HOMESTEAD (Miami), March 30: New Zealand’s Scott Dixon, who just missed out on the IndyCar series crown last season, made a statement on Saturday as he snatched a victory in the 2008 opener at Homestead raceway.

Brazil’s Tony Kanaan appeared poised for victory before Ernesto Viso crashed.

As Viso’s car was sliding down the track it clipped the Dallara of Kanaan, who was trying to avoid the crashed car with six laps to go.

Kanaan was able to stay in front under caution, but his left front suspension had collapsed.

When the green flag waved to lift the caution, the Brazilian had to drop to the low side of the track, and Dixon zipped past into the lead.

Dixon claimed his second victory at Homestead, where he won his first ever IndyCar start in 2003.

Kanaan settled for eighth.

Dixon defeated Marco Andretti by 0.5828-seconds. England’s Dan Wheldon, Dixon’s teammate, was third followed by Brazilian Helio Castroneves.

The top four cars were all on the lead lap. Fifth place went to Ed Carpenter, who was one lap down.

The race marked the start of a new era in US open-wheel racing, after the unification of IndyCar and rival series Champ Car.

Leading results:

1. Scott Dixon (New Zealand) 200 laps completed in 1h 44min 03sec (average speed: 171.248 mph); 2. Marco Andretti (US) at 0.582 sec; 3. Dan Wheldon (Britain) same lap; 4. Helio Castroneves (Brazil) same lap; 5. Ed Carpenter (US) at 1 lap; 6. Danica Patrick (US) 1 lap; 7. Ryan Hunter-Reay (US) 1 lap; 8. Tony Kanaan (Brazil) 2 laps; 9. A.J. Foyt IV (US) 2 laps; 10. Vitor Meira (Brazil) 3 laps.—AFP