Scott Dixon will start six places down the grid at the upcoming IndyCar race in Toronto after his No. 9 car was penalized for an unapproved engine change. The New Zealand driver is set to use his sixth Honda engine of the 2025 season while five races remain on the calendar, triggering the penalty under IndyCar regulations.
IndyCar enforces strict engine rules to maintain fairness and reliability between manufacturers Chevrolet and Honda. Unlike Formula 1, where only drivers receive grid penalties, this series also impacts engine manufacturers’ championship points if teams exceed the allowed number of engines per season.
According to Article 16.1.2.3.2 of the IndyCar rulebook, any car using a fifth or subsequent engine during the season forfeits the ability to score engine manufacturer points for that event. Since Dixon already utilized his fifth engine in Detroit, his results have not contributed to Honda’s tally for over a month. This latest engine change will result in his second six-position grid penalty of the season for the Toronto race in Canada.
Despite Dixon’s penalty, Honda has dominated the season with 11 victories out of the 12 races held so far, giving the Japanese manufacturer a commanding 208-point lead in the standings.
Strong Performances Keep Dixon Competitive Despite Penalties
Though Scott Dixon’s recent engine change led to a grid penalty and loss of manufacturer points, his race performances remain competitive, benefiting from Honda’s powerful new engines. The six-time IndyCar champion claimed victory at the Mid-Ohio Grand Prix earlier this month, becoming the third different winner this season. He took advantage of a teammate’s mistake to secure the win, showing resilience despite regulatory setbacks.
Dixon continued his strong form at Iowa Speedway, finishing second behind teammate Alex Palou in the second race of that event. Speaking after the race, Dixon praised Honda’s fuel efficiency and race strategy, which played a key role in their performance:
“It was a great day. Ours was a little difficult, we kind of threw the kitchen sink at it to start with. Yesterday, on the high line, we weren’t super happy, so we used it as a bit of a test session to get everything dialed in.”
—Scott Dixon, IndyCar driver
“Today, of course with Honda and HRC, the fuel mileage was crazy good and we could dictate what we wanted to do with strategy. It’s always nice to have those options in your back pocket. It worked out well for us! Congrats to Alex and congrats to Honda!”
—Scott Dixon, IndyCar driver
Implications for Manufacturers Championship and Season Outlook
Honda’s dominance in race wins and points has positioned them well to challenge Chevrolet’s three-year reign as IndyCar’s top engine manufacturer. Despite Dixon’s grid penalty and inability to add points from his recent engine changes, Honda’s lead of 208 points provides a significant advantage heading into the final five races of the season.
Dixon’s continued strong finishes, combined with his teammate Alex Palou’s consistency, may help Honda maintain this momentum. The Toronto race grid penalty highlights the tension between drivers’ engine usage strategies and the regulations aimed at balancing competition between manufacturers.
As the season progresses, Dixon’s efforts and Honda’s performance will be closely watched for their impact on the championship outcome and the balance of power between the two engine suppliers in America’s premier open-wheel racing series.
