A dominant performance fell apart late with an uncharacteristic mistake by Scott Dixon in the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
The six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion was a mainstay at the front of the field, leading a race-high 95 laps after starting on pole and appearing poised for a return to trip to Victory Lane for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” for the first time since 2008.
Dixon, who surpassed Al Unser Sr.’s all-time mark of 644 laps led in the Indy 500 (on Lap 133 of 200), was in a tense battle for the lead late in the running with the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet of Pato O’Ward. As the final series of pit stops began, the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of Dixon dove to pit road, having a brief moment under braking ahead of being serviced.
Once he returned back to the track, IndyCar officials found him guilty of a pit lane speed violation, with the outcome being a drive thru penalty. The error left Dixon with a 21st-place finish.
“It’s just heartbreaking, to be honest,” Dixon told NBC. “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.”
Scott Dixon locks up on his way into the pits and gets a pit lane speeding violation. #indy500
?: NBC and @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/gBpP6XiG1Y
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 29, 2022
