Dixon Wins in Japan and Leads IndyCar Championship

The pendulum keeps swinging Scott Dixon’s way after winning the Japan 300 and gaining maximum points at the Twin Ring, Motegi in Japan in the weekend.

His main rival Ryan Briscoe blew his chance of winning the IndyCar Series after hitting the wall while exiting the pits on cold tyres.

Dixon had set the fastest time in qualifying and was thirty-three points behind Briscoe heading to Japan for the penultimate round of the IndyCar Series. Target Chip Ganassi Team mate Dario Franchitti was second and Graham Rahal third.

Nerves may have got the better of Briscoe when he miscued exiting the pits on Lap 106 -- when the No. 6 car swerved as he lit up the tires, brushed the inside retaining wall and ran over the time line cone costing the race lead and points.

"Tremendous day for Team Target," said Dixon, "It's a track I've always wanted to win at. I remember coming here in the early years and competing for different engine manufacturers and how much emphasis is put on this race. Definitely a good day for points and I'm very happy."

Briscoe was credited with 18th place so it will be a shootout in the season finale for the fourth consecutive year, with Dixon pacing the contenders with 570 points. Franchitti has 565 and Briscoe has 562.

The final and deciding round is at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday 10th October 2009.

Source: www.nzracer.com