Scott Dixon hopes that winning the Pit Stop Competition on Miller Lite Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be an omen in the Indianapolis 500 on May 27.
His No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing crew earned $50,000 from a $100,000 purse in the annual event that puts emphasis on speed and accuracy during a simulated pit stop. Oriol Servia of Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing was second.
The winner of the competition has gone on to win the Indianapolis 500 six times, most recently with Team Penske's Helio Castroneves in 2009. It was the first-ever win for Target Chip Ganassi Racing in the pit stop contest. The team had finished second three times: in 1992 with driver Eddie Cheever Jr., in 2002 with Jeff Ward and in 2011 with Dario Franchitti.
Watch it: Scott Dixon talks about his crew's effort
"It’s nice to have days like this and moments for the guys because they go on forgotten sometimes, but they work harder than all of us," said Dixon, who earlier in the day was second quick to Franchitti in the final practice session for the race. "So it’s not about me, it’s about them today.
"I’ve been with a lot of these guys many years, and to actually win it I think it’s a huge achievement on top of a lot of things that we do and get to take credit for."
Jenkins waves the green
NBC Sports Network announcer Bob Jenkins served as the honorary starter of the final IZOD IndyCar Series practice.
"Well, it's the second-most thrill I've ever had at the Speedway. The first was several years ago when I was allowed to drive A.J. Foyt's 1961-winning car around the track," said Jenkins, a longtime Indianapolis 500 and IZOD IndyCar Series broadcaster, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network anchor and IMS Public Address announcer.
"But this is certainly a very close second, to get to wave the green flag and be the ceremonial starter for the final day of practice is just a huge thrill for me and something I will never forget."
Taking a classic lap around Speedway
Indianapolis 500-winning drivers will take ceremonial laps in classic Indy 500 vintage cars from decades ending in the number "2" during pre-race ceremonies:
Buddy Lazier -- 1912 National (Joe Dawson, winner)
Mario Andretti -- 1922 Duesenberg (Jimmy Murphy, winner)
Bobby Unser -- 1933 Ringling & Henning Wonder Bread Spl. (Joe Russo, 17th)
Parnelli Jones -- 1952 Kuzma (Troy Ruttman, winner)
Johnny Rutherford -- 1962 Watson-Offy (Rodger Ward, winner)
Kenny Brack -- 1972 McLaren (Mark Donohue, winner)
Of note
Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Olivia Newton-John was the honorary starter of the Firestone Freedom 100 and will be the grand marshal of the IRL 500 Festival Parade on May 26. "It's very exciting to be here. This place is huge, and you can feel the energy from all of the people that come through here," she said. ... Quaker Chemical Corporation, an official sponsor and technical partner of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, will serve as a sponsor of the No. 39 Sarah Fisher Hartman/Curb-Agajanian car driven by rookie Bryan Clauson in the Indy 500.