Scott Dixon capitalized on a rare late-race error by his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Alex Palou to claim remarkable IndyCar Mid-Ohio Honda 200 race victory.
The event held at the challenging Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, was a showcase of both individual brilliance and team tactics, with the championship narrative taking an unexpected turn in the closing laps.
From the outset, Alex Palou demonstrated his dominance by securing pole position, his third of the season, and leading the majority of the race with apparent control.
Palou’s performance was marked by a comfortable pace at the front, only briefly challenged by McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard following the initial pit stops.
The championship leader’s command of the race seemed unshakable, as he led for 75 of the 90 laps, building a substantial gap and executing flawless pit stops, including a crucial final stop that allowed him to rejoin the track ahead of Dixon with a 1.5-second lead.
Full IndyCar Mid-Ohio 2025 Race Results
Scott Dixon on the other hand adopted a daring two-stop strategy before the race began, gambling on caution periods to conserve fuel. His approach paid dividends when a caution on lap 31 enabled Dixon to extend his stints and reduce his required stops to just one more for the remainder of the race.
The strategic gamble meant Dixon had to focus on fuel-saving tactics while Palou could push harder, setting near-qualifying pace laps in an attempt to close the gap.
Despite emerging from his second stop 10 seconds behind Dixon, Palou’s relentless pace reduced the deficit significantly, setting the stage for a tense final phase.
The race’s turning point came with just six laps remaining as Palou made an uncharacteristic mistake in Turn 9 on lap 85, after he slid off the track and lost control momentarily. The rare error handed a 1.2-second lead to Dixon, who seized the opportunity with the calm and experience that have defined his illustrious career.
Dixon’s maneuver to overtake Palou was a masterclass in racecraft, as he exploited his teammate’s slip to take the lead and then expertly defended it against Palou’s determined pursuit.
Despite Palou’s efforts to reclaim the position, Dixon’s composure and tactical driving ensured he maintained the advantage to the checkered flag.
Scott Dixon win marked his seventh career victory at Mid-Ohio and his first win of the 2025 season, extending his remarkable streak to 21 consecutive IndyCar seasons with at least one victory.
His triumph was also a testament to Chip Ganassi Racing’s continued dominance in the 2025 IndyCar Series, as every race so far had been won by a Honda-powered car.
Dixon’s car, despite some setup challenges such as oversteer and a forgotten front wing adjustment, performed admirably under his skilled control, further highlighting his adaptability and resilience.
Behind the leading duo, Christian Lundgaard delivered a strong performance for Arrow McLaren, securing third place without leading a single lap but consistently staying in contention throughout the race.
His teammate Pato O’Ward executed a strategy similar to Dixon’s, starting 14th on the grid and charging through the field to finish fifth, solidifying his position third in the championship standings ahead of Dixon and Lundgaard.
Andretti Global’s Colton Herta also impressed by overtaking O’Ward late in the race to claim fourth place showcasing the competitive depth of the field.
Other notable performances included Kyffin Simpson who started a career-best third and was a fixture in the top five for much of the race. However, his race was compromised by a stall during his final pit stop and a subsequent penalty for clipping a crew member, resulting in a tenth-place finish.
Callum Ilott achieved Prema’s best road course result with 13th place while rookie Louis Foster finished just behind him. Unfortunately, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing continued to struggle with converting strong qualifying positions into race results as Ilott fell from sixth at the start to 14th by the finish.
The 2025 IndyCar Mid-Ohio Honda 200 was punctuated by two caution periods, both resulting from incidents involving Team Penske drivers.
Josef Newgarden’s season of misfortune continued with a spin during opening laps that ended his race almost before it began. Meanwhile, Will Power’s day also ended prematurely due to a mechanical issue that saw his car catch fire on pit road.
Santino Ferrucci who had been on a hot streak of top-five finishes found himself mired in the lower midfield after a skirmish with Conor Daly. Ferrucci ultimately finished 16th, a result that did little to reflect his recent form.
READ MORE: Alex Palou adds IndyCar Mid-Ohio pole to dominant 2025 points lead
