Scott Dixon became just the third winner of the 2025 NTT IndyCar season, after his win over teammate Alex Palou, at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
The driver of the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing car is just the third winner of the 2025 season, finishing just four-tenths ahead of his title defending teammate Alex Palou. The Australian native makes in 23 seasons total in his career with a win, and 21 seasons straight.
Speaking to the media in the post-race press conference, Dixon answered questions about what it was like to finally win again and have his family there to see him on the top step.
“I think it is the first win with Kit actually here, so that’s pretty sweet. Thankful that they made the drive over today. They only got back to Indy last night around midnight and then decided to drive over this morning. The only one that missed out was Poppy; it was her birthday yesterday, 16th. So hopefully that’s a pretty good present for her”
“But that’s what it’s all about, these memories. You see the photos obviously with Alex and his family that he’s been able to celebrate this year, and for us it’s definitely very special.”
The streak continues
Scott Dixon’s first season in IndyCar began back in 2003, and in the years since he has rarely gone without a win. He has wins in 23 seasons, 21 of those season consecutively. The Australian spoke about what that kind of streak meant to him.
“Yeah, I don’t look at it too much, honestly. Each race I go to, I’m there to win”
With difficult races behind them, many due to mechanical issues, Dixon made sure to focus on the strength of the No. 9 team, and how much of a morale boost this brought them as the season ramps up in the coming weeks.
“We’ve had a load of mechanicals. It’s been extremely frustrating. Indy, I think, was one of the best 500 cars I’ve had and it was over before it even started. This is big for team morale and for everybody involved. We know we can win, just hopefully we can get on a roll here.”
Dixon remains humble and grateful about the career he’s had over his seasons in IndyCar, telling the media he never expected to be where he is now.
“I had big dreams to be racing, but to be in this scenario, to be with this team, to get to work with the people I get to work with on a daily basis is unbelievable, 24 years or 23 years with the same team, is pretty sweet. I pinch myself every day”
Young talent, veteran help
Additionally, Dixon was prompted to speak on his younger teammate Kyffin simpson, who is a year younger than his win per season streak at 20 years old and had a strong race of his own. For a brief moment, CGR had a podium sweep of all three positions but a mishap in the pit lane dropped simpson from the 3rd step.
“Obviously he can lean on myself and Alex quite a bit as well, and since the day I joined this team it’s been an open book. Everybody works extremely well together. Everybody is here to win. He wouldn’t be here if Chip didn’t think that was possible.”
“Yeah, I was hoping that it was going to be a one-two-three. That’s how we left the meeting this morning was that we were going for a one-two-three, and unfortunately had a bit of a situation there, but hell of a job for Kyffin and everybody on the No. 8.”
A rare mistake
As the press conference at Mid-Ohio came to a close, questions were asked of Scott Dixon regarding the rare mistake by Alex Palou, that ultimately he took advantage of and secured the race win.
“I didn’t know if it was him, and then obviously I see it’s a black car. He’s had multiple colors this year, so it’s always hard to figure out, and I saw that he was kind of struggling to get going. Hate to say it, but pleasantly surprised when I saw that he was rejoining the track.”
Scott Dixon had pitted for his last stop before teammate Palou, leading him to be in a far more conservative mode in the closing laps of the race.
He was pleasantly surprised at his results as those last laps ticked away, as the defending champion is never an easy driver to pass.
“That whole stint was definitely not easy. The pace was pretty good. The pace actually for us even on that last stint with the amount of front wing we had in the car was tough.I was kind of shocked we were able to hang with him as much as we could and not really let Lundgaard close on us”
“It would have been tough. He had better tires, more fuel. It was going to be a tough situation. That’s where I was kind of shocked that he didn’t pull away like I thought he would have. I thought he would have been probably a second a lap quicker just because of the scenario that we were in with the heavy save”
Dixon leaves Mid-Ohio 5th in the championship standings, 155 points behind fellow CGR driver and championship leader Alex Palou.
