INDIANAPOLIS – He’s already a racing star, but Scott Dixon is about to become a movie star.
“Born Racer,” a documentary that looks into the life of Dixon, 37, the four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion, is scheduled for release later this year. Directed by Bryn Evans and produced by Matthew Metcalfe and Fraser Brown, “Born Racer” follows Dixon through his racing adventures last year, including a frightening crash during the Indianapolis 500 and competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“This is just unprecedented backstage access people don't get to see,” Dixon said Friday when a film trailer was introduced. “It's got something for everyone to understand the sport of INDYCAR, the sport of racing, being in a competitive environment, then also the numerous amount of people that make this happen. It's such a team sport. A lot of people forget about that as well.
“I'm really excited for it. I think there's lots of cool stories, lots of cool, interesting people in there that they captured really well. For me, that was the biggest thing. When I'm out on track, I don't get to see what's going on behind the scenes. Even for me, it was a definitely a breath of fresh air, really fun to see that process.”
Co-produced by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Content Group and GFC Films, the film delves into a behind-the-scenes look at Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing and his family. Dixon and his wife, Emma Davies Dixon, saw the finished film recently.
Emma, a former international 800-meter runner for Great Britain, understands the demands of athletic training. Her role comes through prominently in the film.
“I think that has been a big help for our relationship as well, is that I do have that background,” she said. “I know the dedication that goes in to being the top of your sport. I never got to fulfill my dreams as much as Scott has, but I was on that journey to get there.
“To be honest, I know the girls (daughters Poppy and Tilly) and I have to play second fiddle. I'm actually totally fine with it because I want nothing more than for Scott to fulfill his potential. I think that's why our relationship works so well in racing. There are times during the end of the season where he's fatigued, he's getting tired, he might have had a bad race. Then that's my competitive side. I'm like, ‘No, let's get training.’”
Chip Ganassi, who hired Dixon in 2002, says his driver is relentless in his desire to win, and that desire comes through in the film.
“When you have a desire to win, you try to surround yourself with like-minded people that have that same unrelenting desire to win,” Ganassi said. “It starts small with people in the team. You bring people onto the team. It sort of snowballs. This unrelenting desire to win kind of snowballs.”
Dixon, whose 41 victories rank fourth in the all-time list of Indy car drivers – behind only A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Michael Andretti – hopes the film draws attention to INDYCAR.
“Obviously, we're at a point in my career where we've achieved a lot,” Dixon said. “The team has, too. Across the board with what Chip alone has achieved in many different categories, winning just about every big race in the world. I think there's been a lot of desire to do something like this for quite a bit of time. It was just really trying to find the right fit, making sure the essence of what they're capturing was good.
“I think for INDYCAR, this is huge. It's a sport, the most exciting racing on this planet. It doesn't get the credit it deserves. I hope this alone helps capture a lot of what we do, what goes into it. Even one day, maybe it helps kids and the younger generation get into the sport that is so good and so great in many different areas, whether it's on the engineering side to pit stops, mechanics. There's such a broad range. I hope it really shines a spotlight on INDYCAR racing.”
More information about the film can be found at www.bornracermovie.com. View the teaser trailer for the film below: