Kiwi Scott Dixon has taken his first victory of the 2021 IndyCar season, with compatriot Scott McLaughlin breathing down his neck in the Genesys 300 at Fort Worth, Texas.
With qualifying abandoned due to rain, Dixon started from third on the grid, as championship leader Alex Palou had pole position.
But the reigning IndyCar champion took just three laps to pass his Chip Ganassi teammate and didn't relent to take victory in Texas for the fifth time in his decorated career - and his 51st win overall, level with legend Marco Andretti.
The victory also means that Dixon has won at least one race every year for the past 19 seasons.
"It was a bit of a crazy night for us," Dixon said afterwards. "It was kind of cool to be racing a countryman for the last few laps... he [McLaughlin] was fast."
IndyCar rookie and reigning Aussie V8 Supercars champion McLaughlin started 15th on the grid, and slowly, but surely made his way through the field.
Racing on an oval track for the first time in his rookie season, Team Penske's McLaughlin pulled off a series of composed passes and found himself second only to compatriot Dixon, after Felix Rosenqvist stopped in the pits under a safety car.
"I've never been this bloody happy with second," McLaughlin said. "I just couldn't quite get Scotty at the end there.
"It was bloody cool to battle with my all-time favourite hero in Scotty Dixon. Two Kiwis one and two is fantastic.
"P2's good and we'll get a win some day."
Mexico's Pato O'Ward finished third, while Palou was unlucky to miss the podium in fourth.
Dixon's victory sees him leapfrog Palou and Australian Will Power to lead the IndyCar championship standings, 18 points clear of second place.
McLaughlin meanwhile moves from 15th to seventh, and is 43 points behind his Kiwi compatriot.
The drivers will be back in action again tomorrow, with the second race of the weekend's doubleheader on the same track.
