Scott Dixon Late Season Surge Affirms Legacy: Scott Dixon’s late-season rally fell short of winning the IndyCar title. Still, it highlighted his status as the top driver of his generation.
The six-time IndyCar champ won his first race at Laguna Seca in a spectacular finish. It was his 56th win overall and his third in the last four races. Dixon’s recent comeback extends his win streak to 19 seasons.
Dixon said humbly, “Nice to end the year that way.”
Alex Palou had clinched the IndyCar title before the final race. It was the first time a driver had done this in almost 20 years. His win in Portland last weekend was his fifth of the season, securing his second title in three years. Chip Ganassi Racing won their 15th IndyCar title.
Before Portland, Dixon was out of title contention due to Palou’s significant points advantage. It secured the six-time winner in second place in the standings, regardless of the final race outcome.
Dixon said, “It’s a shame Palou led by too many points; it got boring.” I’ve never been in a situation where you can’t fight for anything in the title going into the final race. We were 2nd. Alex was set to win the title, which was odd.
With lower pressure, drivers raced differently. Dixon won the race, 11 wins from Foyt’s record.
Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske, a New Zealand native, placed second. Palou, with ten podiums in 17 races, finished third.
Will Power’s 16-year winning streak in IndyCar ended with a fourth-place finish this season. Callum Ilott’s career highlight was finishing fifth for Juncos Hollinger Racing. Christian Lundgaard of RLL trailed him.
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Alexander Rossi of Arrow McLaren finished 7th, while Ganassi’s Marcus Armstrong, Rookie of the Year, finished 8th. Pato O’Ward of McLaren placed ninth, with Ryan Hunter-Reay of Ed Carpenter Racing in the top ten.
Dixon’s Laguna Seca win was his first victory at the renowned track. Dixon won despite a penalty and eight cautions for 35 laps. Due to yellow periods, the pace car ran out of gas and needed refueling with 30+ laps left.
Dixon said, “It’s a credit to the team; they’ve played like that all season. We won. All that matters is that. We won.
Chip Ganassi, the team owner, made history by winning a title and Best Rookie award in the same season. Marcus Armstrong won Rookie of the Year without racing in ovals. He agreed to stay on the team for another year. He plans to run in all races, including ovals.
Castroneves troubled Herta, making his day challenging. He came in 23rd. Herta’s car was painted to resemble his father’s 1998 winning ride at Laguna Seca. Despite a new contract, Herta, the top-paid IndyCar driver, didn’t win races.
Newgarden’s Indy 500 win secured Chevy’s manufacturer championship. Honda won the driver championship with Alex Palou, concluding an exciting IndyCar season.
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Our Reader’s Queries
How much does Scott Dixon get paid?
Scott Dixon’s 2022 net worth stands at $36.5 million, with an annual salary of $12 million, making him the third highest paid sports personality in New Zealand, as reported by The Net Worth Portal and other sources.
What are some fun facts about Scott Dixon?
Dixon is the top-winning current Indy car driver, with an impressive 53 victories, placing him at the 2nd spot on the all-time Indycar win list. He also holds the record for winning a race in 18 consecutive IndyCar seasons.
How old is Scott Dixon?
In February 2008, he tied the knot with Emma Davies-Dixon, a former champion in the 800 meters from Britain and Wales, as well as a television presenter. They are now the proud parents of three children.