CART: Scott Dixon Turns Heads Breaking Records Early In Rookie Season

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

June 12, 2001

(Indianapolis, IN)- Even though PacWest Racing Group driver Scott Dixon is the defending Dayton Indy Lights Series champion, very few people expected him to find the success he has found so early in his rookie campaign. In only his third career Champ Car start, the 20 year-old Dixon piloted his Reynard/Toyota to the front of the pack at the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix to become the youngest winner in open-wheel racing history. Because of his successful past, the surprise was not in the fact that he won, but how quickly he did so, as Dixon himself admitted "It was a shock to win this early."

Dixon piloted his Reynard/Toyota to another fantastic result at the Miller Lite 225 at the Milwaukee Mile. Starting eighth, Dixon drove another calculated race, finishing third, earning his second trip to the podium this season, and continuing his string of great results.

The young New Zealander is currently one of the hottest drivers on the CART FedEx Championship Series, as he is the second-highest point scorer over the last three races. His recent success has catapulted him into sixth place in the driver's championship standings, only two points out of third. Dixon leads the race for the Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year award with 38 points, placing him 15 points ahead of his closest rival.

Many observers note that Dixon drives with poise well beyond his 20 years, and his results this season are a testament to that. Dixon has completed 99.5% of the laps run this season, finishing an amazing 807 of the 811 laps possible. Dixon has not only completed the laps, he also has been leading them, and is the only rookie to do so this season. Dixon has led in every race this season except for one, and has been in front for a total of 53 laps. The youngest driver on the circuit, Dixon is also third on the prize money leader-board.

Dixon's meteoric rise in the FedEx Championship series is not completely unexpected. Veteran motorsports journalist John Oreovicz believes "Scott is one of the most promising young racers I've seen in a lifetime of following the sport of Champ Car racing," adding "(he) carries himself with a great deal of maturity and he has the speed on the track to back it up."

As the season shifts into the grueling summer swing, Dixon is poised to continue his success. He participates in a comprehensive fitness program that will allow him to function at peak form throughout the summer, no matter what conditions the team may encounter. Also, because of his early season success, Dixon will have an edge in qualifying, as he will be part of the "fast group," which qualifies last on the road courses and often benefits from a faster racetrack. His Indy Lights experience will pay off as well, as the summer brings many familiar circuits from his past two years in the feeder series.

Text provided by Jodi Graffio

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