Scott Dixon - Indy Car Champion

[salivor]

Scott Dixon has become the Indy Car Champion this morning at Fort Worth Texas in the last round. Its amazing and I'd probably say one of the biggest moments in New Zealand motor sport history.

I still remember him in his last race in New Zealand just a few years ago before he set off to take on the world. Since then he has just kept on going. His team boss says the only person who hes seen that matches Scott's talent in Indy Cars is Juan Pablo Montoya who currently has the Formula One world at his feet.

Dixon's dream is to reach Formula One and it now seems that hes just taken a few steps closer. Apparently teams are interested though he is signed for next season in Indy Cars. Hopefully he can either get a drive or a testing spot in Formula One in 2005. This guy is the real deal and in just a few years time a Kiwi could be winning the Formula One World Championship. You never know, Michael retires in 2006.... 8) .

 

[Bengal]

Too right!

He is the real deal!

It was an amazing race this morning.
He had his work cut out for him with only 20 odd laps to go, he was lying behind two of his championship rivals and things weren't looking to good. However the two ahead of him touched wheels, which basically put them out of the race handing the championship to Dixon.

Or so I thought a nasty crash happened near the end of the race. It took out Dixon's team mate who was directly behind him. But for a brief few seconds nobody could work out whether it was Dixon or his team mate who was in the accident. Luckily for all of Dixons fans it wasn't him.
So that was a last minute scare!

This is a great moment for Kiwi motorsport (as was Murphs win yesterday).

While on motorsport one last thing

Thanks Lightning Larry

For all the memories

You're a Holden legend for sure!!!!

 

[salivor]

Unfortunatly I had to go to the gym about halfway through the race when Scott was leading while the safety car was out. I came back to read about all the action. It certainly was a lucky break for Dixon with Castroneves and Kanaan touching wheels and Hornish having problems.

I haven't heard anymore news on Brack but apparently he was in serious condition while being taken to hospital, lets just hope that he pulls through ok.

 

[Bengal]

Unfortunatly I had to go to the gym about halfway through the race when Scott was leading while the safety car was out. I came back to read about all the action. It certainly was a lucky break for Dixon with Castroneves and Kanaan touching wheels and Hornish having problems.

I haven't heard anymore news on Brack but apparently he was in serious condition while being taken to hospital, lets just hope that he pulls through ok.

During the presentations the commentator said that Kenny Brack was conscious and able to communicate. Things may have changed since then, but I hope not.

It was heartening seeing all the drivers wishing him well before they started talking about themselves.

 

[Paranoid]

Interested to see how Dixon goes in an F1 car .... considering they use real circuits and not ovals.

 

[salivor]

He'll go fine, hes been racing on proper tracks most of his career until he started up in indy. Montoya certainly made the transition easily, I think people underestimate the skill needed to race in Indy.

 

[Paranoid]

He'll go fine, hes been racing on proper tracks most of his career until he started up in indy. Montoya certainly made the transition easily, I think people underestimate the skill needed to race in Indy.

Must admit I don't know too much about Scotty Dixon, except the impact he has had in the American openwheel series' in the last couple of years.

Not sure if undervalue is the correct term, but certainly don't view success in CART and moreso in IRL as success in F1. I think to go from an American based oval-only series to the international pinnacle of motorsports, not only on driver/circuit level, but on a physical and psychological one as well takes something special. Yes, Monty and Villeneuve did it (though the later walked into a car that was light years ahead of the rest of the field), but Andretti and Zanardi failed to shine. I think the jury is still out on Da Matta.

That being said good luck to the bloke. Be good to an even more diverse field and thin out the Germans, Poms and Brazilians.

 

[salivor]

Montoya has done it with ease and hes the only guy from indy Scott Dixon's team boss has ever seen that he can compare him to in talent. I think the best thing for Scott is to become a test driver for one of the top teams, the problem is many drivers can get lost and forgotten in that position.

 

[Paranoid]

Fair enough.

Let's hope he takes the best option available to him. Would he attract enough sponsor money to be considered by a low-end team for a pay driver seat ?

Let's hope he gets his shot at testing though with a decent team, rather than a backfield one.

He has an IRl contract next season ?

 

[salivor]

I doubt he could attract enough sponsership money. Sure plenty here in NZ would be willing to fork out but theres just not that kind of money in the country.
As I've said in another thread, he was greated warmly by the top teams when he visited earlier in the year. Bob Murray, a kiwi who was manager with McLaren for over 20 years and still in close contact with them definetly says formula one teams are looking at him and interested. He has an IRL contract on the table for next year but his parents say thats not certain and because of the championship win, things will be sorted out in the next couple of weeks so hes not restricted to driving in Indy next year.
There is still a strong Kiwi influence within McLaren and I think that could be Scotts best chance. I don't know how long both drivers are contracted for but I think they are quickly wearing thin with David Coulthard who is once again playing second fiddle though this time its to a young and inexperienced kid. They want Montoya but fat chance of that With him being under lock and key at Williams.

 

[Paranoid]

If he gets a spot in the top 3 I'll be very surprised ... and very impressed.

Although it is unlikely we will see Monty in a Mclaren next year, I think the chance (however smaller) is greater now than it was two weeks ago. Williams were hanging on Montoya cause there was a chance he was gonna be world champion and a brand new reigning champ, especially if it a fan favourite like Monty, would have done them PR wonders next season. With that factor now gone and if they know he is just gonna leave in 2005 anyway and they get a good payout for him NOW then as I say there is a minor chance of a major change.

Unfortantely it is unlikely we will see a change in the top 3 lineups next season.

 

[salivor]

Its very unlikely Dixon will walk straight into one of the top 3 teams, its just unheard of, I think hes a definite chance of getting a testing spot though which is the best way through.

Ron Dennis came out with some warped comments the other day about showing interest in but not stealing others girlfriends. Obviously alluding to the situation with Montoya and that McLaren are just simply showing their interest.

Money talks in F1 but Williams would be stupid to offload him and leave themselves with Ralf Schumacher as their number 1 driver. Ralf is very much like Coulthard in the sense that they can barely make up one testicle between themselves and will never win a drivers championship.

 

[Paranoid]

I didn't mean walking into a drivers seat, even a test seat with one of them would be impressive. Though I think Williams are fairly set with Gene and Pizzaboy and Ferrari have Luca, Burti and Massa (though he is Sabuar bound – again). Mclaren have onlt notably got Wurz, so maybe the Mcalren interest may pay off.

Ron Dennis is a whinger and too put it as nice as I can ..... a prick. :!: Firstly I'm abit alarmed that he refers to Montoya as Frank Williams' girlfriend and secondly I wouldn't put it pass him to steal Monty, Frank's actual girlfriend and Frank's wheelchair if he could and it meant winning again.

I still rate Ralf, once he got settled into the new qualifying he gave it to his generally faster teammate for a while.

If I was Williams I'd try hang onto them both. If I had to release one it would be a tough call, but I’d end up keeping Ralf over Monty. I think he is a much better "overall" race driver – especially mentally – both race brain wise and car setup wise. He is fast, maybe Monty is slightly faster, but not always, but he brings more to the team than Monty can development wise and most importantly BWM wise. I really don't understand the bagging Ralf gets in the media sometimes – this season (despite him having a slow start and ragged finish) he out qualified his team mate, won the same number of races as him, overtook (on track) his bother for position 4 separate times, but still get bombarded with criticism.

Where as Montoya has had a brilliant season, but still spun on his own twice while in the lead, once while in second and lost his championship shot with a silly impatient move but doesn't cope a any back lash. I think he is one of the most exciting drivers and I'm glad he's there, but a big part entertainment is due to his recklessness and the fact his brain often switches off.

 

[Stevo_G]

dixon will have to do more than win that crapwagon series the irl,
is he able to turn right ????

he will have to go to formula 3000 or back to cart to get an f1 drive, he would be better off in cart

 

[Stevo_G]

damm tony george and the irl
cart is probably gone now u androtop tg
irl sux