Scott Dixon wins Honda Indy 200 Mid-Ohio with fuel strategy

The fuel gamble by Mike Hull and Scott Dixon worked to perfection at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Dixon started ninth and completed 90 laps with just two pit stops to claim his first win of 2025, capitalizing on a mistake by championship leader Alex Palou with five laps remaining.

Chip Ganassi Racing Bets on Two-Stop Strategy at Mid-Ohio

While most teams planned for three stops, Chip Ganassi Racing opted for a risky strategy with Dixon. The plan required caution periods to work, and the yellow flag between laps 31-34 for Christian Rasmussen's car provided the perfect opportunity.

"We still had to save fuel until the end, so it was really tight," Dixon explained after his 59th career victory. "I didn't see what happened. I saw him go off at Turn 9. We got a bit lucky with that."

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Dixon's final stop came on lap 61, while Palou continued until lap 72 to maximize his advantage. Palou managed to maintain the lead and build a 1.8-second gap by lap 77.

Turn 9 Changes the Outcome

Alex Palou had controlled the race from pole position when a mistake at Turn 9 cost him the victory. The Open AI Chip Ganassi Racing driver went wide on lap 85, allowing Dixon to take a lead he wouldn't relinquish.

"It was a stupid mistake, honestly. My mistake," Palou admitted. "The car was incredible all weekend, the entire race. I just lost it a bit on entry and couldn't get the power down. Nobody's to blame but me."

Palou tried to recover positions in the closing laps, but Dixon masterfully managed the racing lines to maintain his advantage.

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Historic Streak Extends

With this win, Dixon reaches 21 consecutive seasons with at least one victory, a streak that began in 2005. The six-time champion also notched his seventh win at Mid-Ohio, becoming the most successful driver at the Ohio circuit.

"It was a very difficult race. We had fantastic cars, but it was really fun trying to achieve what we did," Dixon commented. "They were supposed to take downforce off the front wing on the last stop. I just had to look at the corner, and the car was going to turn."

Palou Extends Points Lead

Despite losing the win, Palou's mistake didn't damage his championship campaign. Palou maintains 430 points and extended his lead over Kyle Kirkwood from 93 to 113 points - equivalent to more than two races - with seven events remaining.

Christian Lundgaard completed the podium for Arrow McLaren, followed by Colton Herta and Pato O'Ward, last year's Mid-Ohio winner. Lundgaard earned his third podium of the season in a race that featured eight lead changes among four drivers.

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Iowa Speedway Hosts Next Doubleheader

The NTT IndyCar Series continues with the Sukup INDYCAR Race Weekend on July 12-13 at Iowa Speedway. The first race will be Saturday at 5:00 p.m. ET, while the second will be Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Results