Six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon in the No.9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing came from 20th on the grid to finish the Gallagher Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the Indianapolis road course in eighth place and in doing so has kept his hopes of winning a seventh championship alive.
Speaking following the action, the Iceman said:
We had a decent race here in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, we started so far back that the strategy of switching it up didn’t really work and everyone kind of jumped on the same thing. We had good pace, good speed and the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda was good over the long run. We got eighth which was a decent result for championship points. We have a lot of good tracks coming up next. We’re only 38 points back so we’re still in this.
Alex Palou in the No.10 American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda started the race from seventh place and came home in tenth place speaking following the action the Spaniard said:
It was a tough day. Started seventh, had some issues at the start, had a really bad second stint and just drove our pace a lot. We came home 10th which isn’t terrible but obviously not what we wanted. Time to push a lot for the last four races we have and gain those points back to try and get the second championship.
Marcus Ericsson in the No.8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda who went into the race leading the championship came from the back of the grid in 25th place to finish the race in P11 and speaking following the action the Swede commented saying:
“We were strong out there and had a good strategy going long on that first stint. Unfortunately, that yellow came and it was very badly timed for us. So that advantage we would have had for the second half of the race sort of got away from us. Still, moving up from 25th is something to be happy about. We’re still very much in the mix for the championship, and we’re going to Nashville where we won last year. I’m looking forward to that.”
Jimmie Johnson in the No.48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing Honda had a really solid day having started the race from 23rd place however slight contact with Scott McLaughlin saw Johnson fall down the order ending up in 2nd place, however, Johnson was happy with how his day went.
“Fun day here in Indy. Ultimately, our strategy hurt us when the cautions fell today. It was really nice to be up front and lead a lap. Ran in the top five for a good portion of the race. Just didn’t have the right strategy for the finish. I’ll take the experience I had this weekend and build on it. We head to Nashville next weekend for another street course. Should be a lot of fun. The Carvana team is continuing to improve each week.”