New Zealand’s Dixon wins fifth IndyCar championship
Second place at Sonoma finale clinches 2018 title
Sonoma: Scott Dixon won his fifth IndyCar Series championship when he finished second in the final race of the season, the Grand Prix of Sonoma in northern California, on Sunday.
The New Zealander entered the race knowing that a top-two finish would assure him of the title ahead of his closest rival Alexander Rossi, who had to pit after a mistake on the opening lap and was never able to put serious pressure on Dixon.
The Chip Ganassi driver raced conservatively for a comfortable second behind American Ryan Hunter-Reay with Rossi finished seventh.
“Man, this is so awesome I can’t believe it’s actually happened,” Dixon said. “You always doubt these situations so much that they’re never going to happen.” Dixon won three of the 17 races on this year’s schedule and had 13 top-fives.
He previously won the IndyCar championship in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2015.