Palou's Portland win provided Ganassi with its 15th IndyCar title – Palou’s second since joining the team in 2021 – and with a race to spare. Meanwhile, Dixon secured second in the overall standings with his fifth podium of the 2023 season.
“Congrats to Chip on his 15th championship and Alex's second,” Dixon said. “They had a fantastic race [yesterday].”
The 43-year-old New Zealander started fourth, led 15 laps and appeared to be the only runner on pace and strategy to be able to mount a challenge to Palou. Dixon double-stinted on the harder primary, black sidewall tyres, which spanned the opening 60 of the 110-lap race.
Palou’s second stint was on the softer alternate, red label rubber, which allowed Dixon to close by the end of the sequence. The two swapped compounds on their respective next stop, favouring the Spaniard to slightly pull a gap to Dixon.
That gap built up to 8s after Palou pitted on lap 79 and Dixon followed two laps later. During this time, though, Arrow McLaren’s Felix Rosenqvist was at the front of the field when rookie Agustin Canapino spun off and was stalled at Turn 11 with 27 laps to go.
The Juncos Hollinger Racing driver remained sidelined just off course, but the race remained green for several seconds after until Rosenqvist made his pitstop on lap 84. Then, the full-course caution came out, slowing the field and allowing Rosenqvist to return sandwiched between Palou and Dixon.
At the time, Dixon ranted over the radio: “Can't ****ing do that man. That is so ****.”
Source: Autosport