Scott Dixon used a steady Sunday drive for a cool second-placed finish that earned him a fifth IndyCar championship with ease.
Australia's Will Power finished third in the race won by Ryan Hunter-Reay to also come third in the overall standings.
Dixon needed an uneventful finale at Sonoma Raceway to lock up the title and got it on the opening lap of the race.
Alexander Rossi, his closest title challenger, made contact with teammate Marco Andretti seconds after the start and broke his front wing.
Rossi had to pit for a new part, dropped to last in the field, and the championship was decided.
Dixon held a 29-point lead over Rossi at the start of the day, and even though the race was worth double points, Rossi needed to be perfect to catch "The Iceman."
Dixon finished second, the same place he started, behind winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. His fifth title moves him into second in IndyCar history, two behind A.J. Foyt.
"You always doubt these situations and think they are never going to happen," Dixon said. "It's all about the people and I'm the lucky one that gets to take it across the line," Dixon said.
"We had a lot of grit. Rossi did a hell of a job, he's been pushing so hard this year and he's going to be a star."
The 38-year-old New Zealander also won titles in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2015, all with Chip Ganassi Racing.
"What an incredible ride it's been with this guy," said Ganassi, who has 12 IndyCar titles as a team owner.
Dixon's final points margin was 57 points over Rossi, who rallied to finish seventh. Rossi ended his third season in IndyCar second in the standings.
"It was going to be a tough day to beat Scott anyway," Rossi said. "It's unfortunate to go out like that. I wish I could replay that a million more times."
Hunter-Reay won for the 18th time of his career and the first this season.
"To end this way is unreal," said Hunter-Reay, who dedicated the win to injured IndyCar driver Robert Wickens.
Hunter-Reay also praised Dixon as the greatest driver of this IndyCar generation.
"To share the track with him is awesome and to beat him is, too," Hunter-Reay said.
Power and Simon Pagenaud finished third and fourth for Team Penske, which picked up its 500th organisational win earlier Sunday when Brad Keselowski won NASCAR's opening playoff race in Las Vegas.
Roger Penske watched those closing laps from atop Power's timing stand as the end of NASCAR overlapped the start of IndyCar.
Power's finish gave the Indianapolis 500 winner third in the championship standings.
Share
