Motorsport: Injured Dixon still manages fifth spot

Scott Dixon finished fifth in the Japan Indy 300 at the Twin Ring circuit in Motegi on Saturday after battling with an ankle injury from a practice crash.

The result moved the defending Indy Racing League champion from seventh to fifth in the overall standings with 82 points, trailing American race winner Dan Wheldon on 123.

The New Zealander finished just behind his Target Chip Ganassi team-mate Darren Manning after starting the race from sixth spot on the grid.

"I don't feel like I had a very good day even though the result at the end of the day is a few good points in the bank," said Dixon, who ran the race with slight discomfort from his strapped left ankle following a hairline fracture of the fibula sustained in practice on Thursday.

"We had lots of little difficulties today and I wasn't very happy with the car.

"Exiting the last turn was a problem, I didn't have very good straight-line speed and my brakes gave me grief after the second to last stop.

"We didn't have a very good last pit stop either. It hasn't been the easiest race weekend so when you still come away with a fifth place finish, you take the points and look to the next race."

Dixon returns to his team home base in Indianapolis, Indiana, to prepare for the 88th Indianapolis 500, starting with an open test on April 27-28.

- NZPA