Honda Remains on Top in IndyCar as The Iceman Returns at Mid-Ohio
By Marlee Ressa | @motorsportmarlee
LEXINGTON – Continuing his 21-season-long streak of at least one IndyCar win, Scott Dixon, driver of the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing car, was crowned victor of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
Dixon is the only other driver, other than teammate Alex Palou and Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, to win a race thus far this season. “The Iceman” saw himself in contention for the win after executing a two-stop and fuel-saving strategy.
“As soon as I saw the caution at the start,” Dixon said, “I was like, man, the two-stop is on.”
The first lap caution was brought on by the driver of the No. 2 Penske, Josef Newgarden, and lasted several laps, playing into Dixon’s favor. “If it had been like one or two laps,” managing director at Chip Ganassi, Mike Hull, remarked, “our strategy probably would not have worked.”
After leading the field for 75 of the 90 laps, a rare and costly mistake from Palou, the defending IndyCar champion, allowed Dixon to overtake for the win. Palou ran wide into turn nine after getting into the tire marbles.
“The main issue was the marbles. It felt like ice. Then I got into the curb, and I couldn’t get out of the curb,” Palou said, “The RPM dropped a lot, and I didn’t have any power at all. I was full throttle, but it was just going so slow.”
Palou attempted to catch his teammate back up during the five remaining laps, but he was ultimately unable. “I think I lost today. It’s not like we got beat,” Palou stated, “but [I] lost it myself.”
As a whole, Chip Ganassi Racing had an incredible weekend from start to finish. Palou added another NTT Pole Award to his collection, and youngster Kyffin Simpson had a career-best starting position. Simpson started in the second row and remained in the top 10 despite a stalling issue in the pit lane.
“I was hoping it was going to be a one-two-three,” Dixon said, “That’s how we left the meeting this morning was that we were going for a one-two-three, and unfortunately had a bit of a situation there, but hell of a job for Kyffin and everyone on the No. 8.”
Chip Ganassi Racing emphasizes that they are “one team,” and while there are three different cars, those cars ultimately make up one team. “If you can create unselfishness on any sports team,” Hull reflected, “... you can accomplish more than anybody else can.”
Coming off the high of a team one-two and an overall good weekend, Chip Ganassi Racing will be aiming for another win next weekend as IndyCar returns to oval racing in Iowa.