IndyCar: Scott Dixon continues perfect season at Road America

Scott Dixon became the first driver to win the first three races of an IndyCar season since 2006 with a victory in the first race of the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America.

He had yet to be beaten in the 2020 IndyCar season season entering the weekend, and through the first of two races of the REV Group Grand Prix doubleheader at Road America, he remains yet to be beaten.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon became the first driver to win the first three races of an IndyCar season since Sebastien Bourdais reeled off four consecutive victories to open up the 2006 Champ Car season.

Dixon started today’s 55-lap race around the 14-turn, 4.048-mile (6.515-kilometer) natural terrain road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in ninth place, and through pit strategy and a fast final pit stop, he found himself in victory lane yet again.

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Team Penske’s Will Power was leading the race heading into the final round of pit stops, which took place under the race’s first caution flag period caused by Meyer Shank Racing’s Jack Harvey going off track in turn one, but Dixon’s crew got him out just ahead of the #12 Chevrolet.

Power, who overcame a poor start to get to the lead, settled for a season-high second place finish, 2.5386 seconds behind the five-time champion. Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh rookie Alex Palou finished in a career-high third in his #55 Honda in just his third career start.

Palou led a group of five Honda drivers, which included Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay, Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Autosport’s Colton Herta, Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan’s Santino Ferrucci and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal in fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place in their #28 Honda, #88 Honda, #18 Honda and #15 Honda, respectively.

Rahal appeared to have a shot to win the race early, but a long first pit stop knocked him out of second place behind Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, who also lost what appeared to be a sure win in the pits when he stalled his #1 Chevrolet. He finished in 14th place after starting the race from the pole position.

Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Takuma Sato and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Ericsson rounded out the top 10 by finishing in a career-high eighth, ninth and 10th place in their #5 Chevrolet, #15 Honda and #8 Honda, respectively.

Ericsson spun out on the race’s final lap from seventh, but he was able to keep his car running for his second consecutive top 10 finish.

The race featured five lead changes among five different drivers. While Dixon won having led 16 laps, Newgarden led more laps than anybody else in the field with 25 laps led. The race’s other three leaders were Power, Rahal and Ericsson.

The race also featured three late caution flag periods, all in succession. Of the 23 drivers who competed, 20 finished, and of those 20 drivers, 17 finished on the lead lap.

Here are the full race results of the first race of the 2020 REV Group Grand Prix at Road America.

Race Results
1st – Scott Dixon
2nd – Will Power
3rd – Alex Palou
4th – Ryan Hunter-Reay
5th – Colton Herta
6th – Santino Ferrucci
7th – Graham Rahal
8th – Patricio O’Ward
9th – Takuma Sato
10th – Marcus Ericsson
11th – Charlie Kimball
12th – Simon Pagenaud
13th – Rinus VeeKay
14th – Josef Newgarden
15th – Oliver Askew
16th – Zach Veach
17th – Max Chilton
18th – Felix Rosenqvist
19th – Alexander Rossi
20th – Dalton Kellett
21st – Conor Daly
22nd – Marco Andretti
23rd – Jack Harvey

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Tune in to NBC tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 p.m. ET for the live broadcast of the second race of the 2020 REV Group Grand Prix from Road America