Dixon dominates in Kansas IndyCar win

New Zealand's Scott Dixon seized the lead early and never gave his rivals a look-in Saturday as he earned his second straight IndyCar Series victory at the Kansas Speedway oval.

Dixon led the final 150 laps of the 200-lap race on the 1.5-mile oval, the first race of the season on an oval and the series' last race before the fabled Indianapolis 500.

Scotland's Dario Franchitti was second more than three seconds back, and Brazilian Tony Kanaan was third.

Brazilian Helio Castroneves was fourth and Ryan Hunter-Reay fifth, while Briscoe settled for sixth.

The victory gives Dixon the early lead in IndyCar's new oval championship and makes him the early favorite for the Indy 500, which he won in 2008.

He became the second straight repeat winner at Kansas as he gave the Target Chip Ganassi team four straight victories here after Dan Wheldon won for them in 2007-08.

Dixon had made a strong start to the season but hadn't been able to get a win in the first five events.

Starting on the front row, he passed pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe on the 33rd lap.

With the Indy 500 looming, a record 27 cars were in the field at Kansas. Despite a crowded field that included several oval newcomers, there were no major mishaps.

Australian Will Power, winner of two of the four previous races this season, retained his lead in the standings with 190 points, finishing 12th two laps behind the winner. Dixon is second in the standings on 164.