CAPTION: New Zealand’s Scott Dixon says he was able to win the Honda Toronto Indy after defending champion Josef Newgarden hit a wall.

Robert Wickens from Guelph, Ontario placed third in Sunday’s race. (July 16, 2018) 1.

SOUNDBITE: Scott Dixon, IndyCar driver 2.

SOUNDBITE: Robert Wickens, IndyCar driver PLACELINE: Toronto CREDIT: The Canadian Press STORYLINE: It was shaping up to be defending champion Josef Newgarden's day.

The two-time winner at the Honda Toronto Indy had a third title in his sights Sunday, but on Turn 11 of lap 33, the American hit the wall, allowing Scott Dixon to overtake him for the lead and complete the feat instead. ``When I saw it _ the seas were parting _ away we went, which for us, especially for the championship, he's our closest competitor right now,'' said Dixon. ``That's where our race was won today, was through the bad luck or bad situation that Josef had,'' he added Dixon of New Zealand finished the 85-lap course on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place first, with Simon Pagenaud of France in second and Robert Wickens, from Guelph, Ont., taking part in his first race on Canadian soil in more than a decade, in third.

The victory put the 37-year-old Dixon in some elite company.

Three-time winners in Toronto included Australia's Will Power, Scotland's Dario Franchitti and American Michael Andretti, who holds the record for the most victories at seven.

It also stretched his lead in the points standings over Newgarden to 62 points from 33.

They both have three wins this season.

Pagenaud and Wickens admitted it might be tough to stop Dixon from clinching the championship, heading into Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio where he has won five times in two weeks. ``Too many, yeah,'' said Pagenaud,