Dixon on verge of joining elite list as leads field to Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS – As the sun rises over this city known as the “Crossroads of America,” a cannon on the golf course of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield fired off two loud aerial bombs to signal the public gates are open for the 99th Indianapolis 500. The loud ka-boom can be heard for miles around this famed racing facility, but it is especially loud in the driver motorhome lot located just off the Gasoline Alley garages.

Somewhere in this area of luxury motorhomes one driver is going to become the winner of the 2015 Indianapolis 500.

Scott Dixon is one of those drivers who stay with his family for much of the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway along with his lovely wife Emma, and two young daughters Poppy and Tilly.

Dixon starts on the pole and will lead the field of 33 to the green flag at 12:15 ET. It’s the second time the three-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion has started on the pole for the Indianapolis 500. The only other time was 2008 when Dixon went on to win the race.

Dixon is attempting to be the 19th different driver to win the Indianapolis 500 more than once in his career.

“I think you learn a lot of things through the years and the prep and week before the race you get a little more relaxed because you know what to expect but as far as the nervousness there is actually a little bit more now than there was before I won it for the first time,” Dixon explained. “You have expectations and when you come with a team like mine you want to win.

“You need to eliminate mistakes. Each race is very different from the next. You can’t rely on last year’s race or the 2008 win. The style of the race will be different than in year’s past.”

Dixon is one of the star drivers at Chip Ganassi Racing. There are four other drivers on the team including 2013 winner Tony Kanaan, who starts on the inside of Row 2. Charlie Kimball starts in the middle of Row 5, Sage Karam is on the outside of Row 7 and Sebastian Saavedra starts on the outside of Row 9.

Dixon has established himself as one of the greatest drivers in Indianapolis 500 history. In April, he won the other crown jewel of the Verizon IndyCar Series with a victory in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. With 36 career victories, Dixon is fifth on the all-time victory list behind A.J. Foyt’s 67, Mario Andretti’s 52, Michael Andretti’s 42 and Al Unser’s 39 wins.

“I’m very fortunate with my career and how it worked out because we had no money when I started racing,” Dixon said. “We had a group of investors but there was not a lot of money when I started. At that point I was leaving a dream, taking it day-by-day. In motor racing in the junior categories you have dreams that you will make it but reality is something different.

“It wasn’t 2003 until I won a championship and the Indy 500 writes its own history. Ask Michael Andretti – you can be successful at any other place in the world and be successful with a team but at this place it doesn’t mean anything. Until you get a victory here all you can do is hope.”

Dixon has come close to another victory at Indianapolis on numerous occasions including a second-place to then-teammate Dario Franchitti in 2012.

“Finishing second here really sucks,” Dixon said. “I finished second twice to Dario here in 2007 and 2012. Even though he was my teammate it still hurts to finish second here.

“If you ask A.J. Foyt there are three other races he thought he could have won and didn’t. It’s a crazy place.”

There has been a level of concern because of the spectacular crashes that happened in practice for this year’s Indy 500 but in reality the number of crashes is probably below normal compared to Indy 500s of the past.

“Everybody is talking about the accidents like it’s a new thing but I don’t think it’s a new thing,” Dixon said. “We’ve been lucky but we’ve also been lucky in the past. We are concerned about James Hinchcliffe’s injuries but he is going to be OK. I think the cars getting in the air; we have seen that before, too. We’ve seen it a little more than normal.

“The concern is hoping everybody is going to be safe. You can’t look into things too deeply. Everybody is doing their best to eliminate big accidents. We put on fantastic races and that is what is special about IndyCar.”

The introduction of Aero Kits to this year’s Verizon IndyCar Series has brought the ability to tune the car more to the teams and drivers. It has also increased the speeds and performance at most races.

“Safety is always evolving and there are always things you can work on,” Dixon said. “That is the exciting part for the manufacturers because they have the ability and technology to make improvements in those areas. I’ve had no problems with the car and we were trimming the car out as much as anyone. All these teams and drivers have every option to put on more downforce. It’s their option to take it off, as well.

“I don’t know why people moan about it or talk about it because it’s the best racing in the world. In the 1960s you had drivers winning by a lap or more. The racing is not the issue here today. The less downforce thing I’m not sure that works because it’s harder to get closer to cars and that would be an issue.”

Dixon is one of the best drivers that have ever competed in this form of racing. He will approach Sunday’s 99th Indy 500 with the same methodical attitude that has worked so well for him throughout his career.

“Going into this race for me you have to take it as another race,” Dixon said. “Yes, we know it’s bigger, there are more people here, there are more people watching and more pressure from the team. But if you can simplify it as another race it will be your best friend.

“You put more emphasis on not making mistakes. In reality, you should be doing that for every race.”

**

Be sure to catch Bruce Martin's Honda IndyCar Report on RACEDAY on FOX Sports Radio every Sunday from 6-8 a.m. ET.