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Scott Dixon makes pitstop during 2008 Indy 500 - Source: Photosport -
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New Zealand driver Scott Dixon survived an early tangle with
rival Helio Castroneves to recover and finish fifth at the Iowa
round of the IndyCar series.
Dixon and Brazilian Castroneves, battling for the lead, made
contact on the 18th lap.
Castroneves' right front wing shredded Dixon's left rear tire but
great driving by both saw them recover their cars.
Their races were compromised from that point, however and
Castroneves finished two places behind Dixon, who raced
conservatively to pick up points.
Dario Franchitti won the race to leapfrog Target Chip Ganassi
teammate Dixon into second in the overall standings after seven
rounds.
Briton Franchitti led home Australian series leader Ryan Briscoe,
with Japan's Hideki Mutoh scoring his best result since finishing
runner-up at this race last season in third.
Dan Wheldon finished fourth and was the only other driver to finish
on the lead lap.
Franchitti got the jump on Briscoe through the final pit stop
sequence, all under green flag conditions between laps 195 and
200.
Briscoe led the most laps, as he did in Milwaukee and Texas, but
once again failed to win. Still, he was gracious in still recording
a runner-up result and the points that come with it.
"It was hard work out there," Briscoe said. "Dario was better on
cold tires, and out of the pits; that's where we were hurting. It
was still really good fun."
Briscoe leads the standings by three points (241-238) over
Franchitti. Dixon is third on 226 points.
