Reigning IndyCar champion Scott Dixon will be reunited with de Ferran Motorsports for this month’s Petit Le Mans, round nine of the 2009 American Le Mans Series. The 29-year-old New Zealander will line-up alongside regular drivers - team owner Gil de Ferran and promising young Frenchman Simon Pagenaud - in the no.66 XM Radio de Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-02a for the prestigious 1000-mile/10-hour sportscar showdown held at the Road Atlanta circuit on Saturday 26 September.
It will be Dixon’s third appearance in long distance events for front-line de Ferran Motorsports, which has won four of the eight ALMS rounds staged to date in 2009. The 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner made his debut for the team in last year’s Petit Le Mans and returned for this year’s 12 Hours of Sebring where he qualified on pole position. He currently holds third place in the 2009 IndyCar Series and remains in contention for back-to-back titles having won four races from 15 starts for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. He is the most successful all-time driver in the modern Indy Racing League (IRL) championship having won the overall title twice - 2003 and 2008 - and scored 20 race victories.
“We are delighted that Scott will be joining us for Petit Le Mans this year,” confirmed team owner Gil de Ferran. “This will be Scott’s third outing with our team. Not only has he fitted very well with our organization but Scott was also outstanding in all previous times he drove for us, which included putting our car on pole position at Sebring earlier this year. To have someone of his caliber driving with us is very good news indeed. I also want to thank Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Chip personally for allowing their star driver to be with us once again.”
Dixon is relishing another chance to team with de Ferran and Pagenaud in the race-winning no.66 XM Radio de Ferran Motorsports Acura ARX-02a prototype.“I’m really pleased that Chip has given me another opportunity to join Gil and his team. I’ve always enjoyed the chances I’ve gotten in the past to join him and Simon in the ALMS and, specifically, at Petit Le Mans,” enthused Dixon. “I know that de Ferran Motorsports always assembles a strong team and I’m looking forward to doing my part to hopefully put us in a position to be in contention at the end.”
The 12th annual Petit Le Mans classic is set on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn road circuit north of Atlanta. Pre-race practice is scheduled for Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September with qualifying on Saturday 25 September. The 1000-mile, or 10-hour maximum, day-night race starts at 11.15am EDT on Saturday 26 September.
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