In an unexpected turn of events, team owner Chip Ganassi made headlines at the press conference following the IndyCar season’s opening race in St Petersburg 2025. In a statement that left many taken aback, he contended that the race victory should have belonged to a different driver from his team, Scott Dixon, and not the actual winner, Alex Palou.
Ganassi’s bold pronouncement underlines his high regard for Dixon, a driver who, despite the circumstances, demonstrated an exceptional performance. Throughout the race, Palou had been following Dixon, with both drivers starting on the soft tyre. A lap one caution allowed both to discard this tyre, giving them an advantage over those who started on the hard tyre, which wore out and slowed down significantly as the race progressed.
However, the turning point came with less than 30 laps remaining in the 100-lap race. Palou was called in for a pit stop a lap earlier than Dixon, a move that proved to be the winning strategy. It was no easy feat, as Palou had to execute perfect laps to get ahead. His victory is a testament to his skills and the way he handled the race’s every aspect.
Yet, Ganassi revealed that he had intended to pit Dixon at the same time as Palou, but a malfunctioning radio left him unable to communicate the information fast enough. Dixon, who was unaware of the team’s strategy due to the broken radio, continued to race until his fuel light indicated he was about to run out. Ganassi asserted that, had everything gone according to plan, Dixon would have been the winner.
Adding to the drama, this was Dixon’s first race in his entire IndyCar career without a functioning radio. Despite this handicap, he masterfully navigated the race without knowing his competitors’ strategies or receiving any communication from the pits. Dixon’s exceptional performance culminated in a last lap pass on Josef Newgarden for second place, a feat that left many in awe.
This incident sparks a deeper discussion about the recent perception of Scott Dixon’s career. Despite unfortunate incidents and changes within his team, his performance remains top-tier. In contrast, Palou benefits from the consistency of his team, which has remained largely unchanged since his arrival in 2021. This stability undoubtedly plays a role in Palou’s victories.
At 44, Dixon is starting the 25th season of his IndyCar career, while Palou, at 27, is only entering his sixth year. This age difference might lead some to prematurely write off Dixon in comparison to Palou, who is at his peak. However, if Dixon were younger, would there be more scrutiny of the changes in his team and the bad luck he has encountered recently?
Dixon shows no signs of slowing down, despite the instability in his team since his last championship in 2020 and the unfortunate incidents he has faced. This is not to undermine Palou’s achievements, but rather to highlight that Dixon, despite the challenges, remains an exceptional driver. Those quick to dismiss Dixon’s career might want to reconsider their stance – it seems the IndyCar star is far from fading.