Scott Dixon, who remains under contract with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, has been linked to a team owned by Gil de Ferran that is expected to join IndyCar next season after several years in the American Le Mans Series.
That would then open a seat that could be filled by Danica Patrick, whose contract with Andretti Green Racing expires this season. Patrick is represented by IMG, which is currently “gathering facts” on possibilities in both IndyCar and NASCAR.
Signing with Ganassi would give Patrick a chance to continue her IndyCar career while running in selected NASCAR races to determine if she wants to make a full-time move in the future.
“[IndyCar racing] is the type of racing that I love; this is the type of racing that I grew up with,” Patrick said. “But I need to know what direction this series is heading and if it continues to grow, because NASCAR has a lot of fans and a lot of opportunities that any race driver would have to consider.”
Dixon’s departure, however, would be a bit of a surprise, but the driver from New Zealand admits he has a tremendous amount of respect for de Ferran, who won the 2003 Indianapolis 500 when he was at Team Penske.
Of course, Dixon also emphasized that it would take a great opportunity to lure him away from Target/Chip Ganassi Racing.
If Dixon stays and Patrick signs to give Ganassi three drivers including Dario Franchitti, Dixon said he would have concerns about how well that would work.
“It’s going to have to be a really good option for me as a driver and as a brand to expand beyond, because I already drive for a great team,” Patrick said. “So we’ll just have to see.”
“Danica Patrick is one of the best IndyCar drivers on the face of the earth,” said Mike Hull, the managing director of Target/Chip Ganassi Racing. “She is a quality IndyCar race driver and the thing that bothers me the most is first of all she doesn’t get credit for being one of the best American drivers that’s runs IndyCars and that needs to be said.
“I would hope she would concentrate her efforts on winning an IndyCar championship, winning IndyCar races and the Indy 500 because really that is what open wheel racers wants to achieve in the world.”
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