High five for Dixon
Scott Dixon is so cool he’s known as the Iceman. But his boss, Chip Ganassi, reckons his qualities might even be tougher than that. ‘‘He’s the driver that if you were to take a stone and inject some brains into it, you would chisel out Scott Dixon,’’ team owner Ganassi said.
Ice can melt but Dixon was as tough as granite over the closing stages of the Indycar season as he withstood a late charge from Alexander Rossi to eventually seal an amazing fifth championship, an achievement second only to the legendary AJ Foyt’s seven titles on the all-time list.
It took a cool head and some real brains to get the deal done, especially as he somehow survived a title-threatening pileup in the penultimate race in Portland a fortnight ago and then used his experience to resist rushing things too far in the season finale yesterday when Rossi had an unexpected hiccup on the first lap.
Dixon was content to cover a hard-charging Rossi as the American staged a remarkable fightback, aware of the bigger picture than chasing a chequered flag at Sonoma Raceway for the ultimate crowning glory.
This was a case when second was as good as first.
And surely Dixon must be ranked as good as anyone in the rich history of New Zealand motorsport, a category where Kiwis are consistent pacesetters whether it’s behind the wheel of a car or driving the technology to make them go fast.
In open-wheel racing Indycars
At a glance
have lived in the shadow of the international monster that is Formula One.
But the American scene has a heck of a championship going these days and when it comes to sheer competition they arguably shade their glamorous rivals.
This was the 13th consecutive year the title has been decided in the final race and Dixon triumphed in a season when there were eight different race winners. This was no procession, he had opponents coming at him around every bend.
Even the wily old Ganassi, who has overseen 12 titles for his team, admitted he couldn’t envisage the durability of Dixon whom he signed in 2002. He seems ready to commission a statue to acknowledge that.
Dixon, 38, reckons this year’s effort is the most cherished of his handful of titles, even surpassing his 2008 championship run that included the Indy 500 victory.
It has been achieved with impeccable timing as he gets set to release his Hollywood biodocumentary Born Racer. The ultimate victory lap should be quite something.
Surely it’s time for Dixon to get the ultimate honour back home.
Two of his Indycar titles, in 2008 and 2013, have led to New Zealand sportsman of the year wins at the Halberg Awards.
His latest achievement puts him in pole position to top that that when the Kiwi sporting achievements of 2018 are weighed up. There’s a bit to play out before December 31 rolls around, but right now it’s hard to think of anything in any sport that eclipses what Dixon just pulled off.
He’s just chiselled out his own piece of history. If the Halberg academy members have any brains, they’ll be putting the supreme award on ice now.