Ganassi Stays Focused on Present, Another Indy 500 Victory
May 20, 2019 | By Phillip B. Wilson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Scott Dixon’s only Indianapolis 500 win in 2008 started one of the most dominant recent stretches in Chip Ganassi’s Indy car team ownership history.
Dario Franchitti celebrated Indy 500 victories in 2010 and 2012. In an five-year run from 2008-12, either Dixon or Franchitti claimed four NTT IndyCar Series titles.
But Ganassi isn’t the type of bottom-line owner to spend much time looking back. He’s focused as always on what’s ahead.
That's especially true for the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday. Dixon’s No. 9 PNC Bank Honda qualified 18th, and rookie Felix Rosenqvist will start 29th in the No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
“Some people would say those are the good old days,” Ganassi said of that span now so long ago. “I would say these are the good old days. Someday, I’ll look back on that. Right now, I’m focused on today. Someday, we’ll talk about that. In the meantime, I’m focused on today, this Indy 500 and this championship.”
His expectations don't need to be expressed. They're understood.
“We enter each year with two goals in mind: win the Indianapolis 500 and win the championship,” Ganassi said.
In that order?
“Indy is first,” Ganassi said.
As one of the most celebrated champions of his time, Dixon won a fifth series championship in 2018 and is off to a promising start to do something he’s never done before – successfully defend that crown. His second-place finish May 11 in the INDYCAR Grand Prix on the IMS road course boosted Dixon to second in the points, just six behind Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden.
What neither Ganassi nor Dixon need to be reminded of is the fact that a Ganassi car hasn’t won the Indianapolis 500 since Franchitti in 2012. The six-race winless stretch could be considered a drought for such an elite racing team — not that Ganassi sees it that way.
“I hate to say we’re overdue or he’s overdue,” Ganassi said of Dixon. “We’re going to go there with our eyes wide open and working real hard to win.”
In other words, it’s business as usual with the same optimism and eagerness as any other year.
“Can’t wait,” Ganassi said. “That’s the one for sure we want to win.”
Dixon finished third in last year’s race, which tied for Ganassi’s best result since 2012. Charlie Kimball also placed third in 2015.
A Ganassi car has yet to win in five starts this season, but that’s nothing new. Dixon didn’t win last season until the seventh race, then added victories at Texas and Toronto to set up a late-season showdown with Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi. Dixon claimed his fifth title by finishing second in the season finale at Sonoma, where Rossi ended up seventh.
“We haven’t had a win yet this season, but we’re building toward a championship,” Ganassi said. “We want to have some wins. I think they’re in us.
“I don’t know if it’s (been) anything other than vintage Dixon. He’s proven to be very fast. I think we saw that, whether it was at Barber or St. Pete. I think of all the things that have happened over the years at St. Pete that didn’t go our way, getting hit or getting spun around. I’m happy we’re off to a good start.”
Ask Ganassi how long Dixon, at 38, will keep going, and the owner is amused about the thought of the New Zealander possibly nearing the end of an illustrious career with 44 career wins, which ranks third on the all-time list, trailing only A.J. Foyt (67) and Mario Andretti (52).
“I think he’s got a lot in him,” Ganassi said of Dixon. “I guess when you start to slow down, you’ll probably look at that. But until you start to slow down, I’m not looking at it. He hasn’t slowed down any, so it’s kind of not on my radar, to tell you the truth.”
Dixon is once again in familiar territory, and Ganassi is encouraged about his driver’s chances to defend the series title – or win Sunday in the Indianapolis 500.
“All things being equal, I think you’d be hard pressed to bet against him,” Ganassi said. “It’s a long season and we have to execute a lot, but I’m bullish about his chances.”
Tickets for remaining Indianapolis 500 activities – including Miller Lite Carb Day on Friday and race day on Sunday – are available at IMS.com. Carb Day airs live from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Coverage of the 103rd Indianapolis 500 begins at 11 a.m. Sunday on NBC.