Scott Dixon is one of IndyCar’s winningest drivers, and will have his name forever enshrined in the Motorsports Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class.
The announcement was made on Friday afternoon, with Dixon’s long-time team owner Chip Ganassi present to relate his thoughts on why his star driver of over 20 years deserves to have his name added to the prestigious list.
“I guess part of the reason I think I’m in the Hall of Fame is because of this guy, what he’s done for my career,” said Ganassi about Dixon’s achievement.
“I think it’s an honor to be here this day, to have not only one of your drivers go in, but probably the driver that exemplifies what it is to be at Chip Ganassi Racing is Scott Dixon. He is what Chip Ganassi Racing stands for. He’s all about that.
“It’s not something that’s a pick out of a dartboard or out of the sky. You’re here because you’ve earned that right to be here. I think nobody exemplifies what it is today in this series to represent, to be that representative, it’s quite an honor.”
Dixon first ascended to the top level of motorsports in 2001 when he drove for PacWest Racing in the CART Series, and promptly won his first race in the third event of the season at just 20 years old.
He took his first season title two years later in 2003, and has gone on to win five more championships since then.
Dixon’s career statistics are nothing short of amazing. The Kiwi has 53 wins to his name, second only to A.J Foyt on the all-time list, 28 pole awards, six championships, and one Indy 500 victory.
Even as a seasoned veteran, and currently sitting at 42 years old, Dixon continues to place himself consistently at the front of the field in one of the most competitive racing series in the world.
“The first thing that came to mind was reminiscing, how I got started in the sport with my family, with my parents, then obviously very large and almost the whole portion of it with the successes with Chip,” said Dixon.
“I’ve been with this team for over 20 years and we’ve accomplished a lot together. Some tremendous memories.
“As Chip clearly pointed out, this [award] is from your peers. That’s all you can ever ask for I think. It’s right up there, man.
“Like I think by the time, when the event comes around, you soak it in, you’re around your fellow peers, the people I’ve looked up to for many years, I think it’s going to soak in that much more. For me personally, this is one of the ultimate awards that you could ever achieve.”
Dixon is one of seven people that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 class. Seven-time NASCAR champion and recent IndyCar driver Jimmie Johnson will also be part of the same class of inductees, with those two drivers alone making for a star-studded ceremony.
This was the first year that both Dixon and Johnson were eligible for the award, and were accepted into the Hall of Fame without having to wait until after their lengthy careers were over.
Also included in the same class are NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car crew chief Austin Coil, HANS Device inventors Jim Downing & Dr. Robert Hubbard, desert racing legend and Hollywood stuntman Bud Ekins, four-time SCCA national champion and eight-time IndyCar title-winning owner Paul Newman, and 1966 Can-Am champion and championship-winning constructor John Surtees.
All seven inductees will be officially inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame March of next year in Daytona Beach, Florida.
