Dixon on 52nd win: “It’s amazing to be close to Mario"

After starting on the front row and stalking polesitter Colton Herta through the first stint, Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda’s #9 crew pulled Dixon in one lap earlier than the Andretti team, and although Herta emerged still ahead, Dixon’s crew and a strong out-lap from the veteran meant he was in the right place on warm-tires to outbrake the Andretti Autosport driver into Turn 1. He would never fall behind Herta for the remainder of the race, and while he crossed the line only 0.8sec ahead, he had been holding the gap at two seconds before the final lap.

Dixon’s 52nd win not only draws him level with Mario Andretti – albeit 15 behind AJ Foyt – it also extends his run of IndyCar seasons with at least one win to 20, 18 of which have come consecutively (a record he already owned.)

"It's amazing to be close to Mario,” said the New Zealander who turns 42 next week, and who hadn’t won since May 1 last year. “I'm just so thankful that he and AJ [Foyt] are in the pits and we get to talk to them. It's huge, it feels so good to be a part of this group.”

Mario Andretti hit Twitter to say: “Utmost respect for my friend @scottdixon9 and truly happy to congratulate him on 52 wins. Also congratulate his team because nobody does it alone. I hope this is just a step on your continuing journey. Well done.”

Utmost respect for my friend @scottdixon9 and truly happy to congratulate him on 52 wins. Also congratulate his team because nobody does it alone. I hope this is just a step on your continuing journey. Well done. @IndyCaronNBC

Dixon told Peacock after the race, "We struggled a little bit on rears, we made some adjustments after this morning [warm-up] based on the different tracks we'd been to through the year where we'd fought with