Rough day at the office for Dixon and McLaughlin as Power takes first win of season

A mediocre result for Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin rounded off a challenging weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Kiwi IndyCar pair.

Dixon opted to run black tyres for the final stint, while most of the field were on the preferred red compound.

The strategy call did not pay dividends, and he slipped back to finish 17th after starting 26th.

However, Dixon was still able to make some ground in the points race to championship leader Alex Palou.

Palou was in fourth with less than 20 laps remaining.

The Chip Ganassi Honda then suddenly slowed and peeled off the road with a blown engine.

Palou’s DNF softened what would otherwise have been a massive championship blow for Dixon with four races left in the season.

Australia’s Will Power won the 85-lap Grand Prix around the Indianapolis road course.

Power, who was winless this season before today, was the dominant driver of the entire race.

The Penske driver comfortably fought off two late-race restarts and took the chequered flag ahead of IndyCar rookie Romain Grosjean. Colton Herta completed the top-three.

“Finally. Finally,” Power cheered over the radio after what has otherwise been a dismal season.

“We needed this one. What a relief. We had a really good car.”

Alexander Rossi was fourth after triumphing in a late battle with title contender Pato O’Ward.

O’Ward jumps ahead of Dixon in the standings, with the McLaren driver 21 points behind Palou.

Dixon is a further 13 points adrift and 34 behind Palou.

Following last week’s wild Nashville crash-fest, today’s race was significantly more subdued.

Two late cautions looked to set up an exciting finish, though most action was in the lower reaches of the mid-field.

After Palou’s fire, McLaughlin triggered the final yellow flag by tipping Rinus Veekay into a spin.

The incident earned McLaughlin a drive-through penalty, and he ultimately finished 23rd.

Yesterday’s qualifying sensation Christian Lundgaard was classified 12th in his first IndyCar race after struggling on a stint with the black primary tyres.

Former NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson was a notable 19th.

Next weekend concludes the IndyCar triple-header and sees the paddock head to Illinois for the last oval race of the year.