Scott Dixon’s dominant Indianapolis 500 performance fell apart with only 25 laps to go on Sunday, May 29.
Dixon put together a massive run in qualifying on May 22, the fastest pole run in Indy 500 history with a four-lap average speed of 234.06 mpg. The New Zealander was clearly the man to beat for most of the day, and 14 years after his sole 500 win, things looked to finally be coming together for Dixon.
But peeling off from the lead on lap 176, Dixon locked up under braking on pit entry and was caught by a speeding penalty, earning the 2008 winner a drive through penalty. This effectively ended Dixon’s race less than 40 laps after he surpassed Al Unser for the record of most laps led in Indy 500 history.
Dixon’s relationship with the 500 has often historically been bittersweet. The 2022 running marks the six-time champion’s 20th appearance in the greatest spectacle in racing. Through those 20 attempts Dixon has secured one win (2008), five pole positions (2008, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022) and three runner-up finishes (2007, 2012, 2020).
Dixon led to the white flag in 2007 but ran out of fuel with less than a quarter lap to go, coasting to a second-place finish.
Dixon led the most laps in the 2009 500 but was passed on a late restart by Helio Castroneves. Dixon had to settle for sixth that day.
In 2012 Dixon was running in third as Takuma Sato attacked Franchitti into turn one on the final lap. Sato broke loose under Franchitti and spun nose first into the turn one wall. The turbulence and light contact from Sato cost Franchitti a massive amount of momentum, with Dixon closing rapidly.
Franchitti’s third Indianapolis 500 win was saved by the yellow flag waving before Dixon had a proper chance to attack.
2017 yielded another pole position for Dixon, and his race was generally uneventful. On lap 53, a heavily damaged Jay Howard drifted into Dixon’s path in the short chute between turns 1 and 2. The resulting contact launched Dixon over Howard and…
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