Brisbane-born Kiwi Scott Dixon has won the 92nd Indianapolis 500 from pole position today, becoming the first ever New Zealand citizen to win the iconic event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Dixon is the 19th driver to win the race from pole position, and now leads the IndyCar Series points standings for the second time this season. Australia's Will Power and Ryan Briscoe had a mixed day, with Power claiming 13th while an incident with Danica Patrick ended Briscoe's campaign.

After a nearly perfect Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway which saw him post the fastest practice time and best four-lap qualifying average, Dixon led 115 of the 200 laps to take the victory.

Dixon’s main competition early in the race was his Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dan Wheldon, with the 2005 Indy 500 winner who started second passing Dixon for the lead three times.

After Wheldon’s car started handling poorly mid-race, Dixon came under pressure from Marco Andretti and Vitor Meira.

Andretti, who finished second as a rookie in 2006, led twice for 15 laps, and Meira took the lead on Lap 160 following a restart when he sliced between Dixon and Ed Carpenter heading into Turn One.

Meira led 11 laps before Dixon regained the lead for good on Lap 172, with his second place tying his 2005 Indianapolis 500 finish, while Andretti finished third.

Helio Castroneves, a two-time winner of the race, was fourth, and Carpenter was fifth.

Power's 13th place has the Queenslander move to eighth in the IndyCar Series points standings while maintaining his lead in the Bombardier Rookie of the Year standings.

Power was the fourth Indy 500 rookie home in today’s race, with the 27 year old from Toowoomba finishing just one place behind 2005 Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon.

Power’s fellow countryman Briscoe was not so lucky, classified 23rd after beginning his third Indy 500 attempt from the front row before contact with Danica Patrick with 30 laps to go saw both drivers put out of contention.

The 2008 IndyCar Series season now heads to the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 on June 1 at the Milwaukee Mile as the series continues on a schedule that is the most diverse in world motorsports.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY...

Scott Dixon - #9 Target Chip Ganassi Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Indy 500 Race Winner
“What a day, man,” said Dixon.

“I just couldn’t believe it. You just thought something was going to go wrong. I’ve got to thank my wife, for sure. She’s put up with my moods.

"What a day. We seemed to have a good car. We just had to hold on to it and stay ahead of those guys on restarts. You’re just a sitting duck. There were so many yellows. It was so hard to get into a rhythm.

“I was trying to save fuel, and I was trying to see how the car was in traffic. We were trying to work on it the whole time. I think we had a little too much drag in it.

"But coming toward the end, as long as we got a good jump on those guys, I don’t think anyone was going to get past us. The Target guys did a fantastic job.”

Vitor Meira - #4 Delphi National Guard Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished Second
(No one expected you to lead. How did that happen?): “Nobody but me and the Delphi National Guard crew,” said Meira.

“We really, really prepared the car, and everything was according to plan. But things didn’t really happen our way.

“We finished second, but you know what, this is a very good result compared to the struggle we had last year and at the beginning of this season. Definitely, Panther Racing is back, and the big three better watch out.”

Marco Andretti - #26 Team Indiana Jones presented by Blockbuster Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished Third
“In hindsight, it’s easy to point out mistakes in the race. I think as a team, we did an awesome job,” said Andretti.

“I think the whole month, the Indiana Jones car was one of the ones to beat the whole month. It was a team decision to do what we did, but we missed. We messed up as a team. We finished third, got good points, let’s move on.”

(Are you referring to decision to trim rear wing on last stop?): “Yeah, copy. That’s the thing: It’s easier said than done afterward. It’s a team decision. If you mess up, you mess up. We got good points. What are you going to do?”

Helio Castroneves - #3 Team Penske Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished Fourth
“Well, fourth place, definitely not what we expected,” said Castroneves.

“We tried everything we could. We had a little issue with the debris. I was trying to avoid a slow car; I slammed on the brakes instead of hitting him.

“I pulled away and a piece of the debris hit my front wing so we had to stop to change that. The team, let me tell you, wow, what a team.

“Unfortunately, overall, it was very difficult to pass. We were just trying to keep gaining spots. Wow, what an incredible team. I am extremely honored to be part of it. Now, let’s think about the championship.

“Scott did an excellent job. (Target Chip Ganassi) seems to be the favorite team right now, but, hey, the championship is still a long way and we’re going to continue working hard.”

Will Power - #8 Aussie Vineyards-Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone – Finished 13th
“It was a good race and I am really happy with the way it went,” said Power.

”Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia kept creeping up the leader board the whole race, but the car was becoming pretty loose at the end. I was able to hang on and finish the race, which was key, but it was mentally draining.

“It was a good result because I was able to get a lot of experience and I am relieved to get have gotten through my first Indy 500.

“It was a good month. I kept getting more and more out of the car, and it’s just good to finish the race in a good position.

“I’m really happy. I’m really happy for the Aussie Vineyards crew and we finished in a good position for us. We moved 10 places up so, and now I’m just exhausted.”

Ryan Briscoe - #6 Team Penske Honda/Dallara/Firestone
(About incident with Danica Patrick): "It's a real shame. I just saw the replay, and it confirmed my thoughts," said Briscoe.

"We were both out there trying to win the Indy 500 today, and when it's time to go, we have to go.

"But from what I can see, there was still plenty of room on the right side for her to get around and there are people pointing fingers, but that's not the way we are.

"We both have a brake pedal in our cars, and from what I can tell, there was still plenty of room for her to get around me.

"I was trying to get around Wheldon, and I was staying in the middle lane. I got ran up in the back, and it's a shame."

Danica Patrick - #7 Motorola Honda/Dallara/Firestone
(On the incident with Ryan Briscoe)"I was going down pit lane, and as people pull out of their pit boxes if you are in the outside lane, then they have to wait to blend in," said Patrick.

"From what I know, it looked like it was pretty obvious what happened. What are you going to do? The guys worked so hard today. We worked so hard on the car all month. Unfortunately, we didn't get to show for it in the end.

"Congrats to (Scott) Dixon. He was strong all month and he deserves it."

(About what she would like to tell Ryan Briscoe): "It is probably best I didn't get down (to Briscoe's pit) anyway, isn't it?" said Patrick.

(About her day): "The unfortunate thing is we worked our butts off all month. We were creeping forward slowly, but surely," said Patrick.

"After the little mishap in the pits early and struggling with the car, but from what I can tell it seemed like it was relatively obvious what happened. You just don't come out of your pit box and swing three lanes out. That's why there is a 'get up to speed' lane and an 'at speed' lane. I was at speed."

(About what she wants to say to Ryan Briscoe): "We will see if he can find me first."

RESULTS: 92ND INDIANAPOLIS 500 AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Results of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 IndyCar Series event May 25 at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out (if any):

1. (1) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
2. (8) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
3. (7) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
4. (4) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
5. (10) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
6. (20) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
7. (9) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
8. (17) Buddy Rice, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
9. (14) Darren Manning, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
10. (12) Townsend Bell, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
11. (25) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
12. (2) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
13. (23) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
14. (18) Davey Hamilton, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
15. (29) Enrique Bernoldi, Dallara-Honda, 200, Running
16. (21) John Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 199, Running
17. (32) Buddy Lazier, Dallara-Honda, 195, Running
18. (28) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 194, Running
19. (27) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 185, Running
20. (15) Bruno Junqueira, Dallara-Honda, 184, Running
21. (31) A.J. Foyt IV, Dallara-Honda, 180, Running
22. (5) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 171, Contact
23. (3) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 171, Contact
24. (11) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 156, Mechanical
25. (19) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 151, Contact
26. (26) E.J. Viso, Dallara-Honda, 139, Mechanical
27. (16) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 132, Contact
28. (24) Jeff Simmons, Dallara-Honda, 112, Contact
29. (6) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 105, Contact
30. (22) Sarah Fisher, Dallara-Honda, 103, Contact
31. (30) Jaime Camara, Dallara-Honda, 79, Contact
32. (33) Marty Roth, Dallara-Honda, 59, Contact
33. (13) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 36, Contact

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