IndyCar
  • Peg It on GarageMonkey
MILLER: A Home at Ganassi
Scott Dixon’s talent achieved what few drivers have: job stability with the Chipster…
Robin Miller  |  Posted September 11, 2008   Indianapolis, Ind.

Driving an open wheel car for Chip Ganassi during this decade is usually a guarantee for two things: a fast car and a swift exit. He's not exactly one of those patient owners who allows a driver to take his time and get comfortable.

It's produce or pack your bags and sometimes even a decent run isn't enough to save your seat on the Learjet.

Nic Minassian only got six races before he got the boot in 2001 while Darren Manning made 24 starts before being banished in 2005. Tomas Scheckter (2003) and Jeff Ward (2002) were one-year wonders as was Ryan Briscoe (2005). Kenny Brack (2001-2002) made it two years, just like Bruno Junqueira (2001-2002), while Dan Wheldon (2006-08) made it to three.

So, the fact Scott Dixon just completed his seventh season with The Chipster is almost as newsworthy as capturing his second Indy Racing League title But what's almost been forgotten in all their success together is how they even got together.

Three races into the 2002 CART season, Dixon found himself without a ride when PacWest closed its doors.

"Lee White (who ran Toyota's open wheel program then) thought a lot of Scott's potential so he asked Chip if he'd take a chance and run him the rest of the year and Toyota would give us engines," recalled Mike Hull, managing director of Target/Ganassi Racing who's been Chip's wingman for two decades. "You know how Chip is about young guys -- if he has a feeling he'll give them a shot, so he ran Scott out of his own pocket the rest of the year with Toyota's engines. We knew we were coming to the IRL in 2003 and we knew Dixon was good on ovals so that's why we did what we did.

"He also had high horsepower experience from CART and we liked that too."

Even though Dixon delivered a championship in that first full season of 2003, the next two years were lean (only one win) because Honda was kicking Toyota's butt and no amount of talent could make up the difference in horsepower.

Ganassi showed compassion, a rarity, for the situation and Dixon was still on board when everybody got Hondas in 2006.

He's since been rewarded with another Indy 500 victory, another open wheel title, a dozen other wins and watched this skinny, bashful kid from New Zealand blossom into the man to beat every weekend.

Hull, who's been calling Dixon's race strategy since '03, believes the 28-year-old's drive to get better is his calling card.

"Scott has always been patient but I think he's more intense, more competitively intense than he was seven years ago and he never stops learning. Some guys get the point and say, 'OK, I'm there,' but Scott really tries to make himself better every day. And he also learned some things from Dan Wheldon."

The outgoing Brit and the shy guy from down under clicked as teammates these past two years. They had a genuine friendship as well as a challenging rivalry.

"Dan Wheldon was exactly what Scott needed as a teammate," continued Hull. "He showed him how to drive ovals differently to be a frictionless driver and just make very subtle movements. Dan was very unselfish and he made us all better. And there's nothing wrong with Dan, it's just that Scott got better."

Married over the winter to a gorgeous, gregarious gal named Emma, Dixon is the picture of happiness. He's one corner away from having back-to-back championships, he's become as fierce on ovals as he is on road courses, he loves his team and he's even got something seldom seen with Ganassi.

A home.


Page 1 of 2
Prev
12
Next
robin_miller's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin Miller

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2013

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.