Reigning IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion Scott Dixon received the Sportsman of the Year award during the annual Halberg Awards ceremony Feb. 2 in Auckland, New Zealand.
The awards, organized by the Halberg Trust, recognize outstanding achievement by New Zealand sports men, women, teams and coaches over the previous 12 months.
“I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t able to make it down,” said Dixon, who grew up in Auckland. “To be honest, I wasn’t ever sure that I would win that award. So, needless to say, I am over the moon that I did. A huge thanks to my family and the many supporters I had a long the way. Without them, none of this would have been possible. 2008 was a great year for me and my wife, and it looks like 2009 is starting off great as well.”
Dixon won a series record-tying six races, including the 92nd Indianapolis 500 from the pole, in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car. He set the series record for laps led in a season (899) and won a record four races from the pole. Other finalists were Olympic board sailing gold medalist Tom Ashley, individual pursuit silver medalist Hayden Roulston, U.S. Amateur Golf champion Danny Lee and 1,500-meter bronze medalist Nick Willis.
| 
|