NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Scott Dixon passed Mario Andretti for second on IndyCar's all-time wins list with a victory Sunday in the messy Music City Grand Prix that pulled him within reach of a record-tying seventh series championship.
Dixon overcame a poor qualifying effort, damage to his Chip Ganassi Racing car, a crash-fest around the downtown streets of Nashville and finally a drag race against Scott McLaughlin in a two-lap push to the finish. He won for the 53rd time of his career to break a tie with Andretti for second in the all-time column.
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More important, Dixon jumped to second in the points standings and trails series leader Will Power by six points with three races remaining. One more title would tie him with A.J. Foyt with a record seven championships.
Foyt is also IndyCar's all-time winner with 67 victories.
McLaughlin, for Team Penske, finished second for a 1-2 finish for the drivers from New Zealand.
The .1067-second margin of victory was the fourth-closest in IndyCar history on a road or street course.
“He's a legend, the GOAT,” said McLaughlin. “I've always dreamed of racing him to the finish line. That was a proper duel."
Alex Palou, the reigning IndyCar champion, finished third as Ganassi put two drivers on the podium. Palou moved one spot in the standings to fifth as 33 points separate the title contenders. On his way to victory lane, team owner Chip Ganassi stopped to congratulate Palou, the driver he is suing for trying to leave the organization at the end of the season.
Alexander Rossi and Colton Herta both came back from one lap down to finish fourth and fifth for Andretti Autosport, while hometown driver Josef Newgarden was sixth.
Newgarden has had a rough stretch since crashing while leading at Iowa three races ago. He showed as the points leader before the crash, collapsed and hit his head after wrecking, and had to pass a battery of medical tests to be cleared to compete last weekend at Indianapolis.
In Nashville, he scaled back his obligations ahead of the race to be rested and able to race for the win. Although he was the leader late in the race, Newgarden had to pit for fuel and had later contact with Romain Grosjean, who was furious with Newgarden after the collision.
“Welcome to IndyCar. It gets tight. I don’t know what to tell him,” Newgarden said. “Let me tell you what, I about got taken out six times myself. I probably need to have some discussion with some of the younger guys, but they’re aggressive. They’re very aggressive and if you’re not aggressive back, then you get run over. That’s IndyCar racing. You’ve got to learn that pretty quick. I don’t like it, but that’s the game that we’re in.”
Pato O'Ward was the biggest loser of the race, which in its second year was slowed 10 times for 36 of the 80 laps. The start was also delayed 90 minutes for rain and lightning in the area.
O'Ward came to Nashville fifth in the standings but dropped to seventh and likely out of the championship picture with a 24th-place finish. He was drilled from behind by Graham Rahal when O'Ward slowed on the track to avoid running into Power on Lap 26.
“I only have two paddles and an emergency switch. None of it works,” O’Ward said after he was hit. “Thank you, Graham Rahal. We can’t catch a freaking break. This is a joke.”
It was an equally difficult day for defending race winner Marcus Ericsson, who was only nine points behind Power at the start of the race. But like teammate Dixon, Ericsson had a poor qualifying effort and struggled to come through the field from 18th.
He finished 14th and dropped to third in the standings. The Indianapolis 500 winner trails Power by 12 points.
NASCAR-ANDRETTI
Marco Andretti announced his NASCAR debut before the start of the race. He'll enter the Xfinity Series race on The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 8, driving for Big Machine Racing.
Andretti is coming off the championship in the second season of Tony Stewart's Superstar Racing Experience all-star series.
“He’s done such a great job in SRX and I think his skills will shine brightly in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said team owner Scott Borchetta.
Andretti will drive the No. 48 Chevrolet.
NEXT UP: IndyCar races Aug. 20 at World Wide Technology at Gateway outside St. Louis. It's the final oval on the schedule. Josef Newgarden is the defending race winner.
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