Scott Dixon has spent almost his total IndyCar profession within the Quantity 9 Chip Ganassi Racing automobile. The 45-year-old New Zealander is a six-time collection champion with the workforce and the 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner – all in the identical automobile that he drives at this time.
Dixon gained the title in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020 alongside 59 profession wins and the all-time file for collection begins, a quantity that was solely positive to develop along with his time at Ganassi.
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That tenure has formally come to an in depth. Chip Ganassi Racing launched an announcement on Wednesday, after a lot hypothesis, saying Dixon won’t return to the workforce in 2027. This can finish one of many longest and most profitable driver-team pairings in IndyCar historical past.
Dixon’s Latest Seasons
Whereas the precise announcement comes as a symbolic ‘shock’ to the IndyCar world. If you happen to check out the stats of the Dixon and Chip Ganassi Pairing over the past couple of seasons, the choice is not as stunning on paper.
Within the final three seasons (2024, 2025, and 2026), Dixon has solely gained three races in whole, with just one podium so far within the 2026 season which is greater than midway over. We even have to take a look at who Dixon is driving subsequent to.
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Dixon and his teammates might share camaraderie, however for a six-time collection champion, driving subsequent to Alex Palou and his 4 championships could also be an enormous issue within the resolution that the Kiwi driver has made.
Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing Indianapolis 500 Qualifying | By way of Penske Leisure, Amber Pietz
Dixon might have been an important a part of Chip Ganassi’s historical past and legacy, however has he been their lead driver over the previous 5 or so years? That reply is firmly, ‘no’.
That shift has change into particularly clear over the previous three seasons with Palou’s stunning dominance throughout the Ganassi group and amongst the remainder of the IndyCar discipline. In the meantime, Dixon has spent his current seasons ending races quite than successful them. It is a form of erosion that doesn’t come from Dixon’s lack of expertise, however from dropping pace to a teammate who’s redefining what IndyCar racing appears to be like like in at this time’s period.
Subsequent Steps for Chip Ganassi Racing and Scott Dixon
With Dixon’s exit confirmed, Chip Ganassi Racing is already working to search out his substitute. There are apparent choices like Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong, who’s ‘on mortgage’ to the MSR outfit below the Chip Ganassi contract.
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, IndyCar St Petersburg | Penske Leisure: Joe Skibinski
There’s additionally the choice of a swap with whomever Dixon is seeking to substitute, possible Arrow McLaren’s race-winning Christian Lundgaard. In any case, Arrow McLaren has been constructing each on and off the monitor with their new racing heart and several other profitable partnerships besides.
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Though it has not but been confirmed the place Dixon lands subsequent, it won’t be far down the IndyCar paddock. It has been rumored that, alongside one other stunning departure of Felix Rosenqvist from Meyer Shank Racing, each drivers will likely be transferring to Arrow McLaren.
Nothing on that entrance has been confirmed by both Dixon’s workforce or the Arrow McLaren representatives.
For now, the file e book stands because the clearest testomony to what the Chip Ganassi Racing program can produce. A driver who arrived as a rookie champion in 2003 will now depart because the second-winningest driver in collection historical past and write a brand new story at a distinct workforce in 2027.
This text was initially revealed on www.si.com/onsi/f1 as Scott Dixon to Go away Chip Ganassi Racing After 24 Years .
