NTT INDYCAR SERIES
RD. 13 – MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE (USA)
Felix Rosenqvist scored his first career NTT IndyCar Series podium in an exceptional last-lap dice for victory with Chip Ganassi Racing team-mate Scott Dixon in Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, coming out second in a heart-stopping battle across the line.
Having led for 15 laps after twice overtaking erstwhile leader Will Power in spectacular wheel-to-wheel assaults, IndyCar rookie Rosenqvist applied a three-stop strategy to come storming in pursuit of the two-stopping Dixon in the closing stages of the 90-lap race, setting up a titanic intra-team scrap over victory with the five-time series champion.
Delayed by heavy traffic in the shape of several backmarkers, Rosenqvist ultimately broke free on the very final lap, moving onto Dixon’s back and immediately attacking the New Zealander – the winningest driver of all time at Mid-Ohio with six IndyCar wins to his name at the venue.
Launching a dive into the undulating Turn 2, Rosenqvist came tantalizingly close to snatching the lead, but was forced to back out of the move after making light contact with his defending team-mate. The duo raced on towards the line, frantically locked in battle, with Dixon ultimately taking victory a mere 0.093s ahead.
”That was a big race for this team,” says Felix Rosenqvist. ”Scott drove fair and clean and it was exactly what you want within a team to be able to fight like that for wins. It’s great to have NTT here with us and Clover on the car today for their first IndyCar race. I really want to give credit to Chip [Ganassi, team boss] for letting us race. There are a lot of people out there that would protect a finish but he is as fair as you get. Maybe one more lap and I would have made it past Scott. I think it was a good show and I hope everyone enjoyed it.”
Rosenqvist had started the race from sixth on the grid after making the Fast Six cut as the sole rookie in Saturday qualifying, and enjoyed a flawless journey to his maiden IndyCar podium after showcasing competitive race pace throughout the 13th round of the season.
“I’m really proud of this achievement,” Rosenqvist continues. “I’ve now had a pole position [at the INDYCAR Grand Prix back in May] and a podium, so I guess now I need to go after that maiden victory. Big thanks to the team today – that was a fantastic race for us.”
Rosenqvist now sits ninth in the overall NTT IndyCar Series standings. He extends his lead in the rookie classification, which he now spearheads by 37 points over Santino Ferrucci.
The next NTT IndyCar Series race is the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway on August 17-18.
RESULTS
NTT IndyCar Series | Mid-Ohio
1: Scott Dixon (NZL), 90 laps
2: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), +0.093s
3: Ryan Hunter-Reay (USA), +1.257s
4: Will Power (AUS), +6.987s
5: Alexander Rossi (USA), +10.794s
View complete results
STANDINGS – OVERALL
(TOP FIVE)
NTT IndyCar Series | After 13/17 races
1: Josef Newgarden (USA), 504 p.
2: Alexander Rossi (USA), 488 p.
3: Simon Pagenaud (FRA), 457 p.
4: Scott Dixon (NZL), 442 p.
5: Will Power (AUS), 356 p.
—
9: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), 296 p.
View complete standings
STANDINGS – ROOKIES
(TOP FIVE)
NTT IndyCar Series | After 13/17 races
1: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), 296 p.
2: Santino Ferrucci (USA), 259 p.
3: Colton Herta (USA), 245 p.
4: Marcus Ericsson (SWE), 219 p.
5: Patricio O’Ward (MEX), 115 p.
View complete standings