Scott Dixon’s P3 performance at Road America was his 98th podium with Chip Ganassi Racing. The winning combination of Dixon and Ganassi is now in question, after four championships and nearly two decades, as McLaren talks ramp up.
Dixon was first rumoured to be linked to a McLaren move on June 21. The England-based race team has expressed an interest in fielding a Verizon IndyCar Series entry after a successful one-off run with Fernando Alonso in the 2017 Indianapolis 500.
While Alonso has been the favourite to helm the new entry, Autoweek reports that McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been in contact with Dixon.
“We constantly talk to other people, but it’s not in a situation where we are shopping around or looking to move,” Dixon said.
He acknowledged that although the contact had been made, he maintains that he and Brown have maintained contact for many years.
When asked over the French Grand Prix weekend whether or not Dixon had been contacted regarding a ride, Brown simply said “No.”
Dixon would be a strong statement driver to build the program around. As of the DXC Technology 600, he is the third winningest driver in IndyCar history. Like McLaren founder Bruce McLaren, he hails from New Zealand. Perhaps most importantly, he is heralded by many IndyCar drivers as the best in the sport.
McLaren’s previous foray into IndyCar was in partnership with Michael Andretti, who has expressed a desire to have a partnership for 2019 confirmed as quickly as possible.
Dixon’s connection to the team has largely been overshadowed by Alonso, seeking to complete the Triple Crown of Motorsport after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Honda motorsport general manager Masashi Yamamoto recently advised his move to IndyCar.
