MONTEREY, Calif. — By the point Scott Dixon turned his season round, it was too late to beat teammate Álex Palou for the IndyCar championship.
But it surely was ok to affirm Dixon’s legacy as the best driver of his technology.
The six-time IndyCar champion gained the season finale Sunday at Laguna Seca — his first win on the everlasting California street course, 56th of his profession and third within the ultimate 4 races of the season. His turnaround final month ensured that Dixon’s streak of 19 consecutive seasons with not less than one win remaining intact.
“It is at all times good to complete the 12 months like that,” mentioned Dixon.
Palou grew to become the primary driver in almost 20 years to clinch the IndyCar title earlier than the season finale along with his victory final weekend in Portland. Palou gained his second title in three years with final week’s win, his fifth of the season. Palou’s title is the fifteenth in IndyCar for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Dixon had been mathematically eligible to problem Palou for the title till the Portland victory. He was nonetheless assured to complete second within the standings it doesn’t matter what occurred in Sunday’s finale.
“It is only a disgrace that Palou determined to steer the championship by too many factors, and it grew to become a bit boring on the championship facet,” Dixon mentioned. “I do not assume I’ve ever been a part of a scenario the place you come into the final race and you may’t combat actually a lot for something within the championship. We had been locked into second. Alex was locked clearly for the championship, which was fairly weird.
“Everyone’s stress stage was rather a lot decrease. You would all simply form of combat for the win. … Everyone was simply going for a win as a result of everyone was attempting a little bit of every little thing all through the day.”
Dixon’s win moved him inside 11 of AJ Foyt’s all-time document.
Scott McLaughlin, like Dixon from New Zealand, completed second for Workforce Penske and was adopted by Palou, who scored 10 podiums in 17 races