Dixon rises above Detroit carnage to take IndyCar points lead · RaceFans

Scott Dixon scored his second victory of the IndyCar season in an incident-strewn race on the streets of Detroit.

A spate of collisions plus a mid-race shower caught out a string of drivers, giving Dixon the opportunity to rise from fifth on the grid to win.

He dived for the pits during the sixth caution of the day, which came shortly after half-distance in the 100-lap race. The Ganassi driver resumed in 13th place, but aware he had enough fuel to run to the end, which he duly took advantage of, hit the front of the field when his rivals ahead pitted on lap 65.

Pole-winner Colton Herta led the early stages but took himself out of contention with a rash lunge on Dixon’s team mate Alex Palou at turn five. Only quick-thinking by series returnee Tristen Vautier ahead avoided a worse collision, while Palou dodged trouble entirely.

Marcus Ericsson took second ahead of Marcus Armstrong, who ran so low on fuel he came to a stop on his in lap after the chequered flag.

The race was punctuated by too many rash moves which often resulted in penalties. Scott McLaughlin, who spun out of victory contention early on, later knocked Sting Ray Robb into the wall. Kyle Kirkwood, the leader when Dixon made his race-winning pit stop, fell to fourth at the flag.

Next came three drivers who were all badly held up by a collision at the start: Alexander Rossi, Will Power and Pato O’Ward. Felix Rosenqvist took eighth ahead of Santino Ferrucci. Theo Pourchaire came 10th after clashing heavily with Agustin Canapino on the lap 60 restart.

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Romain Grosjean ran in the top three for Juncos Hollinger before being overtaken by Alexander Rossi at one of the restarts. He was later collected by Christian Lundgaard at turn three, which last year proved a major trouble spot. Grosjean’s head dropped after that clash and he finished three laps down in 23rd, telling his team at one stage: “I don’t care, the championship is done for me.”

He at least came in ahead of Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden, who suffered a litany of misfortunes. One pit stop was ruined due to a problem with his refuelling rig and in another he sent a wheel gun flying as he left his pit box, in violation of the rules, injuring a Rahal Letterman Lanigan crew member. He came 26th.

Race result