The second points-paying round of the 2024 season saw 85 laps run around the 11-turn, 1.968-mile temporary street circuit, with an early caution – the only one of the day – proving to be the pivotal moment that altered strategies.
When the yellow flag came out on lap 15, it split the field in half with how to attack the remainder of the race.
For Dixon, who started eighth on a set of harder primary tires, dove to pit lane on lap 17 and made the switch to the softer alternate rubber on his No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
When Dixon passed Team Penske’s Will Power – who relinquished the race lead during the caution to also pit and move on the same strategy – seven laps later, Dixon cycled into the lead among the group.
Mike Hull, CGR’s managing director who also serves as Dixon’s race strategist, knew what the target was from there.
“We knew that we had to get to lap 51 to get to the end,” Hull told Motorsport.com.
Source: Autosport