IndyCar champion Scott Dixon had to settle for a controversial second in Las Angeles as he continued his strong start to the season.
Simon Pagenaud won the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Monday (NZ time) to extend his lead at the top of the points table.
Dixon remains second on the table but his Chip Ganassi team were clearly unhappy as Pagenaud escaped with a warning after he appeared to violate rules exiting the pitts.
Pagenaud, desperate to stay in front of Dixon, crossed the double yellow lines at the end of the re-entry lane off the pitts to sneak in front of the Kiwi after 56 of the 80 laps.
Race officials confirmed an investigation but the French driver was controversially handed a warning but no penalty.
Dixon, on hearing their decision, attacked Pagenaud strongly over the final stages of the race but couldn’t get past him.
The Kiwi had to be mindful of his fuel efficiency to make sure he finished.
It was a smooth race for Dixon, who won at Long Beach last year.
Qualifying second, he got a clean start behind pole-sitter Helio Castroneves (Brazil) and stayed near the head of the field the entire race.
Dixon worked his fuel saving and pitt strategy cleverly but came up just short.
Dixon finished seventh in the season-opener in Florida but won the second race in Phoenix.
His podium effort here has given him a powerful start as he chases a fifth drivers championship.
He has a history of charging hard over the second half of the season, something that has been at the core of his title successes.
