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Scott Dixon has won his sixth IndyCar title to move closer to a crown from AJ Foyt’s record.
Needing a ninth or better finish at the season finale in St. Petersburg, Florida on Monday morning (NZT), the 40-year-old Kiwi came home third.
“I never doubted it, I never doubted it, not with you. What a team, thank you very much everyone, boys and girls, everyone. Well done, well done, this is all of you, thank you, ”Dixon said on the radio moments after crossing the line.
Dixon, who at one point this season led by 117 points but lost much of his buffer to American Josef Newgarden down the stretch, started from 11th on the grid.
Mike Carlson / AP
Scott Dixon prepares to warm up for an IndyCar car race in St. Petersburg.
READ MORE:
* Scott Dixon collapses in the final IndyCar rankings as Scott McLaughlin struggles
* IndyCar rival Josef Newgarden peers in Scott Dixon’s rearview mirror
* The IndyCar title race comes to a close when Josef Newgarden cuts Scott Dixon’s lead
* Scott Dixon looks to close out the IndyCar title at Indianapolis this weekend
Newgarden had to win for a chance to win back-to-back titles, and he did just that after making a fantastic move from a restart to get to the front with 21 laps to go.
All he could do was hope Dixon would have a brain blast or get tangled up with another car.
But Dixon held his ground as rain began to fall on one side of the track, moving from fifth to third with less than a quarter of the race to go.
Mike Carlson / AP
Scott Dixon drives into Turn 1 during the IndyCar final in Florida on Monday.
His latest title goes with his wins in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015 and 2018.
“Six is good, seven sounds better. Obviously that has to be the goal, ”Dixon said when asked if he would now allow himself to think about equaling Foyt’s record.
Dixon did what was required from the start, without taking unnecessary risks and, more importantly, avoiding some incidents that resulted in yellow flags.
One of them involved fellow Kiwi Scott McLaughlin, who was unable to finish his debut run.
Foyt won his final title in 1979 and Dixon is the first driver since then to rival that consistency season after season.
Dixon built a seemingly insurmountable points lead with three straight wins to open the season interrupted by the pandemic.
Charlie Neibergall / AP
Kiwi Scott Dixon is looking for a sixth IndyCar title.
Most of the challengers awarded the title to Dixon in August, but reigning series champion Newgarden broke up and made sure the title race went all the way.
MORE TO COME
