Talking to Scott Dixon, one might wonder if he’s the guy who has 58 NTT IndyCar victories, six series championships, an Indianapolis 500 win and a 2024 induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
He doesn’t sound like a guy who is caught up in all his accomplishments, that’s for sure. Nope. He’s thinking about the next race. Take last year’s Hall of Fame induction. Asked about that during a recent interview, Dixon was almost nonchalant about the details.
“I don’t know, it felt weird,” said Dixon, who Thursday will also be inducted into Long Beach’s Motorsports Walk of Fame ahead of this weekend’s 50th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. “It’s hard, you know, and then being inducted this year into the Walk of Fame for Long Beach, which is amazing, too; it feels great.
“But it’s kind of hard because even when I was writing my speech for the Motorsports Hall of Fame, I’m like, man, I just want to be talking about how I’m trying to win next weekend as opposed to talking about my career and the people that helped me get there.”
Dixon said it was really cool being inducted with his good friend Jimmie Johnson. But …
“It’s mixed feelings, I guess,” he said.
Dixon may not be boastful. But others will brag for him. He has driven for Chip Ganassi Racing since 2002.
“There is not a more deserving driver that’s currently in the series for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and I know there’s even more work still to be done,” Ganassi said in an IndyCar news release ahead of Dixon’s induction.
Jim Michaelian, longtime CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, hit the nail on the head when discussing why Dixon, 44, of New Zealand, has been so successful.
“Scott Dixon is the ultimate thinking man’s driver,” Michaelian said of Dixon, who won in Long Beach last year for the second time. “He hasn’t achieved all of those accolades and rewards just because he went out and just drove a race car. He drove a race car always thinking about how he could maximize the effort between himself and the car and the team and that’s how he compiles so many points and that’s why he’s a six-time champ.
“He’s to be admired for his capability of remaining so focused in the cockpit that he’s able to produce the kind of results that he has over the years when other drivers probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve that.”
Dixon and his team last year used a strategy that included some clever fuel- and tire-saving over two pit stops to win in Long Beach. The victory was gratifying.
“It was just a combination of things really worked out and the stress of the last 10 laps to finally pull it off was pretty sweet,” said Dixon, who gives high praise to the Ganassi team around him.
Perhaps one key to Dixon’s success is that he doesn’t get too caught up in the emotions of all he has achieved. Many in his place might, but he intimates that if he did, it would be more difficult to continue on this road of success.
For example, many drivers would be blown away by the level of fame he’s achieved. Not Dixon. His forward-thinking is why.
“I don’t know, I don’t really think about it too much,” said Dixon, when asked what goes through his mind when mulling over his spectacular career. “I think the only time it really becomes on my radar is when it becomes a topic of conversation. I will say it’s nice to be introduced that way. You know, six-time IndyCar champ, Indianapolis 500 winner.
“The immediate thing is like, ‘Wow, it would be kind of cool to be introduced as a seven-time series champ.’ Yeah, so I don’t know. I think the stats, I’ve always said, I think when you leave the sport, hopefully, you’re happy with what you’ve accomplished.”
Dixon is tough, but he is not without sentiment.
“I think the biggest thing for me is the memories throughout the years. But probably the relationships I’ve made, I think, are kind of something that makes more of a deal for me whether it’s working for Chip for 23, 24 years to the memories I’ve been able to share with Emma and the kids,” he said. “… Those are probably the things I think about more as opposed to the wins. And, honestly, the wins you don’t think about much.
“You kind of think more about the ones that got away than the ones that you actually won.”
Make no mistake, Dixon loves being a race car driver. He appreciates what he’s done. But he wants to do even more. Thus his attitude.
“Another Indy 500 would be great,” he said. “Another two would be fantastic. A seventh championship is definitely what we’re fighting for this season.”
Dixon and his wife Emma have three children. He’s known as quite the family man. But he said he hasn’t really had that retirement conversation with his wife, nor with Ganassi. He indicates he’s in fine physical shape, so that talk just isn’t there yet.
He did say he doesn’t want to retire too early, like he’s seen others do and later regret.
“I don’t know what the hell I would do anyway, so why stop doing something you absolutely love?” Dixon said. “But I think, honestly, at the end it would just be, you know, if you’re getting your (butt) kicked you probably want to get out.”
Alas, Dixon said he isn’t too concerned about how others might view his career once it is done, though he does want to be remembered as a “good competitor” who did what he loved. There’s something far more important to him.
“Honestly,” he said, “I’d rather have my kids say I was a great dad. I love motor racing. It’s definitely a huge part of my life. It’s not everything.”