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Kohler GP IndyCar Notes

A tight field heads into turn three at the start of the Kohler Grand Prix at Road America. [Andy Clary Photo]

A tight field heads into turn three at the start of the Kohler Grand Prix at Road America. [Andy Clary Photo]

by Paul Gohde

Winner Dixon’s Ganassi Racing Honda crew solved his pre-race fuel cell issues, but he was quick to give the crew credit for the fix by admitting: “I didn’t fix it.”…Third-place finisher Helio Castroneves was unavailable to the press after the race because he was being treated for dehydration and wasn’t feeling well…Mikhail Aleshin didn’t need a visa to get into Road America Saturday morning, but after spending extended time in Europe Thursday and Friday due to immigration problems, and having his Indy car practiced by another driver, the deprived-of-sleep Russian managed an amazing tenth-place finish Sunday after starting 19th…Dixon seemed truly appreciative of the reception he was accorded by the large crowd while cruising around on his cool-down lap. “What an amazing crowd. They seemed really engaged and I could see them waving and clapping as I made my way around. Great place and great race.” … The “kink” on the backstretch saw some action when Alexander Rossi seemed to block Tony Kanaan sending TK for a ride into the barrier. “He blocked me and put me in the grass. My wrist and leg hurt a little.” 2016 Indy winner Rossi also had a number of close calls while holding off other overtaking car. Takuma Sato also spun after contact while approaching the kink earlier in the race…Though he was recovering from a Texas Speedway racing injury last season when he raced at RA, Josef Newgarden didn’t feel any different competing here Sunday than he did then. “There really wasn’t that much difference here today than last year when I had a broken collarbone. It was more of a distraction then and not a physical issue.” …On lap 17 IndyCar control told Will Power to give back a position to Simon Pagenaud that he had gained due to blocking…The race produced seven lead changes among four drivers with Dixon at the front for 24 laps…The win for Chip Ganassi Racing was the team’s 101st in Indy car competition.

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