Dixon adds fifth championship to IndyCar resume

SONOMA, Calif. - Scott Dixon was fully reclined, quietly watching NASCAR on television with friends, as the clock inched toward the IndyCar season finale. A fifth championship was one steady Sunday drive away and Dixon wasn't the least bit stressed.

Dixon needed only an uneventful Sunday at Sonoma Raceway to win the championship and sealed it by finishing second, the same place he started, behind Ryan Hunter-Reay. The fifth title moved him into second in IndyCar history, two behind A.J. Foyt.

"I can't believe this is actually happening," Dixon said. "You always doubt these situations and think they are never going to happen. It's all about the people and I'm the lucky one that gets to take it across the line."

The 38-year-old New Zealander also won titles in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2015, all with Chip Ganassi Racing. He's the longest tenured driver in Ganassi history and helped the team owner cap a strong organizational weekend in which Ross Chastain won NASCAR's Xfinity Series race, Kyle Larson finished second in NASCAR's opening playoff race and Dixon gave him a 12th IndyCar championship.

"What an incredible ride it's been with this guy," said Ganassi, who celebrated the title the same way he did in 2015, by diving from the championship stage into the crowd assembled below.

Dixon's task was eased when challenger Alexander Rossi hit teammate Marco Andretti seconds after the start and broke his front wing. Rossi had to pit for a new part, dropped to last in the field, and the championship was pretty much decided.

Dixon held a 29-point lead against Rossi at the start of the day, and even though the race was worth double points, Rossi needed to be perfect to catch "The Iceman." Dixon's final points margin was 57 points against Rossi, who rallied to finish seventh. Rossi ended his third season in IndyCar second in the standings.

"It was going to be a tough day to beat Scott anyway," Rossi said. "It's unfortunate to go out like that. I wish I could replay that a million more times. We have to look at 2018 and be pretty happy with it, even though we go away second and the first loser."

As relaxed as Dixon appeared to be all day, he admitted after the race he didn't let up in the race car after Rossi's mishap. The title wasn't secure, he said, until he made it through the final round of pit stops cleanly.

"You just never know, anything can happen," Dixon said. "We had a lot of grit. Rossi did a hell of a job, he's been pushing so hard this year and he's going to be a star."

Hunter-Reay won for the 18th time and second this season.