Dixon wins marred Detroit Grand Prix

Associated Press

DETROIT

Scott Dixon just wanted to enjoy his first victory of the year and hail crews that patched up problems on a shoddy surface.

Dixon won IndyCar’s Detroit Grand Prix that was marred by poor track conditions that stopped the race for a little more than two hours on Sunday, leading the lackluster race from start to finish.

“We have to focus on the positives,” he said.

That’s easier to do, of course, when you win.

A red flag halted the event 45 laps into a race that was scheduled for 90 laps and shortened to 60.

“I’d like to give a lot of credit to everyone at IndyCar and the Detroit staff for getting the track back in shape so we could race,” Dixon said. “The final 15 lap shootout was exciting for me.”

Belle Isle’s 2.07-mile road course that hadn’t hosted a race since 2008 had chunks of asphalt and concrete missing. Pot holes and grooves that were recently filled with synthetic rubber became exposed.

The first sign of trouble was obvious when James Hinchcliffe lost control because he ran through a huge divot in the road and slammed into a tire barrier on lap 39.