Scott Dixon Takes Pole For 92nd Indy 500, Red Cars Rule Hallowed Ground

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Scott Dixon Takes Pole For 92nd Indy 500, Red Cars Rule Hallowed Ground

by: Anne Proffit

The red cars took over Indianapolis Motor Speedway hallowed 2.5-mile oval on a mostly sunny, balmy spring day. There’s four of ‘em in the top four positions for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

Scott Dixon owns pole position after making his second run at 226.366 mph over four laps and 10 miles. His Target Chip Ganassi Racing team “made a plan and had the courage to stick with it,” said team manager Mike Hull. “That’s one of the reasons Scott’s on pole. Floyd [Ganassi, Chip’s father] drew a really low number; that determined when Scott would be back in the pit lane for us to practice,” he said. Knowing one try wouldn’t cut it today, “When Scott went out this afternoon for his second run, we fully assumed that was going to be good enough to get us back where we wanted to be.”

In taking his 11th career IndyCar Series pole and third this season, Dixon gave Ganassi’s team its third Indianapolis pole position. Bruno Junqueira achieved the feat in 2002; Arie Luyendyk won pole in 1993, quite a drought. “Pole position [here] means a lot, not just for me but all the hard work of this team. All their development work, all the time in the workshop did this so a lot of thanks goes to them.”

A cool, calm character, Dixon’s achievement “really has sunk in yet. Amongst the drivers it means a lot. If you talk to any of the drivers out there, they know how on the limit you are, and for a general person I don’t think that they realize that stuff. I think between the small group of drivers, it means a lot because, you know, you’re definitely right on the limit and giving it your all. It’s definitely right at the top of accomplishments I’ve done.”