Scott Dixon delivered another masterclass in fuel strategy and race management at the Acura Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday. The six-time IndyCar champion nursed his car’s fuel load over the final 34 laps to claim an improbable victory on the iconic street circuit.

Dixon started eighth but made an early pit stop that put him on an alternate strategy from the leaders. As others pitted for a conventional two-stop race, Dixon and a handful of drivers tried to make it to the finish on just one more stop by saving fuel at every opportunity.

It looked to be an impossible task as Josef Newgarden appeared in control up front on a more straightforward strategy. But Dixon used all his veteran savvy, short-shifting, lifting early in corners, and taking judicious advantage of push-to-pass to eke out every last drop from his fuel tank.

When Colton Herta made contact with Newgarden while trying an ambitious pass for second on lap 77, it cleared the way for Dixon to manage the closing laps without intense pressure from behind. Despite Herta closing to within three tenths of a second, Dixon had just enough fuel for a late burst of push-to-pass to secure his 57th career IndyCar win.

“That was tough, that was really tough,” said Dixon. “Honestly, I didn’t think we were going to make it…Luckily, we were on the safe side there.”

It was the latest exhibition of Dixon’s mastery at stretching fuel distances, adding to similar heroic fuel-saving wins in recent years at Indianapolis and World Wide Technology Raceway. At the age of 42, the New Zealander continues rewriting the limits of what’s possible through a rare combination of racecraft and engineering feel.

While some attempts at outlandish fuel strategies end in disappointment, Dixon makes beating the odds look routine. His Long Beach triumph was yet another reminder of his place among the greatest drivers in motorsports history.