When Scott Dixon took the green flag in the primary race of the doubleheader weekend at The Milwaukee Mile, it was his four-hundredth start. When he took the checkered flag within the second act on Sunday, he finished second, earning his 142nd profession podium, tying an all-time record on a listing that features legends like AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti.
Dixon’s methodical climb through the sphere in Sunday’s difficult event nearly allowed him to work his magic late within the race and take the win. Starting third with 11 laps to go, he lined up behind race leader Scott McLaughlin and Andretti Global’s Colton Herta. On the next lap, Dixon attacked the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda on the within Herta, taking the lead in a decent wheel-to-wheel battle. Despite his best efforts to place in his fastest laps of the race at the top, Dixon could only inch closer to McLaughlin before crossing the finish line 0.4558 seconds behind him on the one-mile oval, securing his fifth podium of the season.
“It was really crazy,” Dixon said of a race that featured 763 total passes, 177 for position and 13 of those lead changes.
“I don't think there was a single lap where you could relax. We were pushing hard all the time, especially I think the strategy change at the end with Colton, we reset a bit with that last caution. What a crazy day. Alex having a problem and then Power having his problem. Definitely made for TV.”
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photo: Perry Nelson / Motorsports images
“Yeah, for us it was a little bit of an up and down. I believe we modified all the pieces however the kitchen sink last night after the automotive yesterday. It was definitely very positive. It was nice to have a great automotive today. Obviously we got up when we wanted to. We had a great restart within the last one.
“Congrats to McLaughlin. I know it's not the first time a Kiwi has finished 1-2 but it's always good to have another New Zealand driver up there.”
Dixon, a 58-time race winner, continued to push even further in the ultimate laps, attempting to pass McLaughlin’s No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet.
“I think I ran faster than I did in qualifying,” he said. “I even have to do it the opposite way around.
“Yeah, I believe if we had possibly 10 to twenty more laps it may need been just a little bit different. But it’s what it’s. He drove a unbelievable race. There was one section where he passed me, then the number 14 (Santino Ferrucci), and possibly one other one which in some way got in front. I just went into traffic where I couldn't drive at the underside. I couldn't understand why everyone else could. As soon as I did that I had a variety of understeer and I couldn't recuperate.
While the 44-year-old continues to put in writing his name within the record books with a slew of accolades, he stays humble in regards to the impact he has had on the game.
“Yeah, it’s cool,” Dixon said. “Of course Mario, I’m an enormous Mario fan. He’s an enormous a part of our franchise. I keep saying that, however it’s so cool that he, AJ and a variety of the others, Rick (Mears), come to a variety of our races. Obviously Mario’s raced in a variety of different categories and completed a variety of great things.
“Just the thought of me with one of these guys is special to me.”
