Scott Dixon Pulls Off Strategy Gamble at Long Beach
Photo Credit: Chris Owens, Penske Entertainment
Is there anything Scott Dixon can’t do behind the wheel of an IndyCar?
Sunday, the six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion used all of his experience and guile to save fuel and hold off Andretti Global’s Colton Herta and his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Alex Palou, to win the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
The win was one of the most stressful of Dixon’s career.
“It ranks on the stressful meter pretty high. Yeah, that one was up there.
“I think Nashville maybe beat that a couple years ago where we didn't take tires on the last stop, we tried to do crafty and do 50 or 60 laps on a set of tires. That was pretty wild.
“This one was up there because they were coming hard and fast. They were going to get to us with eight to 10 laps to go. Even the scenario do you push, maintain track position over maybe not finishing, it's kind of a hard decision to make.
“Chip actually got on the radio. I couldn't really hear what he said. I heard he was yelling. I guess it meant go. That's what I did. I think he must have said just kind of make sure you stay in the lead 'cause so many times in this sport you kind of unfortunately are on the bad side of that where I've lost many races that way where you kind of give up the position because you know you need to make it on fuel, you get a caution within the next couple laps.
“Yeah, worked out well.”
Photo Credit: Joe Skibinski, Penske Entertainment
Dixon was one of the drivers who pitted during an early caution period in the race after Christian Rasmussen hit the wall in turn four. Arguably the savviest driver in the series, Dixon didn’t question strategist Mike Hull when the call was made to pit.
“It was black and white. I normally question it. Today I was like, Hey, let's just get on with it. They kind of told me late, as well, which I think strategy-wise was well so a bunch of others didn't dive in and take the same stop.
“I knew it was going to be tough. I think what you kind of hope for in the long run is that you get some caution laps again, which would have made it a lot easier for us. Again, the pace was pretty solid, man. We didn't really have to push crazy amounts. It saved the tires as well. The car had plenty of pace left at the end.”
Herta was amazed Dixon was able to save fuel and keep the competition behind him at the same time.
“Yeah, I mean, it was a tough race. I still don't completely know how Dixon made it to the front. I imagine he pitted on yellow and did 34-lap stints, 33-lap stints. I mean, that was pretty impressive.
“From where we were, we thought the best option was staying out there. I think we made the most out of that strategy. I was happy with how the car was. We were super fast.
“Yeah, sometimes you need a little bit more than just speed in INDYCAR racing. We saw that today.”
Like Herta, Palou chose not to pit during the early caution. But Palou was not surprised to see Dixon pull off the gamble.
“It was a tough race I think for everybody. Different strategies. We also thought that the best thing was to stay out. I think it was the best thing for the 10 car. I don't think I could have made it work like Scott did. I was not surprised that he took it because he knows he can make it work. I don't know how. Yeah, I'll study that probably tonight.”
For Dixon, pulling off the win in the manner he did, was extra satisfying.
“Yeah, it's big. Obviously he (Palou) sees what we do. He can see all of that, which makes it difficult. I think a lot of these times, these days, you can't hide anything, especially in our team. Some things back in the day, you used to be able to keep to yourself. That's just impossible now.
“But Alex is very good, as well. He's definitely one of the toughest, one of the best drivers in the series. Obviously defending champion. We've started the season well together, work well together.
“Yeah, it doesn't always work out. It's a difficult discipline I think, trying to make sure before the race that you know you're going to need a car that really rolls well through the corner if you do get into a position like this. It's not just all about technique. There's a lot of steps to take to get to there.
“Even for me today, that was one of the -- I wasn't sure we were going to get that. When you do, it feels damn good.”
Photo Credit: Chris Owens, Penske Entertainment
Dixon has now won races in twenty consecutive seasons in the series. Could Dixon have imagined he’d still be this competitive at 43 years of age?
“I don't know, man. I guess you hope so, but I never really focus on that. I don't know. The only time people try to bring it up, not myself, not people around me. It is just one of those things.
“Obviously age is a thing. I don't know. I don't really see it. For me, I enjoy the craft. I enjoy learning. I guess once it becomes annoying to me or I'm getting beaten badly, maybe it's time to move on. For right now, nothing in the short-term that's going to take me away from that.
“Yeah, I don't know. You always look ahead. You look for positive things. There's no point dwelling on bad stuff.”
The win also moves Dixon to within 10 of A.J. Foyt’s all-time mark of 67.
“Still sounds like a lot,” said Dixon, smiling.
“Some years there you could knock out five, six or seven. Six. I never got to seven. Almost did. Helio (Castroneves) ruined my parade on that one. It's a good year, you can possibly get four or five. That's strong.
“Yeah, we'll just keep our head down, man. It's one of those things that I always say hopefully when you leave the sport, you're happy with the stats.
“Of course, these are big stats. This is a big deal. We're still a long way away from that.”
After Sunday, is anyone willing to bet against Dixon?