Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin have completed a Kiwi one-two finish at IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix, taking first and second in Nashville.
In a race delayed by lightning and disrupted by safety cars, the Kiwi pair pounced late to seize the first two places on the grid, and didn't relent.
One last safety car gave McLaughlin the chance to overtake Dixon on the final lap, but the six-time champion showed all of his experience to hold off his younger counterpart and take the chequered flag.
After starting 14th on the grid, Dixon's win moves him into second in the IndyCar drivers championship, sitting six points behind leader Will Power, with three races left in the season.
Monday's (NZ time) is the second time Dixon and McLaughlin have finished first and second on the grid respectively, after doing the same at the Genesys 300 at Fort Worth Texas in May 2021.
The win is Dixon's second of the season, and moves the 42-year-old into outright second on the list of IndyCar's most prolific winners with 53 victories, ahead of the legendary Mario Andretti, who has 52.
Only AJ Foyt has won more races than the Kiwi, with 67.
"I was real worried about him," Dixon said of McLaughlin. "I knew he'd take charge, he kind of has to with the standings at the moment.
"He was super fast as well, and had fresh tyres too, I was a bit of a sitting duck. I think if there was a lap or two more, it would have been really tough to do.
"Congrats to him on a great weekend - hopefully that was great for us for points."
McLaughlin will lament second place, after he started from the front of the grid courtesy of taking pole position on Saturday.
"I just fell short at the end," McLaughlin said. "Congrats to Scotty.
"It's always a dream racing him to the finish. We sort of had that in Texas last year, but that was a proper duel.
"I had a lot of fun, that's why I came IndyCar racing, this is the best race in the world.
"I hate coming second, but it is what it is. I learned a lot today, and we'll focus and get better.
"I'm really proud of everyone, proud of myself, proud of my team, proud of everyone.
"We rebounded, came here with a car that was fast enough to challenge for a race win and got a pole.
"It's a great weekend, great points weekend and we'll just keep pushing for the last three races of the year."
While Dixon leads the championship, McLaughlin is sixth heading into the last three races, 58 points behind Power at the top of the standings.
