Dixon wins Grand Prix of Sonoma

Scott Dixon overtook race leader Mike Conway on Lap 83 of 85 and went on to win the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday.

Dixon, who started third in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car, led Ryan Hunter-Reay across the finish line by 1.1359 seconds. Simon Pagenaud finished third after overtaking Conway, whose car ran out of fuel with about 350 yards left.

It was the 35th career victory for Dixon, who tied Bobby Unser for fifth on the all-time list. Dixon also took the checkers at Sonoma Raceway in 2007.

“This is just big for our team,” said Dixon, who is the only driver to complete every lap in the 10 Verizon IndyCar Series races at Sonoma Raceway. “It was tough because there were so many strategies going on and they were just slightly off and I didn’t know who could make it and who couldn’t. Conway I think pushed hard to start with but I think he had to save some fuel at the end.”

Defending Sonoma champ Will Power, who started on the pole and led a field-high 33 laps in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car, was scored 10th after rebounding from a spin on Lap 40 that cost him eight positions to 20th.

“It took me by surprise when I spun. That’s just racing. I tried to save fuel towards the end, just going for points,” said Power, who has three Sonoma wins.

Twenty cars were on the lead lap, tying a season high set in the Indianapolis 500. Takuma Sato, who started 20th in the No. 14 ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing car, finished a season-high fourth and Juan Pablo Montoya was fifth in the No. 2 Verizon Team Penske entry. Conway finished 14th.

SUN photo by Scott Knight