Reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon says he has no idea for how long he will continue to compete in the series.
Dixon burst onto the US racing scene in Indy Lights in 1999, eventually going on to win the series a year later, then raced in Champ Cars across 2001/02, before joining IndyCar in 2003.
Dixon passed a half-century of victories in 2020 en route to a sixth crown at the age of 40.
Advancements in sports science has helped enable athletes to remain fit and healthy thereby allowing for the possibility to extend their careers.
Several drivers in the field are also extending their careers into their 40s, such as Will Power, Juan Pablo Montoya and Helio Castroneves, while Dixon’s new team-mate, NASCAR convert Jimmie Johnson, is 45.
“I don’t think you can ever really put a time scale on it or an age or anything like that,” said Dixon.
“I think everybody is pretty unique and pretty different. If anything, I think we’ve seen the longevity, not just in our sport but across sports in general.
“There’s so many different ways, whether it’s the mental game or training or anything like that. The thing I love about the IndyCar Series is that it’s not really a constant – well, it is a constant.
“It’s constantly changing, whether it’s the track venues to the style of the car or updates like the aeroscreen for safety and things like that that do change the challenge of what we have at hand for a driver or for the engineering group, as well.
Dixon made it clear his still finds enjoyment in his work and believes the intensity of the competition is what continues to the fuel the drive within him.
“I love the sport more than anything at the moment. I feel very lucky,” he added.
“I feel very privileged to be able to do what I do and especially with the group of people that I get to work with.
“Probably the most inspiring part of it is when you walk through the doors at Chip Ganassi Racing, the competition level or the competitiveness that you feel in that environment, it’s pretty intense.
“I think that’s definitely one that drives me. And then you look at the competitiveness of the field is insane. The will of wanting to try and win and then keep that winning situation, it tugs at you pretty hard. I don’t know.
“I guess the short answer [on how long I’ll stay] is I have no idea.”
Dixon will begin the defence of his IndyCar crown at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on April 18.
