Pagenaud avoids penalty to win Long Beach GP

Simon Pagenaud extended his IndyCar points lead after winning the Toyota Grand Prix at Long Beach that was tinged with controversy.

Team Penske driver Pagenaud was able to prevail in a caution-free 80 laps from Chip Ganassi ace Scott Dixon in what was the fastest race in the history of the event.

Poleman Helio Castroneves was third after dominating the first half of the race.

Pagenaud had to survive a looming Dixon in his mirrors over the final few corners after being impeded by slower traffic.

The Frenchman, who was running third for most of the race, pitted on Lap 54 and then rejoined just in front of Dixon ensuring a tense fight.

Pagenaud’s effort to rejoin the fight was soon under question as he appeared to clearly breach the blend line rules.

Stewards investigated the incident and issued the Penske driver with a warning which is set down under the rule for dealing with failing to follow procedures entering or exiting the pits.

Pagenaud was less than repentant when asked about his four tyres crossing the yellow blend line.

“There’s an inch on the racetrack there so I’m good,” Pagenaud responded as he took his first win for the Penske operation.

Dixon had benefitted from a call to pit prematurely for his second stop on lap 51 which dispatched him onto a clear track after he had been hounding Castroneves for the lead.

The New Zealander was clearly unimpressed by the decision to hand Pagenaud with a slap on the wrist.

“I just hope we are not re-circling with our stewardship here and doing warnings. He got a warning. So there’s meant to be no warnings left,” Dixon said.

“I don’t know what that’s all about.”

Juan Montoya was fourth, just holding out a solidly finishing Takuma Sato with Tony Kanaan sixth.

Will Power suffered from a lengthy second stop before taking seventh from James Hinchcliffe, Sebastien Bourdais and Josef Newgarden completing the top 10.

IndyCar moves to Barber Motorsports Park at Alabama for the next round on April 24.

See full results below

Points standings