Scott Dixon sent a small reminder to the rest of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers testing Thursday, March 27 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course: I’m still here.
Dixon’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Alex Palou has captured plenty of attention after winning the first two races this season. But six-time series champion Dixon isn’t shrinking from the challenge posed by Palou, as he turned the quickest lap of an eight-driver private test in the final five minutes the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course was open.
Drivers from all four teams – AJ Foyt Racing (Santino Ferrucci, David Malukas), Chip Ganassi Racing (Dixon, Palou, Kyffin Simpson), Dale Coyne Racing (Jacob Abel) and Juncos Hollinger Racing (Conor Daly, Sting Ray Robb) – all turned laps to prepare for the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 10 on the IMS road course that kicks off the Month of May at the track.
This wasn’t an Open Test, so no times and speeds were released, but it’s still time for some itemized deductions:
Dixon Sends Message
Sure, it’s only testing, but Dixon had to be satisfied with edging his unbeaten-in-2025 teammate by slightly more than a tenth of a second in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. And the fact he pulled ahead on the last of his 90 laps of the day also must be gratifying.
It’s easy to forget with all the attention on Palou that Dixon has produced a very solid start this season. He finished second at St. Petersburg and 10th at The Thermal Club and is third in the standings, 41 points behind leader Palou and two behind second-place Pato O’Ward.
The Iceman remains in good shape in his quest for a series record-tying seventh championship. Winning the Sonsio Grand Prix – an event Palou won in 2023 and 2024 – would be an excellent springboard toward that goal.
Daly Steps Up
It’s sort of odd: Daly cut his proverbial racing teeth in road racing, including winning a GP3 race in 2012 at Barcelona during the Spanish Grand Prix Formula One race weekend.
Yet Indiana native Daly is regarded by some as an oval specialist in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES because his only career pole came at Iowa Speedway, and he has produced three straight top-10 finishes the last three years in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.
Daly was third quickest in testing March 27 on the IMS road course in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, only about two-tenths of a second shy of the leading pace set by Dixon.
That should remind the “Conor is an oval guy” crowd that this driver is capable of producing results on tracks with left turns only and with left and right turns. Remember, Daly’s best career finish in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES came on the old street circuit at Belle Isle in Detroit, where he placed second in 2016.
Progress for Simpson
It’s not easy being just a second-year driver in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. It’s even tougher when your only yardsticks under the same paddock canopy are six-time series champion Dixon and three-time and two-time reigning champion Palou.
That’s Simpson’s reality. Palou won the first two races of this season, while Dixon finished second and 10th. INDY NXT by Firestone graduate Simpson placed 18th and 15th in the same two races.
But Simpson, just 20, made progress during testing Thursday at IMS. He ended up fourth overall, just slightly more than two-tenths of a second behind Dixon and less than a tenth behind current series demigod Palou.
Foyt Lands New Partner
Malukas and Ferrucci ended up a solid fifth and sixth in the running order Thursday, with Malukas a tenth of a second ahead of his teammate and only three-tenths behind Dixon.
But the day already was a win for AJ Foyt Racing before the checkered flag flew to finish testing.
The team announced earlier in the day a new partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association to draw attention to the nonprofit organization’s critical work in advancing research and providing free care and support programs for millions of people impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and all other dementia.
Activation of the partnership starts with the next event, the 50th Acura Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday, April 13.
Ferrucci will carry an Alzheimer’s Association logo on his No. 14 Chevrolet all season. Fans attending races can engage with the Alzheimer’s Association through on-site activations, including educational displays, donation opportunities and special appearances by the organization’s supporters.