Simon Pagenaud

The 2016 Indianapolis 500 champion dominated the second half of the Gallagher Grand Prix to snap a 49-year winless drought and score his eighth IndyCar career victory.

The 22-year-old Herta from Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, led three times for a race-high 50 of 75 laps to claim his first IndyCar victory of the season at Indy's road course amid slick conditions,

Using strategy, Simon Pagenaud ended a year-long drought Friday night at Iowa Speedway to earn his first-ever track win at Iowa Speedway.

In what was a thrilling final 10 laps at IndyCar's virtual return at Twin Ring Motegi, last week's Michigan winner Simon Pagenaud, held off a hard charging Scott Dixon for his second consecutive IndyCar challenge win.

Not too far off from Josef Newgarden were championship hopefuls, Scott Dixon and Simon Pagenaud. Pagenaud came into the final race of the season, third in the standings just 42 points back looking for the second championship of his career.

INDIANAPOLIS -- All the talk about Simon Pagenaud entering the Month of May was his slow start to the season and that he'd be out of his ride at Team Penske if things didn't turn around. After sweeping the Month of May, he's now the points leader.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Alexander Rossi was asked what made the difference in the end that cost him in his duel with Simon Pagenaud in the closing laps of the 103rd Indianapolis 500.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Simon Pagenaud demonstrated the results of the testing in the rain from his sportscar days, as he went from fifth to first in the final 17 laps on the Grand Prix course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Scott Dixon scored his third win at Texas Motor Speedway when he won the DXC 600, his second win of 2018 and second win in three races. Dixon held off Simon Pagenaud in second, Alexander Rossi in third, James Hinchcliffe in fourth and Ryan Hunter-Reay rounded out the top-five.

Change. Sometimes change is good, like when you win a few million dollars. That is good. You get married to your sweetheart. Good. Your children start arriving. If you are a mature adult, and not some self-serving narcissist, that is very good. New talented drivers emerge on the scene. That is also a good thing.