His new lap of the 3.37-mile Watkins Glen International was a 1:22.5259 lap, at a 147.008 miles per hour average speed. It’s sort of becoming old hat.
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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) Watkins Glen International is a special place for Scott Dixon.
Dixon was on the pole for Sunday’s race and finished over 16 seconds ahead of Josef Newgarden who was second. I’d say I had to put a lot more effort into this qualifying effort than I did Iowa though with how physical of a circuit this is. Dixon now stands only two wins shy of Michael Andretti for third place on the sport’s all-time list.
“It was amusing, we chatted at Road America about the runaway championship that Simon was having, and I was like, ‘You wait, man, it’s going to flip. We got fantastic fuel mileage”.
His time was more than five seconds faster than the official track record set in 2009 by Ryan Briscoe.
The report says that if accelerometer data indicates the hit Power took in the crash was enough, he will not be able to race in the September 18 season finale at Sonoma Raceway.
While Dixon crossed the line to take an easy win, Pagenaud ended the race in fuel saving mode and was grateful to score a top-10 finish. He was not permitted to return to the race because of concussion symptoms. This marks the first time Pagenaud has missed the Fast Six all season.
The two Penske drivers are the only ones still in contention for the title.
Said Power: “No one in the paddock likes racing him”.
Dixon won for the fourth time in seven tries at this 3.37-mile permanent road course. His previous best was seventh at Road America; his best overall start this year is fourth at Iowa.
“This is my second time at Watkins Glen”, said IndyCar fan Adam Kohne.
Power wrecked on lap 39 Sunday after making contact with Charlie Kimball. His left rear tire blew in one of the fastest sections of the track, at the top of the hill at turn 4.
Graham Rahal, last week’s victor at Texas, also was penalized for interference and did not advance. “It’s just a shame”. The guys did such a good job and we’re going to be starting way further back than we deserve to be for really no reason. We were able to move up. Comfortably in the final six, he was penalized for impeding Montoya and also had his two fastest laps taken away, too, giving Power the break he needed to advance. “I should know better”. Hinchcliffe will start 13th and Rahal 20th in the 22-car field.
ROOKIE RUSH: Rookies Conor Daly and RC Enerson gave Dale Coyne Racing its best team finish of the season, placing fourth and ninth, respectively.
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Dixon clocked a lap record in qualifying at Watkins Glen raceway, heading off Australian Will Power, who will join him on the front row of today’s grid.
