Rahal was denied his first race win within the collection since 2017 when Dixon, who suffered an opening-lap spin, pulled off a exceptional comeback drive on an alternate technique.
It meant Rahal caught him within the closing phases, however Dixon had saved extra overtake allocation – resulting from gasoline saving – and so was capable of deploy his push-to-pass (which on the Indy highway course was 200s in whole for the race, in a most burst of 20s) to maintain Rahal behind.
Dixon won the race by 0.4s for his 54th career victory on his record-setting 319th consecutive begin for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“Frankly, I nearly had it, which means like I wanted about yet one more automobile size to be nearer out of [Turn] 13 to have the ability to get by,” stated Rahal. “However I pulled off of [using the] overtake [aid], as a result of I wasn’t actually gaining. I used to be form of simply holding regular.
“Due to his race sample being a lot extra gasoline saving, he had much more overtake at one stage. We have been catching him on the finish. He was beginning to use overtake. At one level he had 60 seconds greater than me.
“I believe on the finish we ended up equal. He was utilizing it to remain forward of me.”
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Picture by: Gavin Baker / Motorsport Images
Regardless of Dixon utilizing the engine power-boosting system as a defensive weapon, slightly than one to create overtaking, Rahal stated the state of affairs was a good struggle that he prefers to F1’s solely aerodynamic support.
“That is what I form of love about our model of overtake frankly,” he stated. “It is a mano-a-mano battle.
“You utilize it offensively, defensively. None of this DRS crap that makes it simple. For me, I believed Dixon used it proper as we speak.
“I attempted to do the most effective I might to problem him. I simply ran out of steam.
“I imply, main as much as the final lap, I went by way of the snake, flip seven, eight, 9, 10, I had zero grip. I misplaced about half a second, three-four tenths. That was it.”
Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Picture by: Gavin Baker / Motorsport Images
Rahal did criticise the size of the full-course warning after the opening lap, which meant the race didn’t restart till lap eight – which was a possible game-changer for Dixon’s gasoline technique.
“I requested the man, ‘I do not know why we’re not going inexperienced – this does not make any sense’,” he added. “I knew when Dixie pitted, I used to be like ‘son of a…’
“You give the man an inch, he’ll get a mile. He is the most effective at saving gasoline, going quick, doing the issues he does. I did that precise technique two years in the past, so I knew it labored.”