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Recap: Scott Dixon milks fuel to edge Colton Herta in IndyCar race at Long Beach

The IndyCar Series is going to be busy the next couple of months, and it starts today by racing on the streets of Long Beach, California. The event lasts 85 laps on an 11-turn, 1.968-mile course. Felix Rosenqvist won pole position.

Kyle Kirkwood earned his first IndyCar victory in last year's race. Nathan Brown is your best IndyCar follow. Please remember to refresh.

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Checkered flag: Scott Dixon wins IndyCar at Long Beach

Scott Dixon extends his fuel after his final pit stop on Lap 51, holding off Colton Herta by less than 1 second. Alex Palou takes third and Josef Newgarden fourth.

That's IndyCar win No. 57 for Dixon, second only to A.J. Foyt's 67.

"That was real tough. I didn't think we were going to make it" on fuel, Dixon said on the USA broadcast by the podium. "The stress level was high. Those guys were coming fast and strong."

Herta acknowledged he came into a corner too hot and hit Newgarden on Lap 77, causing Newgarden to momentarily stall on track and costing him two places. They two chatted amicably after the race, but Newgarden acknowledged frustration with Herta.

Newgarden remains atop the IndyCar points standings (87), 12 ahead of Dixon and 15 up on Herta.

Lap 77: Colton Herta hits Josef Newgarden

Josef Newgarden momentarily stalls, and Colton Herta and Alex Palou pass Newgarden. Scott Dixon's lead inches up to 1.5 seconds.

Lap 75: IndyCar at Long Beach tightens

Scott Dixon leads Josef Newgarden by about one-half second. Colton Herta and Alex Palou are within 3 seconds of the lead. They are approaching the backmarkers of the field.

Lap 70: Josef Newgarden closes in on Scott Dixon

Newgarden is within 1 second of Scott Dixon, who must save fuel. Colton Herta is 5 seconds behind the leaders, with Alex Palou another 1 second back.

Lap 63: Are all the pit stops done?

Here's the race order after Colton Herta and Alex Palou pit: Scott Dixon is up 5+ seconds on Josef Newgarden, then Herta, Will Power, Palou, Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson. Will Dixon, Power and Kirkwood have to pit before the finish?

Lap 60: How fuel strategies compare

Josef Newgarden pits on Lap 59, giving Colton Herta the lead. Newgarden leads the pits in fifth, ahead of teammate Will Power, who is on the other pit strategy.

Top 5: Herta, Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden.

Lap 55: Josef Newgarden leads in Long Beach

Josef Newgarden leads, followed by Colton Herta by 3+ seconds and Alex Palou by another 2 seconds. These drivers pitted around Lap 30, and will have to stop once more.

Will Power and Scott Dixon pit at the end of Lap 51, and Kyle Kirkwood at the end of Lap 52. The rejoin the field in 10th-12th positions.

Lap 51: Graham Rahal has pit stop issue

Rahal's fueler has an issue on a pit stop, costing him several seconds.

Lap 50: How long can leaders stretch fuel?

The leaders, who last pitted on Lap 17, are trying to stretch their current fuel load so they can pit just once more before the end. Scott Dixon leads Will Power by 7+ seconds. Kyle Kirkwood is another 3 seconds back, then come Scott McLaughlin and Graham Rahal.

Among those who pitted around Lap 30, Josef Newgarden is in sixth place.

Lap 40: Scott Dixon expands his lead

Dixon leads Will Power by 5+ seconds and Kyle Kirkwood remains in third place.

Lap 35: Scott Dixon leads at Long Beach

Scott Dixon is first, Will Power second and Kyle Kirkwood third. All pitted on Lap 17.

Colton Herta is the last car to pit, on the end of Lap 32. Alex Palou did so on Lap 31, and Josef Newgarden and Marcus Ericsson on Lap 30.

Check out Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson dueling.

Lap 30: Josef Newgarden remains on track

Newgarden holds a 2+ second lead on Marcus Ericsson. Colton Herta is third and Alex Palou fourth. None has pitted.

Lap 20: Differing pit stop strategies

Will Power comes to the pits after the caution flies, and comes out in 12th place. Josef Newgarden stays on track and assumes the lead.

Christian Lundgaard and Kyle Kirkwood touch while exiting pit lane. Neither appears to sustain damage. Lundgaard is penalized for an unsafe release and must relinquish five places on track.

Lap 15: Christian Rasmussen hits a wall

Jack Harvey is caught in the aftermath. The first caution of the day.

Lap 10: Will Power is in control

Power is up 5+ seconds on Penske teammate Josef Newgarden. Marcus Ericsson is third, followed by Colton Herta, Alex Palou and Felix Rosenqvist.

Pato O'Ward is assessed a drive-through penalty for his contact with Alexander Rossi. Fill-in Theo Pourchaire leads the Arrow McLaren contingent in 18th place.

Lap 5: Felix Rosenqvist loses more spots

Josef Newgarden moves into second and Marcus Ericsson third. Alexander Rossi heads to the pits on Lap 3 after contact with Arrow McLaren teammate Pato O'Ward. Tom Blomqvist is also involved.

Lap 1: Will Power overtakes Felix Rosenqvist

The pole-sitter can't hold off the No. 2 starter in Turn 1.

IndyCar starting lineup at Long Beach

  1. Felix Rosenqvist

  2. Will Power

  3. Josef Newgarden

  4. Colton Herta

  5. Marcus Ericsson

  6. Alex Palou

  7. Christian Lundgaard

  8. Scott Dixon

  9. Marcus Armstrong

  10. Kyle Kirkwood

  11. Scott McLaughlin

  12. Graham Rahal

  13. Alexander Rossi

  14. Pato O'Ward

  15. Tom Blomqvist

  16. Romain Grosjean

  17. Linus Lundqvist

  18. Rinus VeeKay

  19. Pietro Fittipaldi

  20. Agustin Canapino

  21. Chrisn Rasmussen

  22. Theo Pourchaire

  23. Jack Harvey

  24. Santino Ferrucci

  25. Stin Ray Robb

  26. Kyffin Simpson

  27. Nolan Siegel

When is the IndyCar race this weekend?

Green flag is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, April 21, 2024, on the streets of Long Beach, California.

What channel is the IndyCar race on?

TV: USA

Radio: IndyCar Radio

Streaming: Peacock, SiriusXM Channel 218

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2024 IndyCar schedule

(Listed times are for TV coverage)

Date, time

Location

TV/winner

March 10

St. Petersburg, Fla.%

Josef Newgarden

March 24

Thermal, Calif.*#

Alex Palou

April 21

Long Beach, Calif.%

USA

April 28, 1 p.m.

Leeds, Ala.#

NBC

May 11, 3 p.m.

Indianapolis#

NBC

May 26, 11 a.m.

Indianapolis@

NBC

June 2, noon

Detroit%

USA

June 9, 3:30 p.m.

Elkhart Lake, Wis.#

NBC

June 23, 6 p.m.

Monterey, Calif.#

USA

July 7, 1:30 p.m.

Lexington, Ohio#

NBC

July 13, 8 p.m.

Newton, Iowa@

NBC

July 14, noon

Newton, Iowa@

NBC

July 21, 1 p.m.

Toronto%

Peacock

Aug. 17, 6 p.m.

Gateway, Ill.@

USA

Aug. 25, 3 p.m.

Portland#

USA

Aug. 31, 6 p.m.

Milwaukee@

Peacock

Sept. 1, 2:30 p.m.

Milwaukee@

USA

Sept. 15, 3 p.m.

Nashville@

NBC

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Scott Dixon milks fuel to edge Colton Herta in IndyCar at Long Beach