Motorsport: Huge crash puts Dixon out of Indycar opener

Scott Dixon

A huge pile-up put Scott Dixon out of the Indy Racing League season opener at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida this morning (NZ time).

Dixon, who had run as high as 13th after qualifying 16th, was caught up in a crash involving Japan's Kosuke Matsurra and Tomas Scheckter on the 159th of 200 laps.

The massive pileup also included Danica Patrick, Scott Sharp, Ed Carpenter, Bryan Herta, and Roger Yasukawa.

All eight drivers were released from the medical centre prior to the end of the race.

When the circuit was cleared, there were only 10 drivers remaining when the green flag waved with 25 laps to go.

Briton Dan Wheldon took the chequered flag in a Dallara/Honda for Andretti Green Racing, crossing 3.6936 seconds ahead of teammate and defending champion Sam Hornish Jr.

Defending series champion Tony Kanaan was third in a Dallara/Honda, followed by Vitor Meira's Panoz/Honda and Helio Castroneves' Dallara/Toyota.

- NZPA