Dixon quits Indy team
Sir Scott Dixon is calling time with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) at the end of this season after 25 years with the IndyCar team.
While remaining competitive in recent years, the Kiwi, who may well be heading to Arrow McLaren, has had a rocky start to this year with only five top 10 finishes in 11 races to date.
Dixon sits ninth in the championship standings with seven races remaining, while team-mate Alex Palou leads the way. This weekend at the Honda Indy 200 in mid-Ohio, he came 17th.
The 45-year-old says: “You always want to be competitive, the fire still burns strong. Change is inevitable at some point. All I can say is I have a lot of fantastic memories with this team. It wasn’t a decision taken lightly. It’s just time for change and we’ll see what happens in due course.”
Dixon adds it’s difficult parting ways with Chip Ganassi, who he is pictured with above, and describes him as a good friend. “Ultimately this whole kind of situation, through the chats and all that kind of stuff, Chip has been nothing but professional.
“We’ve had pretty open dialogue on what’s happening throughout the process. I guess on the unfortunate side, it was just time for change.”
While details of CGR’s offer to Dixon are unknown, the New Zealander insists that’s not the reason behind the departure. “It was looking at some different stuff,” he explains. “Their option was fantastic, and with Chip it’s always been a sound situation and a fantastic team to be a part of.”
Dixon is a six-time IndyCar series champion – in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020 – and holds the most wins of any active driver with 59. He set the all-time record for series starts in 2025. Of those 59 victories, 58 were in a CGR car.
A CGR statement, issued on July 2, reads: “Dixon recently informed the team he will not be returning in 2027. Scott has meant so much to CGR over the past 24 years. Together we’ve shared championships, many victories and countless moments that have helped define this organisation.
“Because of everything we’ve accomplished together and the legacy Scott has built here, we believed it was important to give him the opportunity to finish his career at CGR and we made him a multi-year offer to do just that.
“We respect he’s chosen a different path and wish him nothing but continued success. Scott will always be a special part of this team’s history and we’re grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together. Our focus now is on finishing this season strong.”
According to media outlets in the United States, Dixon is set to ink a deal with Arrow McLaren. Indianapolis 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist, who drives for Meyer Shank Racing, is also tipped to join the team, with the pair to link up with current Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward for the 2027 season.
Racer.com’s Marshall Pruett has compared the reported move to NFL legend Tom Brady leaving the New England Patriots after 20 years to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the age of 42. He then led the latter to a Super Bowl victory.
Dixon joined CGR in 2002 in the Championship Auto Racing Teams series before switching to IndyCar the following year. He claimed his maiden victory in the opening race of the season and went on to take out the IndyCar title with another two victories.
The Kiwi’s best season was 2008 when he won six races including his only Indianapolis 500 title to take out the overall title for a second time.
Despite a record six titles to his name, Dixon has been in the shadow of CGR team-mate Alex Palou in recent years with the Spaniard having won three of the past four titles.
