Scott Dixon from Chip Ganassi Racing has stated that the season-ending events in IndyCar, which now feature three short oval tracks, will undoubtedly add excitement to the championship battle.
Dixon is in pursuit of his seventh title this season, which would equal AJ Foyt’s all-time record, and currently trails his teammate Alex Palou by 53 points. Will Power of Team Penske sits in second, 49 points behind Palou.
Power could have been in a better position were it not for a significant crash involving his teammate Scott McLaughlin in Toronto, leading to a drive-through penalty that dropped him from fourth place, where he was ahead of Palou, to 12th.
Dixon, who triumphed in three out of the last four events last year, achieved his 141st career podium in Canada, tying him with Mario Andretti on the all-time standings. Last season’s final four races included three road and street courses, which he believes benefits a particular team.
“I think the conclusion of the season is definitely intriguing,” Dixon said. “We have one road course left (Portland).
“What is it, four short track races? That should be advantageous for the Penske team, I suppose (smiling). Whether it was designed that way, I can’t say.”
David Malukas and Will Power at the Milwaukee Mile Open Test
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
For the 2024 season, IndyCar has replaced its Texas Motor Speedway race with a double-header at Milwaukee’s one-mile oval, marking its return to the series for the first time since 2015 during the Labor Day weekend.
The other double-header took place at Iowa Speedway, where Team Penske claimed victory in both races with McLaughlin and Power.
“But I believe we had really strong cars at Iowa, too,” Dixon noted. “There it was a different challenge. Passing was quite difficult.
“Time will tell. It’s been a while since we competed in Nashville, and that venue has been great for our team. Milwaukee has been promising in previous years as well.
“Then there’s St. Louis… Anything is possible. We will keep pushing.”
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photo by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Images
With Milwaukee featuring two races and effectively doubling the points available, all eyes are on that weekend, especially after McLaughlin demonstrated their potential with a significant 90-point gain during Iowa’s double-header.
“Milwaukee is going to be fascinating,” Dixon affirmed. “There’s a lot of work to be done on the track formulas, as no one enjoys simply following the leader.
“Unfortunately, the repaved surface at Iowa has changed what was probably our best short track over the last five to ten years.
“It will be crucial to see how our Milwaukee test goes, as the grip will be very low, making it extremely tough to overtake. Discussions about a softer tire are underway.
“Tire degradation is vital. Achieving three to four seconds over a stint could really add excitement. Firestone typically doesn’t want to hear about degradation, but it does lead to thrilling racing.”
