Dixon in late charge as McLaughlin retires in latest IndyCar race

The Gateway Motorsports Park in Illinois was the scene of high drama in the latest IndyCar outing.

Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood celebrated his first career oval victory, while experienced Kiwi Scott Dixon once again proved his worth with a late surge to P4.

Fellow Kiwis Marcus Armstrong and Scott McLaughlin were both contenders through the day, Armstrong battling inside the top ten and McLaughlin leading early before misfortune struck.

From the outset things didn’t run according to plan. Team Penske locked out the front row with Will Power on pole and McLaughlin alongside, while Armstrong slotted into sixth and Dixon in 11th.

David Malukas launched well at the start, snatching the lead away from both Penske drivers.

Meanwhile, Dixon dropped to 15th early, slipping back behind Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson as the field settled.

The first caution flew after just four laps when Devlin DeFrancesco spun and backed into the Turn 2 wall. Newgarden began making progress climbing to seventh after overtaking Armstrong.

Malukas maintained the lead but McLaughlin was there or thereabouts in third, preserving his tyres.

Newgarden had moving into fourth by Lap 39, forming a Penske train behind Malukas. Moments later, Power suffered a right-front blowout while running second, sending him into the wall and out of the race. The second caution sent most of the field into the pits.

McLaughlin beat Malukas out and took control of the race. The Kiwi led the restart on Lap 58 with Malukas and Newgarden behind. Armstrong restarted ninth, while Dixon sat 13th. 

McLaughlin began to stretch a gap, building a 1.2-second margin by Lap 70. Newgarden took over second spot from Malukas.

The Kiwi soon found himself slowing for backmarkers. After pitting, McLaughlin rejoined in third, almost seven seconds adrift of the leader.

Next thing, Louis Foster tagged the wall and slid back across the track right into the path of Newgarden. Both drivers emerged without injury, despite a fire in Newgarden’s car which was destroyed. McLaughlin was the lone Penske car remaining. He pitted under caution but copped a three-position penalty, dropping him to fifth at the restart on Lap 149. Armstrong held eighth, and Dixon was in 12th.

Daly and O’Ward went toe to toe for the lead, Rasmussen had climbed to fifth after passing McLaughlin, gaining 19 places from the start.

After another cycle of pitstops, Dixon found himself in the race lead.

Malukas then made contact with the wall and brought out another caution. Dixon was able to pit and maintain his track position, returning to the lead on Lap 208. Armstrong’s earlier stop before the caution dropped him to 15th and a lap down.

When racing restarted McLaughlin suffered a right-rear tyre issue, forcing him to retire on Lap 200.

Dixon kept control for a time and pitted with 24 laps to go, handing the lead briefly to O’Ward and then Ferrucci.

The final laps were all about fuel-saving strategy, several leaders having to pit for extra fuel.

Kirkwood, who had been there or thereabouts, took advantage gaining the lead with five laps remaining and subsequently won the race. O’Ward was second, and Rasmussen third after starting from the back of the grid.

Dixon crossed the line in fourth, another strong finish for the consistent Kiwi. Armstrong brought his car home in tenth.

Final Classification – Top 10

Kyle Kirkwood – Andretti Global

Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren

Christian Rasmussen – Ed Carpenter Racing

Scott Dixon (NZL) – Chip Ganassi Racing

Santino Ferrucci – AJ Foyt Racing

Conor Daly – Juncos Hollinger Racing

Rinus VeeKay – Dale Coyne Racing

Alex Palou – Chip Ganassi Racing

Robert Shwartzman – Prema Racing

Marcus Armstrong (NZL) – Meyer Shank Racing

DNF: Scott McLaughlin (NZL) – 23rd

Indycar returns this weekend for the Xpel Grand Prix at Road America. The race kicks off at 5.30am Monday 23rd June NZT.

For more on today’s race, see here.