Scott Dixon and Max Verstappen are generational drivers competing in their respective global divisions. Dixon is a six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion while Verstappen earned his fourth Formula One World Championship last weekend in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Until Nov. 19, neither had met.
That changed at a Honda Racing promotion where the manufacturer took advantage of F1’s event in Las Vegas to stage an opportunity for Honda-powered F1 drivers to test various machines on the road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
One of those race vehicles was a Honda-powered NTT INDYCAR SERIES car, and Dixon was on hand to help Visa Cash App RB F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda get his first taste of that machine.
Verstappen drove the Acura GTP prototype sports car with help from IMSA standout Colin Braun.
Dixon and Verstappen finally crossed paths.
Verstappen is chasing seven championships won by both Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton and five by Juan Manuel Fangio. His 62 wins rank third all-time trailing Hamilton’s 105 and the 91 from Schumacher.
Dixon boasts similar credentials.
His six championships trail the seven A.J. Foyt accumulated. Dixon has 58 wins, trailing only Foyt on the all-time victory list by nine. Dixon has at least one victory in 22 seasons, the most ever. He has a 20-year streak of finding victory lane at least once per season.
The runner-up finish by Dixon on Sept. 1 at Milwaukee Mile was his 142nd career podium of his storied career breaking a tie with Mario Andretti for the INDYCAR SERIES record.
“It’s always fun to be mentioned alongside Mario,” the Chip Ganassi Racing driver said. “Such a fun person. He’s a huge icon of our sport.”
A day prior in the Milwaukee Mile doubleheader, Dixon joined Andretti as the only drivers to make 400 or more INDYCAR SERIES starts. Andretti had 407 starts, a feat that Dixon will break the record in next year’s 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 25 should he compete in every race prior.
Can Dixon pick up his second “500” win on that historic day? That’s the goal.
Dixon is arguably among the fastest drivers at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His five NTT P1 Awards on the 2.5-mile track rank second-most trailing on the six accumulated by Rick Mears. His 677 career Indianapolis 500 laps led are tops among every driver to compete in the 108-year history of the race. Dixon has led at least one lap in 16 of his 22 Indianapolis 500 starts, most ever as well.
Last season, Dixon rose from a 21st-place to finish third after leading 12 laps.
The timing of becoming the 22nd driver to win multiple Indianapolis 500s is dwindling. At 44 years of age, Dixon would be the sixth-oldest “500” winner, trailing Al Unser who was 47 and 360 days old in 1987, Bobby Unser who was 47 and 93 days in 1981, Emerson Fittipaldi who was 46 and 169 days in 1993, Gordon Johncock who was 45 and 278 days in 1982 and Helio Castroneves who was 46 and 20 days in 2021.
Maybe that’s fitting for Dixon to enter another rare fraternity of race car drivers and also set the record for most races between “500” victories held by Juan Pablo Montoya at 15 years between 2000 and 2015 victories, too.
That would be poetic to come in a season where Dixon is looking to rebound a year after he suffered his worst points finish (sixth) since finishing there in 2017. Teammate Alex Palou secured his third championship in the last four seasons, including two consecutively.
Dixon was also eliminated from championship contention before the final race for the third time in the last four years. By comparison, he was mathematically eligible to win the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship 12 times entering the season finale prior.
“I’m sure I’m not that happy person to live with through certain parts of it but that goes with the ups and downs of everyday life,” Dixon said on championship pursuits. “It gets tense. It’s a competitive sport and you have all these emotions.”
In addition to chasing a second “500” victory, the pursuit of a record-tying seventh championship in 2025 is equally as important. Past trends signal it can be done.
Dixon first three championships came in five-year increments in 2003, 2008 and 2013. He last tasted championship glory in 2020 setting up another four-year drought.
“What means the most to me is race wins and championships,” he said. I’ve had plenty of second place finishes, but nobody remembers those.”