SCOTT DIXON

Will Power won his second IndyCar championship on Sunday with a third-place finish at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Will Power broke Mario Andretti's record for poles on the day he most needed a big run. The greatest qualifier in IndyCar history is now one step closer to a second championship. Power grabbed his 68th career pole with Andretti watching from pit lane Saturday at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Marcus Ericsson instead won the race and, because the Indy 500 is worth double points, Ericsson was suddenly thrust into the IndyCar championship race. But if Dixon had not been speeding, he'd have maybe scored the win, or at minimum finished higher than 21st. Ericsson received 109 points for the victory; Dixon earned just 33 in a crushing disappointment that may have ultimate implications on the championship. “It's great to talk about after your accomplishments, but I've got six, I don't have seven,” Dixon told AP. They view Team Penske as a three singular efforts with the only team orders being that the best driver wins.

Scott Dixon knows IndyCar’s tightest championship race in nearly 20 years would have probably been long decided if not for a rare gaffe by The Iceman in the Indianapolis 500.

But there are plenty of Power fans — and probably Power himself — who believe the Australian could have had some breathing room in this title fight had Team Penske done him any favors. Power definitely did not have a car as good as McLaughlin's, but challenger Dixon was closing fast behind him in both the race and title fight. If Team Penske had called for “team orders” and asked McLaughlin to cede the lead to Power, he'd have 10 additional points over Dixon and Newgarden. The call Dixon considered a “no-brainer” never came and now Power must finish no lower than third to clinch the title. Team Penske has weaved through the team orders issue since Sunday at Portland, while Dixon admits that Chip Ganassi Racing races with the greater organization in mind.

What’s 10 points worth.

The FIA is reportedly considering offering American driver Colton Herta an exemption to receive the Super License he needs to compete in Formula One.

PORTLAND, Ore. — (AP) — Scott McLaughlin led a Team Penske rout at Portland International Raceway by scoring his third victory of the season in a 1-2 finish that moved Will Power one race closer to the IndyCar championship. McLaughlin led 104 of the 110 laps Sunday to pick up his third victory of the season. He trails only Penske teammate Josef Newgarden (five) in most series wins, but an inconsistent season has the New Zealander clinging to any title chances. McLaughlin goes to next Sunday's season finale at Laguna Seca in California ranked fifth in the standings, 41 points behind Power but still mathematically in the hunt. “We did exactly what we needed to do this weekend which was win and get maximum points,” McLaughlin said.

MADISON, Ill. — (AP) — IndyCar points leader Will Power won the pole for the Saturday night race at World Wide Technology Raceway and tied Mario Andretti for series pole record. In all, 11 drivers remain mathematically eligible to win the championship with three races remaining. Power's fourth pole of the season was the one he's been chasing since 2020, when he finally realized that Andretti's mark was within reach. But now that Power has tied the record, he's turning his attention solely toward the championship fight. Newgarden is the defending race winner and 22 points behind Power in the standings in fourth.

Will Power has tied Mario Andretti for the most poles in IndyCar series history.

Jimmie Johnson added ovals to his IndyCar schedule this season and the circuits have been his strength.

More important, Dixon jumped to second in the points standings and trails series leader Will Power by six points with three races remaining. O'Ward came to Nashville fifth in the standings but dropped to seventh and likely out of the championship picture with a 24th-place finish. But like teammate Dixon, Ericsson had a poor qualifying effort and struggled to come through the field from 18th. He'll enter the Xfinity Series race on The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 8, driving for Big Machine Racing. Andretti is coming off the championship in the second season of Tony Stewart's Superstar Racing Experience all-star series.

Scott Dixon passed Mario Andretti for second on IndyCar’s all-time win list with a victory Sunday in the messy Music City Grand Prix.

IndyCar Nashville Auto Racing Christian Lundgaard comes through a turn during a practice session for the Music City Grand Prix auto race Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Grosjean qualified second for Andretti Autosport, which had three drivers eliminated in the first round of qualifying. Lundgaard was a career-best third for Rahal Letterman Lanigan, which advanced all three of its drivers to the top 12. Lundgaard overcame a penalty in the second round and locked a tire in the final round and still managed to qualify third. Prior to Herta's spin, Andretti Autosport rookie Devlin DeFrancesco also spun to bring out a yellow that chewed up three of the 10 scheduled minutes in the qualifying group.

Scott McLaughlin won the second pole of his IndyCar career in rain-delayed qualifying for the Music City Grand Prix.

IndyCar Indianapolis Auto Racing Josef Newgarden climbs into his car during a practice session for a IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, July 29, 2022, in Indianapolis. On Tuesday, Newgarden informed Team Penske president Tim Cindric he was ready to race. Clearly, Newgarden and Team Penske proceeded with caution. Still, series protocols required Newgarden to be medically cleared Thursday for practice and again between Friday morning's practice and afternoon qualifying session. But with Team Penske also in contention for the team title, Cindric couldn't take any chances.

Josef Newgarden kept the focus simple all week.

Two-time IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden was cleared Thursday to practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway following his collapse after crashing at Iowa.

The fight over IndyCar champion Alex Palou is headed to court as Chip Ganassi Racing filed a civil lawsuit in Indiana against the Spanish driver who is attempting to leave the team at the end of the season.

Two-time IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden has been released from a Des Moines hospital and returned to his Tennessee home, where he will wait for an evaluation to determine if he can race this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Josef Newgarden collapsed in the motorhome lot following his late crash Sunday at Iowa Speedway and was taken to a Des Moines hospital by helicopter for evaluation.

Josef Newgarden extended the Team Penske dominance at Iowa Speedway, winning the first race of a weekend doubleheader for his fourth victory at the shortest track on the IndyCar schedule.

Will Power swept both poles for the IndyCar doubleheader at Iowa Speedway to move within one of Mario Andretti’s all-time record.

IndyCar Toronto Auto Racing Scott Dixon of New Zealand drives during qualifying at the 2022 IndyCar Toronto, in Toronto, Saturday, July 16, 2022. Dixon qualified second and spent the day running up front, despite creative fuel and tire strategies as teams jockeyed for track position early in the race. Dixon quickly opened a 2-second gap over Herta and the rest of the field and never relinquished it in cruising to his fourth win at Toronto, where IndyCar returned for the first time since 2019, and his 52nd win overall. Herta, who tested for McLaren in Formula 1 earlier in the week, finished second for Andretti Autosport. Sato has just one top 10 since the season opener at St. Petersburg during a difficult first year with Dale Coyne Racing.

Scott McLaughlin has picked up his second career IndyCar victory, which may go down as one of the most special wins of his career.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — (AP) — The IndyCar championship race faces a major shakeup at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where the top title contenders struggled and Pato O'Ward won the pole to match a series mark set in 1961. The modern-day record for different drivers winning the pole to start a season is 10 in 1952. “This is huge man, it's a track position race,” O'Ward said of the difficulty to pass on Mid-Ohio's 13- turn, 2.258-mile course. It created a huge opportunity for O'Ward and Scott Dixon to make up serious ground in the championship race. He also competed in the Star Mazda race here in 2005 and tested a sports car at Mid-Ohio in 2007.

The IndyCar championship race faces a major shakeup at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where the top title contenders struggled and Pato O’Ward won the pole to match a series mark set in 1961.

Will Power closed the Belle Isle era with a Team Penske victory on Sunday by winning the final Detroit Grand Prix on the island park to reclaim the IndyCar points lead.

Indycar Indy 500 Auto Racing Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, poses for pictures on the observation desk of the Empire State Building in New York, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig)DETROIT — (AP) — The milk has barely been washed out of Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson’s firesuit and the IndyCar season has gone wild. Belle Isle was a doubleheader the last eight years and Ericsson won on Saturday last season, with O'Ward winning on Sunday. It is just a single Sunday race this weekend, the final time the event will be held on Belle Isle. A speeding penalty on pit road decimated Dixon's shot at a second Indy 500 victory after he'd dominated nearly the entire build-up to the race.

The milk has barely been washed out of Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson’s firesuit and the IndyCar season has gone wild.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 29, 2022. “Moved here, put my whole life into trying to become an IndyCar and mainly Indianapolis 500 champion. Ericsson is the first Swede to win the Indy 500 since Kenny Brack in 1999 and the second in 106 runnings of the race. Johnson finished 28th in his Indy 500 debut. So, you know, we were lucky to have five good cars and five good drivers.”___More AP Indy 500 coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/indianapolis-500 and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, walks to his car before the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 29, 2022. Another Ganassi teammate, Marcus Ericsson, won the Indy 500 after Dixon's error, and close friend and teammate Tony Kanaan crossed the finish line in third. It was just two years ago that race control was in a similar position — with Scott Dixon running second to Takuma Sato — when IndyCar let the race finish under yellow. If I was in the stands, I want to see a race finish under the green.”Scott Dixon refused to weigh in on the different race-ending approaches. “Nobody's happier than all the other drivers for a team win.”___More AP Indy 500 coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/indianapolis-500 and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Scott Dixon had the car to beat for much of the Indy 500 until a late speeding penalty cost him a chance to kiss the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time since 2008.

Scott Dixon answered a few questions and started to trudge down pit road when he realized he forgot someone: His wife. Dixon turned around, grabbed Emma's hand and took off on what had to be one of the most agonizing walks of his IndyCar career. Dixon had to be feeling them all.

Jimmie Johnson talks about Indy 500 crash that took him out of the race

Marcus Ericsson had to leave Formula One to become a global superstar and achieved the goal Sunday when the Swedish driver won the Indianapolis 500.

Jimmie Johnson's car taken away after crash costs him the Indy 500

Colton Herta rolled his Indianapolis 500 car end-over-end during the final practice for Sunday's race.

Owner Beth Paretta explains the mission for her majority women race team at the Indy 500.

Britain Top Gun Maverick Premiere Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh Sperry pose for the media during the 'Top Gun Maverick' UK premiere at a central London cinema, on Thursday, May 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) (Alberto Pezzali)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Miles Teller feels the need, the need for speed — and the “Top Gun: Maverick” actor will get it as the honorary starter for what should be the fastest Indianapolis 500 in history. Teller will wave the green flag for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. He will lead the 33-car field to the green flag Sunday. ___More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Miles Teller feels the need, the need for speed.

Dalton Kellett became the first driver to crash while preparing for the Indianapolis 500, ending a streak of six days without major incident.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, sits in his pit box during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Scott Dixon used a breathtaking run of more than 234 mph to post the fastest Indianapolis 500 pole run in history. That means Dixon's qualifying run was the second fastest in 106 runnings of the most prestigious race in the world. Dixon also started from the pole in 2008 when he scored his only Indy 500 win, as well as 2015, 2017 and last year. Kanaan's lap would have been the eighth-fastest qualifying run in the record books written before the drivers rewrote history this weekend.

Scott Dixon used a breathtaking run of more than 234 mph to post the fastest Indianapolis 500 pole run in history.

Jimmie Johnson posted the fastest four-lap average of any Indianapolis 500 rookie and qualified for Sunday' pole shootout.

The rain held off long enough for a full round of Indianapolis 500 qualifying on a soupy day that saw blistering speeds.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing An official hold the yellow flag as it blows in the wind during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Indianapolis. It put IndyCar on its heels on “Fast Friday” as race officials scrambled to save qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Weather conditions at the speedway have changed daily since the track opened on sunshine-soaked Tuesday for Indy 500 prep. Completing a full four-lap qualifying run was supposed to be the goal; not wrecking an Indy 500 racecar became the priority. O'Ward was the first driver to finish a qualifying run and he ran just 12 laps all day.

It was a challenging “Fast Friday” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with serious wind disrupting practice for the Indy 500.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Takuma Sato, of Japan, leaves the pits during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. VeeKay was the fastest driver without a tow at 221.552 mph. When Daly returned to his motorhome Tuesday, he discovered the hot tub had been tampered with and deemed it “no longer usable. At least for a long time.”"I would like to announce that my hot tub has been bamboozled," Daly posted on Twitter. He did not reveal what had happened to his hot tub.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato shot to the top of the speed chart Tuesday on the first day of preparations for the May 29 race.

Will Power used the final lap of qualifying Friday to leapfrog five other drivers and win the pole for the IndyCar Grand Prix.

Rinus VeeKay led an upset in IndyCar qualifying to position himself to race for the win at Barber Motorsports Park. The Dutchman was the surprise pole-winner for Sunday's race following a qualifying session that saw most of IndyCar's top names fail to advance through the rounds. The first round on Saturday bounced both Will Power, a two-time winner at Barber, and six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon.

IndyCar Testing Auto Racing Jimmie Johnson puts on his helmet during IndyCar auto racing testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Indianapolis. 48 was an Indy car turning laps in excess of 215 mph. 3 on the daily speed chart before finishing the first of two Indianapolis 500 test sessions pain free. And when the green flag finally waved, 2016 Indy 500 champ Alexander Rossi spun his No. Two-time 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya and Marco Andretti, the 2020 Indy pole winner and 2006 race runner-up, were among the eight drivers in the second group.

Jimmie Johnson looked like a natural at the first of this week's two Indianapolis 500 test sessions.

Josef Newgarden used the nonexistent high line to pass Scott McLaughlin in the final turn at Texas Motor Speedway and steal the IndyCar race his teammate had dominated.

IndyCar Texas Auto Racing Rinus Veekay passes Alexander Rossi on the fourth turn during the first practice round of the IndyCar Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Jimmie Johnson, the all-time winningest driver at Texas with seven wins in NASCAR, qualified 18th in his IndyCar oval debut. For Rosenqvist, it was his second career pole since joining IndyCar in 2019. It makes a high line that is far too slick and dangerous for the IndyCar drivers. Very few drivers dared to even coast into the second lane during Saturday morning practice.

IndyCar’s long relationship with Texas Motor Speedway is at a crossroads headed into the 35th race at the track that has always embraced the open-wheel series.

Scott McLaughlin got his first IndyCar Series victory in the season-opening race through the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Roger Penske picked up a third Daytona 500 win last weekend on his 85th birthday.

Among those still in contention were Wayne Taylor Racing, seeking a record fourth consecutive Rolex win, and Meyer Shank Racing on the 10th anniversary of its victory. The two Chip Ganassi Racing “star cars” both had mechanical issues that eliminated the Cadillacs from racing for the win. The 60th running of North America's most prestigious sports car race featured 12 drivers from the IndyCar Series and several in contention for victory. Herta helped the DragonSpeed entry come from four laps down back into contention for class victory. Jarett Andretti started from the pole and was hoping to score the class win on the two-year anniversary of his father's death from colon cancer.

Helio Castroneves scored his third crown jewel victory in a calendar year when he closed out the Rolex 24 at Daytona to give team owner Michael Shank his second win in North America's most prestigious sports car race.

Chip Ganassi and Jimmie Johnson were both out of contention at the 24 Hours of Rolex at sunrise Sunday of the twice-round-the clock endurance race. It left only four cars running for the overall victory with about six hours remaining at Daytona International Speedway. Among those still in contention were Wayne Taylor Racing, seeking a record fourth consecutive Rolex win, and Meyer Shank Racing on the 10th anniversary of its victory.

Brazilian drivers Pipo Derani and Felipe Nasr won the IMSA sports car championship together just 10 weeks ago to close last year's racing season.

Jimmie Johnson will run the Indianapolis 500 and the entire IndyCar schedule next year.

Max Verstappen requested race stewards not interfere with the Formula One title-deciding finale with any questionable or inconsistent calls.

The IndyCar Series speeds into its season finale at Sunday riding a myriad of gains that have America's top open-wheel series feeling confident about its future.

The IndyCar Series is feeling rather bullish as it heads into its final two races of the season.

Alex Palou recovered from first-lap trouble at Portland International Raceway to win for the third time this season and reclaim the IndyCar points lead.

Alex Palou earned the first pole of his IndyCar career and put himself in position to reclaim the championship lead headed into Sunday’s race at Portland International Raceway.

Jimmie Johnson is moving one step closer to adding the Indianapolis 500 to his IndyCar schedule with a successful test on his first oval.

The race winner, Josef Newgarden, agreed: “I think people are driving aggressively these days. The dicey racing has upturned the championship race and put O'Ward, a 22-year-old Mexican with Formula One aspirations, on top of the IndyCar standings. There is no favorite in the championship race headed into a three-week West Coast swing close to the season, and only 60 points separate O'Ward from Ericsson in fifth. They’re just taking advantage of what position they’re in in terms of the championship.”Dixon believes it is time for IndyCar race control to get involved and, well, control the erratic drivers. Newgarden doesn't think IndyCar has a similar one.

A rash of overaggressive driving has jumbled the IndyCar championship fight.

Alex Palou stood in the darkened infield watching a replay of the crash that had knocked him out of the final oval event of the season and, consequently, swallowed the last of his lead in the IndyCar standings. The rest of the field roared on without him Saturday night at World Wide Technology Raceway after Palou was caught in a three-car accident triggered by yet another sketchy restart. Sloppy racing and botched restarts have been a problem all season in IndyCar — remember, eventual race winner Marcus Ericsson drove up and over Sebastien Bourdais even before the field got to the restart line at Nashville earlier this month — and a rash of impatient and overaggressive driving has jumbled the championship fight.

MADISON, Ill. — (AP) — The IndyCar championship flipped leaders Saturday night when Alex Palou was collected in a three-car accident that included teammate Scott Dixon. The Spaniard quickly picked his way through the field and was up to 10th on a restart just 65 laps into the 260-lap race. But he tapped the rear of six-time and reigning champion Scott Dixon, causing Dixon to spin up the track in a crash that collected VeeKay, Palou and Dixon. With Palou out early at Gateway, the 22-year-old Mexican was in position to take the points lead at the end of the race. “It was very important to me to get a pole,” said Power, who isn't convinced he can catch Andretti's mark.

The Australian, who started second, beat Romain Grosjean by 1.1142 seconds for his first win of the season. “Finally, finally,” Power shouted on the radio after crossing the yard of bricks and ending a 13-race victory drought. Grosjean, the Swiss-born driver from France who won the pole in the season's other road race at Indy, matched his second-place finish from May's race on the same course. After being the first driver onto pit row just 10 laps into the race, Dixon wound up finishing 17th in a race that had only two yellow flags. UP NEXTThe series returns to action next Saturday in suburban St. Louis — its third straight race weekend since taking a one-month break.

Will Power took the lead early Saturday, then watched it shrink over the final half of the race before holding on to win another Indianapolis Grand Prix.

With apologies to Detroit, Music City morphed into Motor City as IndyCar stormed into town and proved again downtown streets and bridges and zipping around NFL stadiums are where the series needs to race. IndyCar drivers were treated as celebrities almost on par as the country music stars that call the city home wherever they went -- and they were seemingly everwhere. James Hinchcliff rode his electric scooter to the track every day and was called out by fans on the sidewalk. “These were race fans. The Cup Series had not raced in the Nashville area since 1984 when the last premier series event was held at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

IndyCar and Nashville scored big with the debut of the Music City Grand Prix.

Marcus Ericsson survived the perilous city streets of Nashville on Sunday and won the inaugural Music City Grand Prix.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — (AP) — Colton Herta stamped himself as the driver to beat in the inaugural IndyCar Music City Grand Prix, winning the pole Saturday after he was fastest in both practice sessions. The 21-year-old Herta was more than a half-second faster than six-time series champion Scott Dixon in second. “This is huge for me.”Herta was fastest in Friday's first session and posted the top lap again Saturday hours before qualifying. Chris Parker, President of the Music City Grand Prix, said this week at the Country Music Hall of Fame the series was prepared for any potential setbacks. Grand Prix promoters planned refunds for all days lost and inconvenienced fans were relocated to open seats.

Colton Herta stamped himself as the driver to beat in the inaugural IndyCar Music City Grand Prix.

Jimmie Johnson returns to IndyCar on Sunday to tackle the street course in Nashville.

IndyCar Nashville Auto Racing Six- time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon chats with the media before the start of practice of the IndyCar auto race, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston) (Dan Gelston)NASHVILLE, Tenn. — (AP) — Simon Pagenaud hit Nashville, took a look at the 24/7 wild times and wondered how the heck he missed Music City all his life. Asked what he liked about the track, IndyCar championship contender Pato O’Ward was blunt:“It’s violent,” he said. IndyCar may have a hit on its hands if the first few days were an indicator of the enthusiasm from fans and drivers of the race. Colton Herta turned a fast lap at 1:16.587 and topped the first practice chart, followed by six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon. Like fellow IndyCar rookie Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR champion, Grosjean committed this season only to the road and street course races.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Chip Ganassi has sold his NASCAR team to Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, and will pull out of the nation's top stock car series at the end of this season. “I'm not out of racing, I'm just out of NASCAR,” Ganassi said. I had an offer that I was required to consider.”Chip Ganassi Racing began as an open-wheel team that grew into one of the most successful organizations in IndyCar. Ganassi won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400, two of the biggest races in NASCAR, with Jamie McMurray in 2010. Marks is in his first season as owner of new team Trackhouse Racing, which counts entertainer Pitbull as a co-owner.

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — (AP) — Alex Palou sailed past Josef Newgarden with two laps remaining Sunday to win at Road America and reclaim the IndyCar points lead as Team Penske lost its third consecutive race because of a late caution. Newgarden got a good jump on the restart but Palou dipped left and sped around him for the lead. Palou, meanwhile, became the first Chip Ganassi Racing driver other than Scott Dixon to win multiple races in a season since Dario Franchitti in 2011. His second win of the season put Palou back on top with a comfortable margin. Palou won by 1.9106 seconds over Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport.

Photos: 135,000 fans flock to Indianapolis 500 Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, leads the field into the first turn at the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)INDIANAPOLIS — Helio Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 for the fourth time on Sunday in front of 135,000 fans, the largest crowd at a sporting event since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. >> Read more trending newsExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 14 Photos: 135,000 fans flock to Indianapolis 500 Fans fill the stands as Colton Herta leads the field in the early laps of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 30, 2021. About 135,000 spectators, about 40% of the speedway’s capacity, were admitted to the track for the largest sports event since the start of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)The Associated Press contributed to this report.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Scott Dixon of New Zealand leads the field through the first turn on the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Helio Castroneves joined the exclusive club of four-time Indianapolis 500 winners Sunday, and then scaled the fence at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of the largest crowd since the start of the pandemic. Castroneves won his third 500 in 2009 and has been chasing win No. This year, celebrities were back and fans were everywhere and they were treated to a win by one of the most popular drivers in Indy 500 history. ___More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Scott Dixon of New Zealand leads the field through the first turn on the start of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Scott Dixon's perfect Indianapolis 500 fell apart when the six-time IndyCar Series champion ran out of gas before his first pit stop Sunday. He plummeted to 31st in the running order as Dixon, who was among the fastest and most consistent drivers in the buildup to the race, pursues his second Indy 500 title. Wilson, in his first Indy 500 since 2018, was the first driver out of the race. The Indy 500 was held in front of 135,000 spectators, about 40% of grandstand seating capacity, making it the largest sporting event in the world since the start of the pandemic.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Fans yell from the stands as rain delayed the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 28, 2021. He has just one Indy 500 victory, in 2008, and three runner-up finishes. I feel like there’s a lot of emphasis on IndyCar championships but the Indy 500 is the Indy 500.”Dixon and the four Chip Ganassi Racing entries are the most consistent at Indianapolis leading into the 500. Newgarden is now a two-time IndyCar champion but still seeking his first Indy 500 victory. And that's a very different question.”ODDS AND ENDS: Scott Dixon is the 13-4 favorite to win the Indy 500.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Scott Dixon ran to the top of the board in the final practice before the Indianapolis 500 and called it a day with 45 minutes remaining in the session. “Hopefully it runs this good in the race,” Dixon said after his lap at 228.323 mph put the six-time IndyCar champion in control of Friday’s practice. That’s it, it’s over.”Rain disrupted the traditional “Carb Day” practice but IndyCar was able to get cars on track for almost two hours later Friday afternoon. Seeing the struggles, not him, but the team are going through for qualifying pace,” Dixon said. Conor Daly, meanwhile, was fourth fastest on the day in yet another strong showing for Ed Carpenter Racing.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Fans yell from the stands as rain delayed the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 28, 2021. He has just one Indy 500 victory, in 2008, and three runner-up finishes. “Our cars are good every Sunday,” said an unconcerned Penske, winner of a record 18 Indy 500s. Newgarden is now a two-time IndyCar champion but still seeking his first Indy 500 victory. And that's a very different question.”ODDS AND ENDS: Scott Dixon is the 13-4 favorite to win the Indy 500.

All four had a solid shot at the pole and some sort of head cold was hardly going to slow him down. Herta, the 21-year-old rising American star, had just a few minutes to celebrate his name atop the pylon at famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This is a big week for the New Zealander, who with 51 career victories ranks third on IndyCar's all-time wins list. Foyt and his 67 career wins next on Dixon's to-do list. All the wins and trophies are wonderful, but at this stage of his career, Dixon finds it's the near-misses that stick with him the longest.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Scott Dixon, front left, of New Zealand celebrates after winning the pole during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race as his wife Emma Davies-Dixon, right, watches at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 23, 2021. When his three teammates made their Indianapolis 500 qualifying attempts, he didn't want to hear their feedback. Dixon did just that and slammed the brakes on IndyCar's current youth movement by winning his fourth Indianapolis 500 pole by a mere 0.03 seconds, or roughly six feet over the 10-mile qualifying run. Dixon turns 41 in July — the combined age of the two drivers starting next to him in the Indy 500. The first three rows account for six Indy 500 wins and eight series championships among four drivers — proving veteran experience still matters at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Scott Dixon, front left, of New Zealand celebrates after winning the pole during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race as his wife Emma Davies-Dixon, right, watches at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Scott Dixon slammed the brakes on IndyCar's current youth movement by winning his fourth Indianapolis 500 pole by a mere 0.03 seconds on Sunday. But then it was time for Dixon, the driver called “The Iceman” who is considered the best of his generation. Dixon turns 41 in July — the combined age of the two drivers starting next to him in the Indy 500. The first three rows account for six Indy 500 wins and eight series championships among four drivers — proving veteran experience still matters at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

IndyCar Indy 500 Auto Racing Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, looks at his practice speeds during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Wednesday, May 19, 2021, in Indianapolis. Six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was fastest Wednesday on the second day of Indianapolis 500 practice, but he was followed closely by the American combo of Conor Daly and Ed Carpenter. Both are from Indianapolis with deep ties to the speedway and ECR has been known to raise its game for the Indy 500. Team owner Carpenter, the stepson of former track owner Tony George, is a three-time Indy 500 pole-winner. Former Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan was fifth fastest and Alex Palou, another one of IndyCar's first-time winners this season, was eighth.

IndyCar Indianapolis Auto Racing Rinus VeeKay, of the Netherlands, celebrates after winning the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 15, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Rinus VeeKay continued IndyCar's youth movement Saturday by scoring his first career victory with a win on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Dutchman became the third first-time winner through five races this season — the most at this point in the season since 2013. But this time Grosjean was not able to beat VeeKay off pit road and VeeKay was easily past Grosjean before Grosjean got back onto track. VeeKay won for Ed Carpenter Racing, the first victory for the team since Josef Newgarden won for them in 2016.

At Pit Row, Scott Dixon shares with CBS' Allie LaForce what it was like the first time he raced at the Indianapolis 500.