Dixon’s charge ends in heartbreak as Armstrong clinches season-best result at Road America

New Zealand’s IndyCar trio endured a turbulent yet thrilling Sunday at Road America, where Marcus Armstrong emerged as the top Kiwi with a breakout fifth-place finish, while Scott Dixon saw a remarkable comeback drive cruelly unravel just two laps from the finish.

The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series Round 9 at the iconic Elkhart Lake circuit delivered on all fronts: chaos, strategy, and heartbreak, with all three Kiwi drivers playing pivotal roles throughout the race.

Qualifying Drama for the Kiwis

The weekend began with a rollercoaster qualifying session for the New Zealanders. Scott McLaughlin was the standout, planting his Team Penske car fourth on the grid after advancing to the Fast Six.

Armstrong narrowly missed progressing from his group and settled for 15th. But it was Dixon who suffered the biggest blow; disqualified for impeding a rival after initially advancing, the Chip Ganassi Racing veteran was relegated to 25th on the grid.

Meanwhile, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie Louis Foster shocked the paddock with a maiden pole, joined on the front row by championship leader Alex Palou.

McLaughlin Leads Early, Dixon Starts Climb

Under a scorching Wisconsin sun with the area under a heat advisory, the race opened with McLaughlin immediately in the thick of it. A three-wide move into Turn 1 saw him duelling Foster and Palou, eventually emerging in second after an aggressive exchange. McLaughlin wasted no time snatching the lead from Foster on the Lap 3 restart.

Early chaos helped shake up the order, including a spin from David Malukas and an off from Robert Shwartzman, while Dixon and Armstrong took the opportunity to pit early under caution, rejoining deep in the field.

By Lap 10, Dixon had impressively climbed into the top 16, already gaining nine positions, while McLaughlin maintained the lead through multiple restarts, with Christian Lundgaard now charging into second.

A crucial moment came on Lap 11 when McLaughlin and others pitted under caution. Lundgaard leapfrogged the Kiwi in the pits, while Dixon, having stopped earlier, cycled to the front, leading Pato O’Ward and Alexander Rossi.

McLaughlin rejoined further back in 10th, struggling to regain ground after a scrappy restart that saw him run wide and lose time battling Rinus VeeKay and later being passed by Palou.

Pit Strategies Shake the Deck

A crucial moment came on Lap 11 when McLaughlin and others pitted under caution. Lundgaard leapfrogged the Kiwi in the pits, while Dixon, having stopped earlier, cycled to the front, leading O’Ward and Rossi.

McLaughlin rejoined further back in 10th, struggling to regain ground after a scrappy restart that saw him run wide and lose time battling Rinus VeeKay and later being challenged by Newgarden and then passed by Palou.

As the field settled into its first real rhythm, Dixon held strong at the front, building a slim buffer. McLaughlin, though, was mired in traffic and battling to stay within reach. Armstrong, meanwhile, hovered around 17th before a mid-race stop dropped him down the order.

A fresh caution for Conor Daly’s off-track excursion saw a reshuffle, with Dixon again assuming the lead following another round of pit stops, ahead of Rossi, Palou, and a now-recovering McLaughlin.

As the final stint unfolded, the strategy game reached a critical point. Dixon pitted from the lead on Lap 38, with McLaughlin and Palou stretching their fuel runs. Palou made his final stop on Lap 41, briefly handing the lead to Armstrong before he, too, came in.

Once the pit cycle was complete, Dixon returned to the front with 11 laps remaining, leading Palou, Rossi, and Rosenqvist. But it quickly became clear that many were marginal on fuel. A high-stakes game of conservation began, and Dixon was at the heart of it.

He held the lead with a brilliant defensive drive, appearing set for an unforgettable victory from the back of the grid. But with two laps to go, the fuel tank came up dry.

Forced to pit, Dixon relinquished the lead to Palou and rejoined down in ninth, a gut-wrenching blow after such a valiant effort.

Palou powered on to win, with Rosenqvist and Santino Ferrucci completing the podium. Armstrong, quietly consistent in the chaotic closing laps, surged to a superb fifth, the best finish of the season and the top result among the Kiwi trio.

McLaughlin, after an early lead and a turbulent day, came home 12th, while Dixon, the driver of the day in many eyes, had to settle for ninth after leading more laps than anyone.

It was a day of what-ifs for Dixon and McLaughlin but one of breakthrough and validation for Armstrong.

As the season heads toward its midpoint, the Kiwis remain in the thick of the fight, each with their own stories of grit, redemption, and unfinished business.

Indycar takes a two-week break before returning on July 5-7 for the Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, with the race scheduled to start at 5:00 am NZT on Monday 7th, July.

Results:

Header Image: Penske Entertainment – Joe Skibinski