FEATURE: Dixon’s run to the IndyCar title

Scott Dixon’s come-from-behind victory in the IndyCar Series had Juan Pablo Montoya fuming over the category’s policy to issue double points for the finale.

The Penske driver, who had led the standings from the very first race at St Petersburg in March, told media post-race that “Dixon had a shit season all year and had one good race, and we paid the penalty.”

While it is true that Montoya’s sixth place at Sonoma race would have been enough to hold onto the championship without the double points allocation, Dixon’s fourth title was far from a one race wonder.

The Kiwi had vaulted into contention after collecting his maiden Long Beach win in the third round of the series back in April.

The victory lifted him from 15th position in the points to fourth. The Ganassi driver would sit no lower than fourth in the standings for the remainder of the campaign.

Montoya meanwhile benefitted from winning the season’s other double points event, the Indianapolis 500, setting up a strong run through the mid-season that included eight consecutive top 10 finishes.

A 24th and an 11th for Montoya at Iowa and Mid-Ohio respectively then swung the momentum in Dixon’s favour, slashing the margin between the two from 54 points to 34 with two races remaining.

Montoya eased the margin back out to 47 points with a third place in the ill-fated penultimate round at Pocono, before his collision with team-mate Will Power at Sonoma saw the season take its final turn.

Dixon cracked his third win of the year in the thrilling decider to draw level on 556 points, earning the title on a countback of three wins to two.

It was the lack of wins that ultimately proved Montoya’s downfall, having failed to take a single victory in the 10 races between Indy and the end of the season.

The table below provides the statistical breakdown of how the year unfolded.

How the IndyCar Series played out between Dixon and Montoya

*Dixon won on a countback by virtue of winning three races compared with Montoya’s two wins