How Scott Dixon Wins Championships

November 12, 2020

Photo by James Black courtesy of INDYCAR Media

Scott Dixon wins his 6th INDYCAR championship

INDYCAR series driver Scott Dixon just claimed his 6th championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020) in a final showdown in St. Petersburg(FL) at the end of October; placing him second, just one championship behind AJ Foyt, on the all time INDYCAR championship leaderboard. How did Scott Dixon become one of the most successful INDYCAR drivers of all time? Ask anyone in the paddock about Dixon and they will all tell you the same thing. He is fast, cool, and consistent. He stays focused and is always thinking about the big picture. Dixon has also built an unbeatable team around him. Combine everything and you have an unstoppable force.

Photo by Chris Owens courtesy of INDYCAR Media

Scott Dixon celebrates his 50 career win

He is Fast and Consistent

Winning races is important, sure, but it's what happens between that wins championships. A win means very little if the rest of the season you finish outside the top 5. Dixon is always calculated with his moves. While going for the win or passing one more driver gets him more points, is the risk worth losing a solid points finish? When he isn't winning races, Dixon will often settle for second or third if it means a solid points haul. In his last two championships, Dixon and his championship rival Josef Newgarden both had the same number of wins. In the races Dixon wasn't winning, he was collecting much needed points. This also allowed him to maintain the championship lead despite having a few bad weekends. In statistics, Dixon's average finishing position in 2020 was 5 to the 5.2 of Newgarden; in 2018, Dixon's average finishing position was 4.2 to Newgarden's 7. While sometimes it is a small difference, the championship is ultimately decided in the races that aren't won.

Photo by Joe Skibinski courtesy of INDYCAR Media

Scott Dixon celebrates 6 championships with his team

He Built a Team Around Him

"You always do your job 100% for the driver you're working for, but with Scotty [Scott Dixon] I feel that extra little bit of motivation. Because he's got that little bit extra, and so you want to give everything and then some." - Kenny Szymanski (tire specialist, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Scott Dixon has been with Chip Ganassi Racing for 19 seasons, and has been working closely with his race strategist, Mike Hull and his chief mechanic, Blair Julian for most of his INDYCAR career. "I get to work with the best in the business. I have such a great relationship with Chip (Ganassi) and Mike (Hull) and everyone on the team." "Blair, man… there’s nobody better than Blair Julian at what he does... And just the way he gets the team to work with him and around him." He has built a team around him of the best and brightest in INDYCAR. Their close and long term relationships makes communication quicker, easier, and better understood. They know how to work together and they know how to win championships together.

Photo courtesy of INDYCAR Media

"I think when you talk about the greatest drivers of all time, he may be there already." - Chip Ganassi

Scott Dixon's success is so inspiring that Universal Studios made a documentary movie called "Born Racer" about him. He has combined his skill and the skill of those around him to become one of the most successful drivers in INDYCAR history.

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