IndyCar GP of Alabama race report

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon remained in the thick of the battle for the victory throughout Sunday’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, finishing second to Josef Newgarden after 90 hard-fought laps around scenic Barber Motorsports Park, the first road course event of the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule.

Starting fourth, Dixon gained one position on the opening lap and then entered a multi-car battle at the front of the field. When race leader Will Power pitted on Lap 77 with a deflating rear tire, the race came down to a two-driver duel, with Newgarden prevailing over Dixon by just over one second.

Behind Dixon, 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi rebounded from a disappointing qualifying result, 18th, on Saturday, to finish fifth, while Hinchcliffe recovered from a brief off-course slide to finish sixth.

Honda drivers claimed nine of the top-12 finishing positions, with Sebastien Bourdais maintaining his lead on the drivers’ championship following an eighth-place run. After three races, Bourdais holds a six-point lead, 117-111, over Dixon.