Scott Dixon Continues Two Record Streaks
Photo by James Black/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
With his win in Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Scott Dixon continues to build on two impressive streaks in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The Kiwi has scored at least one win in 21 consecutive seasons dating back to 2005 and has recorded a victory in 23 seasons in his brilliant career.
Despite the records the driver of the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing continues to extend, Dixon isn’t one to sit back and reflect on what he has accomplished.
“Yeah, I don't look at it too much, honestly. Each race I go to, I'm there to win. This year has been super frustrating for us, for all of us on the 9 car. Anytime we could have something roll our way, it just hasn't.
“We've had a load of mechanicals. It's been extremely frustrating. Indy, I think, was one of the best 500 cars I've had and it was over before it even started.
“This is big for team morale and for everybody involved. We know we can win, just hopefully we can get on a roll here.”
Photo by Matt Fraser/Penske Entertainment
Sunday’s win, his seventh career victory at Mid-Ohio, was vintage Dixon with the cagey veteran employing a two-stop gamble versus teammate Alex Palou’s three-stop strategy.
“Yeah, as soon as I saw the caution at the start, which we had been talking about, I was like, man, the two-stop is on. We worked pretty hard in the warmup on fuel mileage and making sure we got the car balance kind of where we needed it.
“First stint was pretty easy. Second stint we actually got into a bit of trouble on the soft tires with the left front. I don't know if it was that tire, but 10 laps in I could see it starting to come apart, and I knew that we were kind of locked in on the two-stopper so that was going to be pretty difficult, so we pushed and kind of used the average on the black tires and used them a little bit more once we got to the final stop.
“The final stop actually they didn't take any of the front wing out, so it was so loose for that last stint. I was just really looking at the corner and the car would turn itself, which, one, is really physical, but two, it's really hard to push extremely hard because you start to lock rears, especially into 4 and into 2 and also into 9 where ultimately that got Alex.
“We were hoping that we were going to clear him, but obviously they were super fast today and pushing really hard on the three-stopper. Maybe earlier on in the stint I should have pushed a little bit harder, but just wasn't sure what was going to happen with that left front on the reds.
“He made the mistake, so kudos for us and the team, everybody on the No. 9, everybody at HRC to get the mileage we had today.
“Yeah, good finish, but I can't thank the team enough. Everybody on the crew, the pit stops were fantastic and ultimately the strategy worked out well.”
When Dixon saw that it was Palou that had gone off track at Turn 9, what went through his mind at that moment?
“Well, on the approach to 9, I saw the dust and I was like, oh, maybe that's a lap car or something because there's been some times in these sessions where the dust has actually been lingering in the air. You come through 1, there's a load of dust and then you don't even see the car that's in front.
“I didn't know if it was him, and then obviously I see it's a black car. He's had multiple colors this year, so it's always hard to figure out, and I saw that he was kind of struggling to get going.
“Hate to say it, but pleasantly surprised when I saw that he was rejoining the track.”
Photo by James Black/Penske Entertainment
If not for Palou proving he’s human after all, Dixon admits it would’ve been tough to catch his teammate for the win.
“He had better tires, more fuel. It was going to be a tough situation. That's where I was kind of shocked that he didn't pull away like I thought he would have. I thought he would have been probably a second a lap quicker just because of the scenario that we were in with the heavy save, and I don't know, what did he pit, maybe 10 laps to go or eight laps to go. We had to run 30 laps on a set of tires.
“He was definitely in a pretty good situation, and unfortunately for him, it didn't work out the way that he wanted.”
Dixon’s career win total now stands at 59, just eight short of the all-time mark set by the legendary A.J. Foyt. Is Foyt’s record attainable?
“Well, if you have a season like Alex is having, sure, we would be almost there,” Dixon remarked. “I don't know. We'll keep knocking on the door. Some years are tougher than others, and some years things kind of just roll your way and you keep -- wins just come a little easier.
“We'll see, man. We'll see where it ends up, and obviously stats, like I've said many a times, are something that you can look at, and when you're done with the sport, hopefully you're happy with them.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.