One month till opener: Dixon seeks extension
MAR 01, 2015
In the final four races of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season, Scott Dixon earned two victories and a runner-up finish to climb to third in the championship standings.
A victory in the March 29 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, in which he’s finished second on three occasions, or the remainder of the 16-race season would place him in select company.
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Dixon can tie Bobby Unser, Emerson Fittipaldi and Helio Castroneves atop the all-time list with an Indy car victory in 11 consecutive seasons. In 2014, he tied Unser for fifth on the career victory list at 35. Al Unser with 39 wins is next up.
In fact, Dixon has a nine-year streak of multiple victories in a season – the longest streak of such in the modern era, topped by six in his 2008 championship season.
Dixon also is tied with Johnny Rutherford with 12 seasons with at least one victory. A.J. Foyt with 18 is the leader and Mario Andretti with 16 is second.
“I think he’s a very, very smart and complete race car driver,” said second-year teammate Tony Kanaan, a series champion and Indy 500 winner who has mustered 17 Indy car victories. “Now that I have a chance to be his teammate, I’m still learning. We’ll both wake up in the morning thinking, ‘Oh, man, I’ve got to beat him, he’s got to beat me.’ His strength, I would say, he can adapt to anything.”
Dixon, 35, earned his first victory in the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix at Nazareth Raceway during the 2001 CART season (Kenny Brack was second and Paul Tracy was third). Along the way, Dixon has recorded Verizon IndyCar Series championships in 2003, 2008 and 2013 and the ‘08 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race victory – all with Chip Ganassi Racing Teams.
“There are lots of ups and downs; motor racing is like that,” Dixon said of his success. “Some things are out of your control, but you have to keep digging and keep trying to do your best. I think that’s what has prevailed for me. I love the sport and feel fortunate and love being a part of it and hope to continue to be a part of it for many years.
“You win races and you’re going to win ‘500s’ hopefully and championships. Each year we set two goals as team – one to win the ‘500’ and secondly to win the championship. That’s what keeps me going every year.”
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Scott Dixon Historical Record Sheet during current win streak (2005-2014)
Seasons | Driver | Years | Sanctioning Organization |
11 | Bobby Unser | 1966-1976 | USAC |
Emerson Fittipaldi | 1985-1995 | CART | |
Helio Castroneves | 2000-2010 | CART, IRL | |
10 | Scott Dixon | 2005-2014 | IRL, IC |
9 | Johnny Rutherford | 1973-1981 | USAC |
Michael Andretti | 1994-2002 | CART | |
8 | Rick Mears | 1978-1985 | USAC, CART |
Bobby Rahal | 1982-1989 | CART | |
Al Unser Jr. | 1988-1995 | CART | |
7 | Rodger Ward | 1957-1963 | USAC |
Gordon Johncock | 1973-1979 | USAC, CART | |
Scott Sharp | 1996/97-2003 | IRL | |
Sam Hornish Jr. | 2001-2007 | IRL | |
6 | Tony Kanaan | 2003-2008 | IRL |
Active streak
Seasons | Driver | Sanctioning Organization |
18 | A.J. Foyt | USAC |
16 | Mario Andretti | USAC, CART |
15 | Michael Andretti | CART |
14 | Al Unser | USAC, CART |
Al Unser Jr. | CART, IRL | |
Bobby Unser | USAC, CART | |
Helio Castroneves | CART, IRL, IC | |
13 | Rick Mears | USAC, CART |
Gordon Johncock | USAC, CART | |
12 | Johnny Rutherford | USAC, CART |
Scott Dixon | CART, IRL, IC | |
11 | Emerson Fittipaldi | CART |
Paul Tracy | CART, CC | |
Dario Franchitti | CART, IRL, IC | |
10 | Bobby Rahal | CART |
Tony Kanaan | CART, IRL, IC | |
8 | Scott Sharp | IRL |
Rodger Ward | USAC | |
Danny Sullivan | CART, USAC | |
Ryan Hunter-Reay | CART, CC, IRL, IC | |
Will Power | CC, IRL, IC | |
7 | Gil de Ferran | CART, IRL |
Sam Hornish, Jr. | IRL | |
Tom Sneva | CART, USAC | |
6 | Justin Wilson | CC,IRL, IC |
Sebastien Bourdais | CC, IC |
Active drivers as of the 2014 season
Year | Total Wins | Races Won | Sanctioning Organization |
2005 | 1 | Watkins Glen | IRL |
2006 | 2 | Watkins Glen Nashville |
IRL |
2007 | 4 | Watkins Glen Nashville Mid-Ohio Infineon (Sonoma) |
IRL |
2008 | 6 | Homestead-Miami Indianapolis Texas Nashville Edmonton Kentucky |
IRL |
2009 | 5 | Kansas Milwaukee Richmond Mid-Ohio Twin Ring Motegi |
IRL |
2010 | 3 | Kansas Edmonton Homestead-Miami |
IRL |
2011 | 2 | Mid-Ohio Twin Ring Motegi |
INDYCAR |
2012 | 2 | Detroit - Belle Isle Mid-Ohio |
INDYCAR |
2013 | 4 | Pocono Toronto (Race 1) Toronto (Race 2) Houston (Race 1) |
INDYCAR |
2014 | 2 | Mid-Ohio Sonoma |
INDYCAR |
Series Champion