NO ASTERISK; Scott Dixon scores a Watkins Glen hat trick.(Competition)

Byline: PETE LYONS

Modern Indy cars have raced only three times at historic Watkins Glen, and Scott Dixon has won all three races-always by beating Helio Castroneves.

But unlike his two other victories, when rain played a role, Dixon pulled this one out on pure, blinding, dry-road speed. Castroneves started from pole-just as in the previous two years-and led the first third of the race, but Dixon reckoned he'd be able to pass "sooner or later.'' He wasn't going to need the Penske driver to do anything silly, such as crashing right in front of him.

Of course, Castroneves didn't need that, either. Until maybe half a second before he lost control, he probably thought he finally owned this superb track.

Fast, flowing and fun when you get it right-that's how drivers often describe Watkins Glen's rising, falling, sweeping 3.37-mile full circuit. For Castroneves, it goes beyond just liking this tricky road course.

"I love it!'' he said. "The corners are so wide and fast, and to make a time, you have to use the whole track. It's pretty fun.

"[But] because it's so long, like Elkhart Lake, if you mess up one corner, instead of one-tenth that you lose, it's about three- or four-tenths. It's difficult to put so many corners together-racing drivers have short memories!''