KIWI Dominance; Scott Dixon's second consecutive win makes him the one to watch in the Indy Racing League.

Byline: CURT CAVIN

There were days this season when the Indy Racing League's drivers were chasing Tony Kanaan. Now the chase is different. Now the target is Scott Dixon.

The Australian-born New Zealander won his second consecutive series race at Richmond International Raceway, leading all 206 laps of a rain-shortened event (250 scheduled). Add those laps to the final 84 Dixon led at Pikes Peak and, well, Dixon has been virtually unbeatable. The run of 290 laps led in succession is an IRL record, besting the mark of 269 set by Gil de Ferran last year.

Dixon, 22, completed what should be remembered as one of the most dominating performances in motorsports history. In addition to leading every lap as the pole-sitter, a first for an IRL driver, he was quickest on both days of the test session earlier in the month and topped the speed chart in each of the three practice sessions on race weekend. His qualifying performance was 1.1 mph quicker than No. 2 starter Sarah Fisher, who faded quickly in the race.

Helio Castroneves and de Ferran, who finished second and third respectively, gave lip service to thinking they might have overtaken Dixon, had the rain stayed away. The truth is that thinking was unrealistic. Dixon conserved fuel throughout the race and never really felt the pressure of his Team Penske rivals. In fact, the only time they got a sniff of his gearbox was on a mid-race restart. "I was probably a little cautious on getting the gas,'' he said.

Dixon wasn't cautious the next time, though, and he was gone by the time the green flag waved on the unseasonably crisp night. "My car was so good all weekend,'' Dixon said. "I seem to like the mile circuits and even smaller [tracks], so I really had a good time tonight.''

The victory was Dixon's third of the season and allow-ed him ...