New Zealand driver Scott Dixon has had to settle for third in the IndyCar series after young American driver Jospeh Newgarden finished second at Sonoma to take his first IndyCar championship.
Scott Dixon Photo: Photosport
France's Simon Pagenaud took the chequered flag in the final race of the series at Sonoma, California finishing just over a second ahead of Newgarden.
Dixon was 12 seconds back in fourth position behind Australian Will Power.
Dixon, who went into the race in second place on the points table chasing Newgarden, needed to win at Sonoma to steal the 2017 championship from the 26-year-old American.
But while he managed to climb two places off his starting grid position, he struggled to threaten the frontrunners during the 85 lap race.
He ended the season on 620 points, nine points behind the runner up Pagenaud and 22 points adrift of Newgarden.
Scott Dixon survives a spectacular crash at the Indianapolois 500. Photo: Screenshot / ABC
Dixon said it was a season of lost chances.
"We had good speed - we should have have won quite a few races and didn't and we crashed out of a few as well and those are all valuable points."
"You can look back and blame it on ten different things but all in all not a bad season, I think we learnt alot as a team and definitely with this package I think we gave them a pretty good run for their money."
