Scott Dixon’s team-mates and management have heaped praise on the Kiwi driver as they prepare to switch their focus to the IndyCar season after claiming the Daytona 24-hour race.
Dixon anchored the Chip Ganassi Ford to a nailbiting win in the endurance classic at Daytona, claiming his second crown there.
Now he returns to the single-seater open cockpit IndyCar, looking to get the vehicle’s set-up right for the season-opener in Brazil on March 8.
Dixon’s Brazilian team mate Tony Kanan was one of four drivers to share the ride at Daytona along with Jamie McMurry and Kyle Larson and marvelled at the New Zealander’s abilities behind the wheel.
Dixon had the most hours in the driver’s seat and was there for the nervous run to the chequered flag.
“I have been beaten by Scott for a very long time,” Kanan told crash.net of their IndyCar rivalry that now sees them racing under the same team banner for a second year.
“I think he’s a very, very smart and compete race car driver. Still after all of these years I have the chance to be his team-mate, I’m still learning. We’ll both wake up in the morning thinking, oh man, I’ve got to beat him, he’s got to beat me.
“I think his strength I would say is he can adapt to anything. It’s unbelievable how he can make a car still be fast and I think that’s something that I try to learn with him every time I watch him, and it’s just by watching him.
“I think he’s been on this team for a long time because deserves to be. That’s how you see when you put him in the car towards the end. We knew he was going to get the job done. Hopefully I’ll learn some of those skills and add to mine and try to give him a run for his money this year in the IndyCar Series.”
Dixon has raced with Chip Ganassi Racing since his debut in 2003. A three-time IndyCar Series champion and Indy 500 winner, Dixon has finished no lower than third overall in each of the last eight seasons. Still only 34, he has 35 IndyCar wins to his name – the most among active drivers – and is tied with the great Bobby Unser for fifth place in the history of the championship.
Ganassi team manager Mike Hull has been with Dixon for his entire IndyCar and sports car career, and emphasised the Kiwi driver’s value was hugely appreciated by the organisation.
“He’s one of those people that have enormous ability, has terrific passion, wants to make himself better every day,” Hull said.
“He’s not complacent with where he is presently. I’ll guarantee you, he’ll come back here to race again, and he’ll want to improve himself over where he just finished.
“He’s very direct with what he wants with his race car, and then he’s unselfish. He gives back. The younger drivers have a great mentor in Scott Dixon.”
