IndyCar newsflash: Dixon dominates start of the season, Rosenqvist grabs first win
The 2020 IndyCar season is in full swing – Four races are already in the books – While Scott Dixon dominated the start of the season, Felix Rosenqvist clinched his first IndyCar race win
At the beginning of June, the IndyCar Series officially started into the 2020 season, with the first race after the COVID-19 break taking place at the Texas Motor Speedway. Afterwards the series traveled to the Indianapolis road course and to Elkhart Lake, where a double header was held. After four thrilling races Scott Dixon leads the overall standings.
Dixon wins the aeroscreen debut
Chip Ganassi celebrated a historic victory at the season opener of the 2020 IndyCar season at Texas Motor Speedway, a particularly fast 1.5-mile oval in Fort Worth: Scott Dixon sped to victory after 200 laps ahead of Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden to become the first race winner in the aeroscreen era. Zach Veach and Ed Carpenter rounded out the top 5.
Felix Rosenqvist was Dixon’s closest rival in the first race of the season. The Swede had a good pace until he threw his car into the wall on lap 190 and that is why there was no double victory for Ganassi at the season opener in Texas. McLaren SP made a solid IndyCar debut: While Oliver Askew finished ninth, Patricio O’Ward ended up twelfth.
Dixon wins two races in a row
The next stop was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the IndyCar Series held its first event together with NASCAR. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, no spectators were allowed at the track. Again it was Dixon, who was the winner after a thrilling race.
But the first half of the second round was dominated by Will Power. Dixon then came to the pits under green to get fuel and new tyres. Only a short time later there was a full course caution, which is why Power lost many positions during his pit stop under yellow and his chances of winning the race.
Dixon took the lead and did not give it up again until the checkered flag fell. Graham Rahal was second ahead of Pagenaud, Colton Herta and rookie Rinus VeeKay. Power only crossed the finish line in 20th place.
Dixon with strong series, Rosenqvist grabs first win
On the second weekend in July a double header with two races took place in Elkhart Lake. On Road America, Dixon beat his rivals for the third time in a row in the first race. The Ganassi driver prevailed against Power, Alex Palou, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Herta. Josef Newgarden had dominated the first half of the race, but he stalled his engine during his pit stop on lap 55, which cost him many positions.
In the second race the winner was Rosenqvist, who celebrated his first IndyCar victory ever with Ganassi. The Swede overtook McLaren SP driver O’Ward on the penultimate lap of the race and grabbed the victory. Previously, Rosenqvist had caught up with O’Ward, who had a five seconds lead with seven laps to go.
The next race of the IndyCar Series will take place this weekend at the Iowa Speedway, the second oval to be visited in the 2020 season. The track in Newton is 0.875 miles long and is considered one of the smaller ovals in the United States. Dixon will come to the track as the championship leader.
