American Racing News Vol 1, Issue 2 Issue 2 | Page 10

By Jerry Bonkowski | IndyCar,com
AVONDALE, AZ. -- In the heat of the desert,
the "Ice Man" lived up to his nickname by
remaining cool all the way to Victory Lane.

Reigning VERIZON IndyCar Series champion
Scott Dixon won the Desert Diamond West
Valley Phoenix Grand Prix at Phoenix International Raceway under caution after rookie
Alexander Rossi made contact with the wall
two laps from the finish of the 250-lap event.
It was the first career win at PIR for both
Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (in any
race series).

neves. It was also the 101st Indy car win for
the Ganassi team.
“It was tough, definitely one of the toughest
races on these short ovals,” said Dixon, the
four-time VERIZON IndyCar Series Champion.
“The car was super-fast. I think we had the
best car out there on strategies and pit
stops.”
Dixon now has 20 wins on oval tracks and 19
on road/street courses. He will attempt to
even that number up in the next race on
April 17, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
(4 p.m. ET, NBCSN and Advance Auto Parts
INDYCAR Radio Network), where Dixon is the
defending race winner.
“We definitely had bad luck at St. Pete (finishing seventh), but we’re a strong team,”
Dixon said. “If we can figure it out at the
start of the season, it’ll make it a little easier
for us.”

Dixon started sixth in the No. 9 Target Chip
Ganassi Racing Chevrolet and went on to
earn the 39th win of his Indy car career, tying
him with Al Unser for fourth in all-time victories. The race marked the return of the series to Phoenix International Raceway's
historic 1.022-mile oval for the first time
since Sam Hornish Jr. won in 2005.
Dixon also set an Indy car record by winning
a race for the 12 consecutive season. He was
previously deadlocked at 11 with Bobby Unser, Emerson Fittipaldi and Helio Castro-

10 | American Racing News | Volume 1, Issue 2

Simon Pagenaud, in the No, 22 DeVilbiss
Team Penske Chevrolet, finished second for
the second consecutive race and took over