Chevrolet stalled in a sand trap, causing him to finish 14th. Hunter-Reay went on to finish third.

Newgarden’s spin allowed Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi to move up to fifth in the No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS Honda and draw to 16 points of the series lead with four races remaining.

Team Penske’s Simon Pagenaud, who finished sixth driving the No. 22 Menards Chevrolet, is third in the standings – 47 points behind Newgarden – heading to the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on Aug. 18.

The podium finish was Hunter-Reay’s first in the No. 28 DHL Honda since finishing third at Circuit of The Americas race in Austin, Texas, on March 24.

Click here for a complete look at the final race standings from Mid-Ohio on Sunday.