Scott Dixon, driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, shared his thoughts on participating in doubleheader races like the recent weekend at Iowa. The New Zealander, piloting the #9 Honda-powered car, secured a second-place finish in the Farm to Finish 275 after starting eighth in qualifying, showcasing a strong performance during the back-to-back races.
When asked about his preference between doubleheaders and single feature races for venues like Iowa, Dixon responded thoughtfully, emphasizing the quality of the races more than the format. He noted past success with doubleheaders in Toronto and Houston, but admitted the decision was beyond his role, expressing openness to competing wherever scheduled.
Consistent Podium Finishes Highlight Scott Dixon’s Season
This recent podium marks Dixon’s third of the season and coincides with the second time in less than two weeks that Chip Ganassi Racing achieved a 1-2 team finish. At the first Iowa race on July 12, Dixon qualified sixth but dropped to tenth in the final standings, contrasting with his stronger showing in the second event.
Earlier in the season at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Dixon qualified sixth and finished second, securing the team‘s initial 1-2 result of 2025. More recently, his victory at Mid-Ohio further cemented his consistency, where he advanced from ninth on the grid to claim the top step of the podium.
Dixon Discusses Unexpected Lead Change at Mid-Ohio
Dixon elaborated on the circumstances surrounding his win at Mid-Ohio, crediting the outcome in part to a rare mistake by his teammate and championship leader Alex Palou. Palou went wide entering Turn 9, a crucial moment that allowed Dixon to overtake and ultimately lead the race.
Speaking about witnessing Palou’s error, Dixon described his initial confusion due to dust in the air, which made it difficult to immediately identify the car involved. He shared his surprise at seeing Palou rejoin the track despite struggling, indicating a mix of anticipation and relief as the race unfolded.
Current Championship Standings and Future Outlook
Scott Dixon led 11 laps during the Mid-Ohio race and narrowly edged out Palou by just over four-tenths of a second. At 44 years old, he remains a strong contender in the drivers‘ championship and currently ranks third with 348 points amassed so far this season.
His steady string of podium finishes underscores both his skill and the strength of Chip Ganassi Racing this year. As the season progresses, the team’s performance in varied race formats—including potential additional doubleheaders—will likely influence championship dynamics and strategy moving forward.
Dixon’s Perspective on Race Formats and Adaptability
Reflecting on the doubleheader format, Dixon expressed that a good race experience is more important than whether it is a single feature or multiple races in a weekend. He highlighted the positives of doubleheaders held at other venues but emphasized his flexibility and willingness to compete regardless of the schedule.
“I think if the race is good — this was definitely a rebound from last year. I think a successful kind of double-headers in the past — Toronto was always a good one, Houston was quite a good one — I think it works. Yeah, I don’t know. It’s kind of above my pay grade to be honest. I’m happy to race wherever.” —Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing driver
This measured outlook reflects Dixon’s focus on racing excellence and team success over format preferences, indicating his adaptability to evolving IndyCar schedules.
Insight into Mid-Ohio Race Incident with Teammate Palou
Dixon’s recounting of Palou’s mishap during the Mid-Ohio race adds a behind-the-scenes understanding of the split-second events that can drastically alter outcomes. His detailed observation of the dust and initial uncertainty about who had erred reveal the complexity of racing conditions and situational awareness required during competition.
“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.” —Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing driver
“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,” —Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing driver
