LEXINGTON, Ohio — Scott Dixon celebrated his 27th birthday in victory lane, winning his third IndyCar race in a row in Sunday’s Honda 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
His present could come at the end of the season if he’s able to win his second IndyCar Series title.

Dixon has replaced Dario Franchitti as the hottest driver in the series after winning at Watkins Glen July 8, Nashville July 15 and Mid-Ohio on Sunday.

Dixon has replaced Dario Franchitti as the hottest driver in the series after winning at Watkins Glen July 8, Nashville July 15 and Mid-Ohio on Sunday.
He has chopped 41 points off Franchitti’s once-large lead to trail by just 24 in the standings, and with two of the last three races coming on road courses at Infineon Raceway and Belle Isle in Detroit, the New Zealander is confident he can win his first IndyCar title since 2003.
That was Dixon’s first season, when he was a reluctant participant of the then all-oval series. Dixon had honed his skills on road courses throughout the world and was a driver in the rival CART Series before team owner Chip Ganassi decided to abandon that series and move to IndyCar.
Dixon won his very first event in his new series, taking the checkered flag at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He would go on to win the season championship and appeared to be an annual contender for the championship.
But after two miserable seasons in 2004 and 2005, the low-key Dixon admitted he was at a crossroads; that if he didn’t turn it around, all the promise and potential would fade away.
“Oh-four (2004) and 2005 were tough seasons,” Dixon said. “Oh-three (2003) was probably a little unexpected. I fastly came onto the scene, coming into the IndyCar Series and winning races and taking a championship. I think that was a problem because we built ourselves up so high, and the harder you fall after that.
“We definitely fell pretty hard in ’04, ’05. So ’06 was definitely a big year for us.”
 Dixon believed that with equal equipment, Target-Chip Ganassi Racing could put away the miserable experience with the Toyota engines that had dropped them out of contention for race victories and championships.
But working with the sluggish engine in 2004 and 2005 allowed the team to develop the race car. So, when the team started using the Honda engines, they were able to excel.
“We had even equipment with teams that were winning,” Dixon said. “Adding Dan Wheldon to the team was a huge addition for our team, with the momentum he brought from winning the Indianapolis 500 and the championship in ’05.
“I’d say the huge turn for us and for me was definitely last year and not it’s sort of just redefining a little. We’re making the car a little bit better for myself and zoning in. But last year was a big turn for our team.”
Prior to Dixon’s three-straight victories, Franchitti had won two in a row and three races in a five-race stretch, including the 91st Indianapolis 500.
The driver from Edinburgh, Scotland, had the momentum and appeared on his way to his first series title.
But after losing to the birthday boy from Auckland, New Zealand, for the third-straight week, Franchitti’s trademark smile was replaced with a pensive look.
“I think at this point when you look at the guys fighting it out up front week in, week out, there are no weak spots for anybody,” Franchitti said. “We’ve just got to get on with it and do the job.”