2018 Phoenix Grand Prix: Our takeaways

The Verizon IndyCar Series had a wild night in Phoenix that ended with a Team Penske victory. Here’s what we learned from the 2018 Phoenix Grand Prix.

When the Verizon IndyCar Series descended on ISM Raceway on Saturday night, things did definitely not go as planned. So what can IndyCar fans take away from this year’s Phoenix Grand Prix?

Saturday’s second race of the 2018 IndyCar season started with frontrunners running into big trouble, literally, on pit lane. From the chaos emerged the reliable contenders of the series, like 2017 IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden, who drove himself to victory after making the tough call to pit under the race’s final caution.

Here’s what we learned from the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino Phoenix Grand Prix:

1. Don’t hit things on pit lane

Mistakes on pit lane changed this race. Sebastien Bourdais was running up front before hitting a crew member, costing him 12 spots and then even more after a drive-through penalty. The same happened to Alexander Rossi, who had a podium in his sights before the flub and had to floor it in the final third of the race to get it back.

And rookie Matheus Leist ran over his own equipment on a stop (then had a tire roll off on another). One could argue the biggest moves of the Phoenix Grand Prix didn’t happen on the track. At least the crew members on Bourdais’ and Rossi’s teams weren’t hit hard and were okay.

2. Josef Newgarden is a gamer

Josef Newgarden’s third oval victory came out of sheer determination. The defending champ had to fight hard to get around an impressive Robert Wickens, and it took more than just good tires to make that happen. Anyone who’s watched Newgarden race since he joined IndyCar with the now defunct Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing knows how sharp and how tough he is, and he proved it one more time in Phoenix.

By the way, this victory also means that Josef Newgarden is your new 2018 championship leader, so could he defend the 1 after all? We wouldn’t bet against him.

3. Never, ever, ever give up on Scott Dixon

Rossi was getting a ton of praise for hustling his way from being a lap down to on the podium, and he deserved every word of it. But can we also draw your attention to four-time title winner Scott Dixon? Dixon had a shockingly average qualifying on Saturday, and as such had to start in the middle of the field. It was obvious that he did not have the car that the likes of Bourdais, Wickens and Rossi did.

But the New Zealander isn’t a four-time champion for nothing. Dixon did what Dixon does, which is keep calm and just steadily drive through the field, turning what should have been a disappointing night at the office into a Top 5 finish. This is why they call him “The Iceman.” He’s as consistent as can be, even under adverse circumstances. The 2018 IndyCar season has barely started, and he’s already showing he’s still the class of the field.

Next: Complete Phoenix Grand Prix results

The next Verizon IndyCar Series race is the 2018 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 15. For complete IndyCar coverage, follow the Motor Sports category at FanSided.