Kiwi Scott Dixon has lost the lead of the Indycar Championship after Josef Newgarden stormed to victory at Mid-Ohio and jumped to the top of the standings.
Dixon started sixth and struggled in his opening stint to fall outside the top 10 but he fought his way back to finishninth. It means he is eight points behind Newgarden and one behind second-placed Helio Castroneves.
Newgarden built a big lead but a safety car with 15 laps to go closed the field up. The American was able to jump away again and take the chequered flag from Australian and Penske teammate Will Power.
"That's great," the Tennessee native said. "We just have to keep it up. No mistakes - if we don't have any mistakes we have enough to win this championship."
"Really bizarre - right from the get-go," the Kiwi said. "The car just had no rear end all day. I was two or three seconds a lap off.
"As soon as I turned the wheel it just wanted to spin out. I think something mechanically is broken on the rear of the car.
"It was just one of those days where everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
"It is frustrating but that is how it goes sometimes.
"We are fortunate to be where we are - it is still very tight pints race.
"Congrats to Josef.
"We had our hands full today but I think we can still turn it around."
