Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon in the No.9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing pulled off the unthinkable on Sunday. He took victory at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on a massive day for Honda and the Iceman. After the race, Dixon said that Josef Newgarden was coming up quickly but took a great win for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Dixon said it was way up there and would be challenging, and he was told to go for it. After hitting Josef Newgarden, Colton Herta finished the race in second place, just ahead of Alex Palou. This forced the championship leader into an anti-stall, where the Tennessee native challenged Dixon to win and finish in fourth place.
Marcus Ericsson had a great race for Andretti Global, coming home in fifth place, while Will Power was sixth for Team Penske. Kyle Kirkwood had a great race, coming home in seventh place, just ahead of Romain Grosjean, who did a great job for Juncos Hollinger Racing, coming home in eighth place, just ahead of pole-sitter Felix Rosenqvist, who was left disappointed with a ninth-place finish.
Alexander Rossi rounded out the top ten for Arrow McLaren following an incident that saw him and teammate Pato O’Ward come together. Theo Pourchaire was the standout performer for Arrow McLaren. On his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut, he came home in 11th place, just ahead of Marcus Armstrong and Linus Lundqvist, while Rinus VeeKay came home in 14th place.
Agustin Canapino had a solid race, coming home in 15th place just ahead of Pato O’Ward, who was forced to serve a drive-through penalty for his contact with Rossi.
Graham Rahal was 17th, just ahead of Sting Ray Robb of AJ Foyt Racing, while Kyffin Simpson was 19th. Nolan Siegel rounded out the top twenty for Dale Coyne Racing just ahead of Santino Ferrucci and Tom Blomqvist, while Christian Lundgaard was 23rd for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Jack Harvey came home in 25th place following contact with Christian Rasmussen, while Scott McLaughlin suffered a suspected mechanical issue and was just behind the Ed Carpenter Racing rookie.
Long Beach starts a busy period for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as next up is the Children’s Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park next weekend before May activities get underway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Today’s victory is Scott Dixon’s 57th career victory, meaning he is just ten wins away from leveling with legend AJ Foyt, who has 67 victories.