TORONTO — Scott Dixon had been ready greater than a 12 months to hitch Mario Andretti in second place on IndyCar’s profession wins record. The one one forward of him now could be A.J. Foyt.
The six-time collection champion lastly snapped a 22-race winless streak Sunday when he held off pole sitter Colton Herta and Felix Rosenqvist on a late restart to win within the collection’ return to Canada following a three-year hiatus.
Dixon’s 52nd profession win got here greater than 21 years after his first triumph in Pennsylvania — the one one among his profession that didn’t include Chip Ganassi Racing — and places him some rarified air. The subsequent victory strikes Dixon previous Andretti and continues the climb towards Foyt, who holds a document that will by no means be damaged with 67 profession wins.
“It is wonderful. Actually, to be near Mario — each time I am requested these questions, I am so grateful we nonetheless have A.J. and him within the pits,” Dixon stated. “It is simply unbelievable. It is big, man. I really feel so fortunate to be a part of this group.”
Herta, who examined for McLaren in Method 1 earlier within the week, completed second for Andretti Autosport. Rosenqvist was third, Graham Rahal fourth and Marcus Ericsson completed fifth to additional pad his factors lead.
“It was an excellent day for us,” Ericsson stated. “We had plan, technique. The crew did an ideal job.”
Simply inferior to his Ganassi teammate.
Dixon certified second and spent the day working up entrance, regardless of artistic gasoline and tire methods as groups jockeyed for monitor place early within the race. And the New Zealander, who turns 42 on Friday, was nonetheless out entrance when Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Kirkwood tangled to convey out the ultimate warning and power a restart with 18 laps to go.
Dixon rapidly opened a 2-second hole on Herta and by no means relinquished it, cruising to his fourth profession win at Toronto. His first win anyplace since Might 2021 at Texas additionally prolonged his document streak of a minimum of one yearly since 2004.
It additionally shoved Dixon into the thick of the factors race; a seventh championship would match Foyt for essentially the most in historical past.
“It was a troublesome drive, man. I do not know,” Dixon stated after exiting the automobile. “Ended a (winless) streak, which is unbelievable. Simply so blissful for the staff. It has been a loopy 12 months. I nonetheless really feel extraordinarily unhealthy for the (Indy) 500. It feels so good.”
The win was a breath of contemporary air for the Ganassi storage, too, which was thrown into turmoil this week over the contract standing of reigning collection champ Alex Palou. Ganassi issued a information launch Tuesday that stated it exercised its choice on Palou for subsequent season, just for Palou to refute it and rival staff McLaren to introduced he’d be driving for it.
Palou recovered from a wreck in follow to complete sixth on Sunday.
Herta’s second-place run over the tough, bumpy Toronto circuit capped a whirlwind week that started with a check in Portugal for McLaren’s F1 program. The road-course ace was quick from the minute the Andretti staff unloaded him, qualifying on the pole for the second time this season earlier than practically capturing his second win.
“Felix was actually quick and I am glad we have been capable of hold him behind us,” Herta stated, “however it regarded like a number of extra laps he’d get us. We struggled just a little with tire put on on the finish however our automobile was wonderful. A kind of races I’ve to be pleased with.”