Scott Dixon is inevitable. At least that’s how it often seems, and how it was after the 43-year-old New Zealander delivered a masterstroke performance that combined massive fuel saving with mindful defence and pace to win the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
The 27-car field was divided into two groups on opposing strategies after the caution came out on lap 15 of 85 when rookie Christian Rasmussen’s Ed Carpenter Racing Dallara-Chevrolet spun and collided with the wall in Turn 4. That set up an option for race leader Will Power to head a small contingent of drivers down pitroad two laps later. The group featured Dixon, 2023 race winner Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Armstrong, among others.
In turn, Josef Newgarden, Power’s Penske team-mate, was promoted to the race lead and – after the race restarted on lap 19 – held the top spot ahead of Marcus Ericsson and Colton Herta until they pitted between laps 30 and 32. During the time Newgarden was out front, Dixon was able to move ahead of Power on lap 24, which elevated him as the leader on the alternative
