Scott Dixon, in his first season of racing in the PNC Bank car, won Race 1 of the dual-legged Detroit Grand Prix today at Belle Isle Park, the 42nd victory of his IndyCar career.
Dixon, 37, made two pits stops, as opposed to most of his opponents making three, and took the lead on the 33rd of the race's 70 laps. He held the lead almost exclusively from that point and beat Ryan Hunter-Reay to the finish line by 1.8249 seconds.
“It’s big,” Dixon told ABC afterward a year. “It’s nice to get that first win out of the way. It’s always good to be back in the winner’s circle.”
Scott Dixon in the winner’s circle @detroitgp @Local4News pic.twitter.com/1nYucTEYEy
— Jamie Edmonds (@Jamie_Edmonds) June 2, 2018
This was Dixon’s first victory since last season at Road America. His top finish this season had been second at the IndyCar Grand Prix in Indianapolis.
In early February, Chip Ganassi, the Fox Chapel native and car owner, signed a partnership with PNC Bank, the first of its kind for the Pittsburgh financial institution.
Race 2 is Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
