Scott Dixon got his first win of the 2011 season at the IndyCar Honda Indy 200 at Mid Ohio, starting from the pole and leading the final 25 laps unchallenged. It was the Target/Chip Ganassi Racing driver’s third career win at the track.
Teammate Dario Franchitti finished second, almost eight seconds behind, but nine seconds ahead or his nearest competitor—easy points for Franchitti’s quest for another IndyCar championship.
After the race Dixon thanked his team. “It was heck of an effort by Team Target,” he told IndyCar.com. “They didn’t put a foot wrong. The car was superb this weekend. Sorry to make it so boring toward the end of the race, but I didn’t mind [winning by so much.]”
The one-two finish was welcome, but the best news for Target Ganassi Racing was that Penske’s Will Power got caught out by an ill-timed yellow and finished fourteenth, seriously hurting the Penske driver’s chances for winning his first championship.
“Today was tough. The Verizon car was fast even while I was saving fuel,” the frustrated Power told IndyCar.com. “We were making great fuel mileage and we were going to go a lap or two longer than the leaders on the second stop, which would have put us in great position to challenge for the race lead in the last stint.
“Basically, today we suffered for doing a great job of driving a smart race. I have to thank the Verizon crew; they gave me great pit stops today we just got caught out by that last yellow flag.”
With five faces left on the 2011 schedule, Power trails three-time champion Franchitti by 65 points.
Teammate Dario Franchitti finished second, almost eight seconds behind, but nine seconds ahead or his nearest competitor—easy points for Franchitti’s quest for another IndyCar championship.
After the race Dixon thanked his team. “It was heck of an effort by Team Target,” he told IndyCar.com. “They didn’t put a foot wrong. The car was superb this weekend. Sorry to make it so boring toward the end of the race, but I didn’t mind [winning by so much.]”
The one-two finish was welcome, but the best news for Target Ganassi Racing was that Penske’s Will Power got caught out by an ill-timed yellow and finished fourteenth, seriously hurting the Penske driver’s chances for winning his first championship.
“Today was tough. The Verizon car was fast even while I was saving fuel,” the frustrated Power told IndyCar.com. “We were making great fuel mileage and we were going to go a lap or two longer than the leaders on the second stop, which would have put us in great position to challenge for the race lead in the last stint.
“Basically, today we suffered for doing a great job of driving a smart race. I have to thank the Verizon crew; they gave me great pit stops today we just got caught out by that last yellow flag.”
With five faces left on the 2011 schedule, Power trails three-time champion Franchitti by 65 points.
