Dixon wins 2008 IndyCar season opener

HOMESTEAD, Fla., March 29 (UPI) -- Scott Dixon won the 2008 IndyCar season opener Saturday, taking the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Dixon was more than a second back in second place when a backmarker spun in front of leader Tony Kanaan, taking him out of the race. Dixon took the lead and finished 0.5828 seconds ahead of Marco Andretti for the 10th victory of his IndyCar career.

With eight laps to go and a huge lead, Kanaan was involved in an Ernesto Viso spin. He wound up driving on three wheels. He was still leading the race until it went back to green.

Had the race ended still yellow, Kanaan could have still gotten the win.

When race went back to green on lap 197. Dixon inherited the lead with Andretti and Dan Wheldon just behind.

At the mid-point of the 200-lap event, Andretti held a 1.8109-second lead on Dixon. Wheldon was third more than five second behind.