DETROIT – As the head coach for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin understands what it takes to be part of a winning tradition. He comes from a sport where teamwork, speed and skill are at a premium, and sometimes a little contact is involved.
The same qualities are part of Chip Ganassi’s NTT IndyCar Series team.
Tomlin, along with key PNC Bank officials, including company CEO William S. Demchak, were Ganassi’s guests at Sunday’s Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix at Belle Isle. They witnessed Scott Dixon’s 45th career victory from the team’s pit box as Dixon won the second race of the Detroit doubleheader.
When the race was briefly red flagged followed Felix Rosenqvist’s crash in Turn 1, Tomlin was surprised to find out that all the cars are brought down pit lane and the engines shut off.
NTT INDYCAR Mobile asked Tomlin if he thought this was INDYCAR’s version of the “Two-Minute Warning?”
“I don’t know enough about this sport to make a comparison like that because I’m a still a newcomer to this,” Tomlin told NTT INDYCAR Mobile. “But I have to say, this sport is really spectacular.”
That’s very high praise for a man who consistently guides the Steelers into the NFL playoffs and led them to victory in Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 over the Arizona Cardinals.
When the INDYCAR race was restarted with Dixon in the lead, Ganassi showed Tomlin his crossed fingers.
“This is where it gets really interesting,” Ganassi told Tomlin.
Dixon was able to speed away from nearest pursuer Marcus Ericsson and win the race. Ganassi slapped Tomlin on the back.
“Does that mean I’m your good luck-charm?” Tomlin asked the IndyCar Series owner.
“Yep, now you are going to have to attend more IndyCar races,” Ganassi responded.
CGR Managing Director Mike Hull calls Dixon’s race strategy and has been on the radio with the driver for 44 of his 45 career wins.
“I’m excited about today in Detroit,” Hull told NTT INDYCAR Mobile. “We’ve won from both ends of the pit lane, but it’s a lot better to win from the ‘pit out’ side of the pit lane.
“We had a great car on Saturday and didn’t take advantage of it and today we did take advantage of it. It was a great car.
“It’s great to be with Scott. It’s great to be with PNC. We had Coach Tomlin with us from the Steelers and he had a great education on the intercom today on what we do. He said he has an amazing appreciation for how it happens. We’re really happy to have him here in Detroit and win.”