Dixon ‘can win sixth Indycar title’

Chip Ganassi believes Scott Dixon has a sixth Indycar title in him, expressing high hopes for the looming season.

‘‘To say I’m excited about Scott Dixon would be the understatement of the year,’’ team boss Ganassi said of his New Zealand star in a season-preview.

‘‘He’s taken our team to a new level in terms of how we look at things and how we approach things. I like our No 1 driver.’’

Dixon, 38, won his fifth title last year and now has only AJ Foyt in front of him with a record seven championships. Dixon has won 44 races and sits third all-time behind Foyt and Mario Andretti in career victories.

Ganassi, who has been guiding Dixon since 2002 has run out superlatives for him.

‘‘I’ve had a lot of great drivers over the years, and someday we’ll look back and rate them. But Scott, he’s the champion, with most wins of any active driver and most championships [of active drivers]. You tell me what that means? Whatever it means, it is something good,’’ he said.

Ganassi believed the winning formula remained the same in an increasingly deep field. It was about making the best of every situation. His philosophy has been about winning but if you can’t come first, finish second. If you can’t make second, then try to place third.

‘‘It will take the same as it always does to win a championship,’’ Ganassi said.

The IndyCar fleet have testing at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas today and tomorrow.

The season opens on the street circuit of St Petersburg, Florida, on March 11 (NZT).