Speeding Penalty Delivers Gut Punch to Dixon after Dominant Indy 500

By David Morgan, Associate Editor

INDIANAPOLIS – Scott Dixon has done it all in the NTT IndyCar Series, but Indianapolis Motor Speedway remains an enigma for the six-time champion as he would once again fall short of making a return to Victory Lane at the Racing Capital of the World.

Entering Sunday’s 106^th running of the Indianapolis 500, the 2008 winner of the race was looking to parlay his record-breaking qualifying run into a drive that would snap his 14-year winless streak and for the majority of the race, it looked like the chips were finally going to fall his way.

Throughout the day, Dixon’s No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda was a familiar sight at the front of the field, leading a race-high 95 laps and even eclipsing Al Unser Sr.’s Indianapolis 500 all-time laps led record.

However, things would quickly unravel when Dixon peeled off onto pit road on lap 175, as he would be busted for speeding coming onto pit road. As he reached the entry to pit road, Dixon locked down all four tires on his Honda to try and avoid a penalty, but the radar gun never lies.

As he was getting back up to speed following his stop, the call came down from race control that he would be assessed a drive-through penalty, effectively ending his shot at bringing home a win.

Dixon would finish the race deep in the field in 21^st place, leaving his hunt for another Indy 500 victory to have to wait another year.

It also continued a trend for Dixon when it comes to starting from the pole in the Indy 500. Aside from his 2008 triumph from the pole and a fourth-place finish in 2015, each time he has started from the pole at Indianapolis in the races since, he has failed to finish any higher than 17^th.

“It’s just heartbreaking, to be honest,” said Dixon. “I don’t know. It must have been very close. I kind of came into the pit and had to lock the rears. Kind of locked all four and I knew it was going to be close. I think it was a mile an hour over or something. Just frustrating.

“The car was really good all day. We had really good speed. I think the team did an amazing job on strategy. I just messed up.”