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Dixon Trying To Maintain Pace For Series Title

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 20, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ohio - Everything is right on schedule for Scott Dixon - for now.

He heads into today's Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with a series-leading four wins and the IndyCar Series points lead.

That's a step up from last year, when the New Zealander left Mid-Ohio with three straight victories, but still trailed eventual champion Dario Franchitti by 24 points. Eventually, though, Dixon caught and passed Franchitti, only to see him win the title when Dixon ran out of fuel while leading half a lap from the end of the season finale at Chicagoland Speedway.

Dixon acknowledges that disappointment is never far from his mind as he chases his second series championship and first since 2003.

Still, with six races remaining on the 2008 schedule and a 63-point lead over Mid-Ohio pole-winner Helio Castroneves, Dixon said it's too early to be thinking about points.

"I think for us, you still go out and try to win races," he said Saturday after qualifying sixth.

Saturday was Penske Racing's day, with Castroneves, still seeking his first IndyCar title, and new teammate Ryan Briscoe taking the top two spots in qualifying.

TRUCKS: Kyle Busch fell five spots short in his bid to make history and Johnny Benson took advantage, winning the Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Busch was trying to become the first driver to win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series in successive starts.

FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton edged Felipe Massa on the final lap to take the pole for the German Grand Prix.

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Dixon Trying To Maintain Pace For Series Title