Scott Dixon will attempt to become the second driver in IndyCar Series history to follow up one championship season with another. To do so, he’ll have to battle what most fellow drivers refer to as “the usual suspects.”
Those usual suspects include Dixon’s Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dario Franchitti, Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe, Andretti Green Racing’s Tony Kanaan and Panther Racing’s Dan Wheldon. Of those five drivers, four have won the IndyCar Series title in the past, accounting for five of the last six titles. Only Briscoe, who will be in his second season with Team Penske has yet to hoist the trophy.
A strong case can be made for any of the drivers considered contenders.
Dixon put together a record-tying six race victories in 2008 en route to becoming only the second driver to win multiple championships in the IndyCar Series. The New Zealand native also won the title as a rookie in 2003.
“The only way that you can try and do better than last year is to try and repeat.” Dixon said. “To try and repeat 2008 is going to be very tough. It was definitely a stellar season for myself and the team. I think (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) has a fantastic lineup if you just look at it as we’ve got the last two (Indianapolis) 500 champions, last two series champions.
“We definitely are going to have the target on our backs. It’s going to be a hard season, with a lot of the new people as such from last year, have had a lot of time in the cars now, and the teams have been able to prepare the cars maybe a little bit better, the competition level is going to be a lot tougher. 2009 is going to be an exciting season. I see a lot of different winners.”
2007 champion Franchitti, who joins TCGR after a year away from the IndyCar Series, will provide much of the competition. Franchitti has eight victories in his IndyCar Series career, including four in 2007.
“I think having Scott and I on the same team is good,” Franchitti said. “Scott is a great competitor, and he’s going to push me on. We’re going to push each other, for sure. We both believe we can do the job, Chip (Ganassi) believes we can do the job, the guys on the team believe we can do the job.”
Briscoe will attempt to bring Team Penske its second IndyCar Series title, although the team has had three runner-up finishes, including last year with driver Helio Castroneves. After getting acclimated to the team early in 2008, Briscoe finished the season with six consecutive top-10 finishes and recorded his first two series victories, finishing fifth overall. He started the offseason with a victory in the non-points race in Australia.
“I’m sure it’s going to be very tough this year, at least as tough as last year, and I think we’re all pretty sure it’s going to be more competitive. All of the equipment is exactly the same. We had a lot of new teams last year that all have a lot more experience, along with the drivers, so it’s going to be challenging. Team Penske has been working hard over the offseason, and I’ve been working hard and know where I need to improve on last year’s performances. Hopefully we can go out and be one of the guys running for the title.
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