Dixon leads the charge on Day 1 of Indy 500 test

Scott Dixon set the pace on Day 1 of the Indianapolis 500 Open Test, with the Kiwi clocking a best lap of 225.182 mph in the final hour of the session to top the speed charts.

Despite being a six-time IndyCar champion, Dixon has just one Indianapolis 500 win to his name – a triumph that dates back to 2008. Now 44, he’s off to a promising start as he looks to bolster his legacy at the Brickyard next month.

Dixon snatched the top spot from Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, the back-to-back Indy 500 winner in 2023 and 2024.

"It's testing – just trying to get through the test list, lots of changes,” commented Dixon at the end of the day. “We didn't do the October test, so first time with the hybrid here, which definitely adds some elements to it and makes it pretty interesting.

“I think it is going to determine a lot race-wise, maybe even for the shootout at the end. I think it could determine that.

“So, trying to clarify a lot of those situations to make sure that you're covered muscle memory-wise and memory-wise. It comes down to that. So even in qualifying, I think it be a few different strategies of how to get that right.”