31 Jul 2017

Dixon slips off the pace

12:45 pm on 31 July 2017

The New Zealand motor racing driver Scott Dixon has lost the Indy car championship lead after the latest round at Mid-Ohio.

NZ motor racing driver Scott Dixon 2017.

NZ motor racing driver Scott Dixon 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Dixon, who was a five-time winner at the Lexington course, finished a disappointing ninth.

American Josef Newgarden won the race and shot to the top of the Indy car standings seven points ahead of second-placed Helio Castroneves.

Dixon has slipped to third, eight points behind Newgarden with four races left in the season.

Newgarden dominated the race and became the second driver to win back-to-back IndyCar Series races this year.

Dixon started the race in sixth place on the grid and slid outside the top 10 before clawing his way back into ninth.

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Photo: PHOTOSPORT

"It obviously wasn't the way we wanted the race to go today," said Dixon.

"I really wasn't 100 percent happy after we tested here last week and in qualifying. I don't think we ever had the balance right where we wanted it.

"It felt like something broke on the car and we made some major front wing adjustments in the race. We had a problem on the left rear on pit lane and that took some time as well."

"Overall, just not our weekend. We held in there and fought, but need to regroup and get ready for Pocono in a few weeks."

"Points are really at a premium now with four to go."