Dixon celebrates Indy win

INDIANAPOLIS: Scott Dixon of New Zealand held on from pole to win the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, after Danica Patrick was knocked out of the race in a pit lane crash.

After stealing the spotlight in the buildup to the race, Patrick overshadowed the New Zealander's victory when she was taken out by Australian Ryan Briscoe during the final fuel stop.

While Dixon was speeding toward victory, the crowd stood and watched as an incensed Patrick climbed out of her car to confront Briscoe before being intercepted by track officials.

"It's probably best I didn't get there isn't it," said Patrick, who became the first woman to win an IndyCar race with her victory in Japan last month.

While many in the crowd of over 300,000 came to the Brickyard hoping to watch Patrick make 500 history, she would have needed something spectacular over the final laps to overtake Dixon, who ran a cool and near faultless race.

Over the last two laps it was left to Vitor Meira to take up the challenge, hounding Dixon to the finish line and crossing 1.75 seconds behind.

American Marco Andretti, grandson of former Formula One champion Mario Andretti, briefly held the lead and looked ready to end a 39-year family drought at the Brickyard, but slipped back into third.

Milk bottle

An excited Dixon was greeted in Victory Lane by his wife Emma, and then celebrated his $2.5 million win with a chug from the traditional bottle of milk.

"What a day, man," roared Dixon as he stepped out of his car. "I just couldn't believe it. You just thought something was going to go wrong."

Dixon and teammate Dan Wheldon set the early pace in the 33-car field but it was Tony Kanaan who held the lead at the midway mark of the 200-lap race blasting past the Chip Ganassi cars.

Kanaan's time up front was brief, however, the Brazilian losing control on lap 106 after being forced into the wall by teammate Andretti and rammed by Sarah Fisher as he spun toward the infield.

"He (Andretti) better be (sorry)," said Kanaan, who has led in each of his seven Indy 500 starts. "It was a very stupid move especially by a teammate."

After the restart, Andretti took the lead for the first time but could not hold off Dixon, who returned to the front on lap 172 and held it to the checked flag.

The 92nd running of the 500 was eventful with eight yellow flags and 69 of the 200 laps run under caution.

Graham Rahal, the youngest-ever winner of an IndyCar race, was the first driver out when he slammed into the wall on lap 36. The crash ended the 19-year-old's bid to join his father, 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, in Victory Lane.

Agencies

(China Daily 05/27/2008 page22)