Scott Dixon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Scott Dixon CNZM
Dixon at the 2021 Indianapolis 500
Nationality	New Zealand
Born	Scott Ronald Dixon (1980-07-22) 22 July 1980 (age 44) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Nickname	The Iceman
IndyCar Series career
363 races run over 22 years
Team(s)	No. 9 (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Best finish	1st (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020)
First race	2003 Toyota Indy 300 (Homestead)
Last race	2024 Music City Grand Prix (Nashville Superspeedway)
First win	2003 Toyota Indy 300 (Homestead)
Last win	2024 Detroit Grand Prix (Detroit)
Wins Podiums Poles 57 140 32
Champ Car career
39 races run over 2 years
Years active	2001–2002
Team(s)	PacWest Racing Chip Ganassi Racing
Best finish	8th (2001)
First race	2001 Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey (Monterrey)
Last race	2002 Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante (Mexico City)
First win	2001 Lehigh Valley Grand Prix (Nazareth)
Wins Podiums Poles 1 3 0
Previous series
1994 1995–1996 1997–1998 1999–2000 2001–2002	NZ Formula Vee NZ Formula Ford Australian Formula Holden Indy Lights CART Champ Car
Championship titles
1994 1995 1996 1998 2000 2003 2008 2008 2013 2015 2018 2020	NZ Formula Vee Class II NZ Formula Ford Class II NZ Formula Ford Class I Australian Drivers' Champ Indy Lights IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Winner IndyCar Series IndyCar Series IndyCar Series IndyCar Series IndyCar Series
Awards
1999 2001 2003 2004 2006 2008 2009 2015 2019 2020	Jim Clark Trophy CART Rookie of the Year Jim Clark Trophy Bruce McLaren Trophy Jim Clark Trophy Rolex 24 at Daytona overall winner Bruce McLaren Trophy NZ Sportsman of the Year Inducted into MotorSport New Zealand Wall of Fame Rolex 24 at Daytona overall winner Jim Clark Trophy New Zealand Order of Merit Rolex 24 at Daytona overall winner
Signature

Scott Ronald Dixon (born 22 July 1980) is a famous New Zealand race car driver. He drives the No. 9 Dallara DW12-Honda car for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) in the IndyCar Series. Scott is one of the most successful drivers in IndyCar history. He has won the IndyCar Series championship six times: in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020. He also won the famous 2008 Indianapolis 500 race.

Besides IndyCar, Dixon has won the 24 Hours of Daytona race three times. He won with CGR in 2006 and 2015. He also won in 2020 with Wayne Taylor Racing. He has also won the Petit Le Mans race twice.

Scott started karting when he was seven years old. He won 30 big karting titles in Australia and New Zealand. At 13, he started racing cars. He won several championships, including the 1994 New Zealand Formula Vee Championship. He also won the 1998 Australian Drivers' Championship and the 2000 Indy Lights title. He joined Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) in 2001. He won his first major race in his third start. In 2003, Dixon and CGR moved to the IndyCar Series. He won the championship in his very first season.

Early Life and Family

Scott Dixon was born in Brisbane, Australia, on 22 July 1980. He is the youngest child of Ron and Glenys Dixon. His parents were from New Zealand. Scott has two older sisters. Even though he was born in Australia, he is a New Zealand citizen.

His parents loved car racing and owned a dirt speedway in Townsville, Australia. The family moved back to Auckland, New Zealand, when Scott was ten. This was after his father had a big accident. Scott went to Manurewa Central Primary and James Cook High School. In February 2008, he married Emma Davies-Dixon. She was a British and Welsh champion in running. They have three children together.

Starting His Racing Career

Scott started racing go-karts when he was seven. He watched his cousins race and wanted to try it too. His parents encouraged him to become a racer. At eight, he drove a midget car. Scott was inspired by New Zealand drivers like Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren.

For six years, his parents bought more equipment as Scott got better. His father worked hard to pay for Scott's racing. He even borrowed a lot of money without telling his wife. Scott won 30 big karting championships in Australia and New Zealand. This included the 1992 New Zealand Junior Restricted Championship.

At 13, Scott started racing cars. He got special permission to race in bigger events. He won the 1994 New Zealand Formula Vee Championship. He was the youngest person to win it. In 1995–1996, he won the New Zealand Formula Ford Class II Championship. He won 13 out of 14 races. The next year, he won the main Formula Ford class.

Scott's family asked racer Ken Smith to help. Smith became Scott's manager. They planned for Scott to race in the Australian Drivers' Championship. Scott got money from sponsors for each race. In 1997, he finished third in the series. He was named Rookie of the Year.

To help Scott in 1998, some investors created a company called Scott Dixon Motor Sport (SDMS). This company helped pay for his career. In 1998, Scott won the Australian Gold Star Drivers' Championship. He had five wins and seven pole positions. He also finished second in the New Zealand Grand Prix.

Racing in the United States

In late 1998, Scott moved to the United States. He joined the Indy Lights series. He hoped to reach Formula One (F1) one day. He raced for Johansson Motorsports in the 1999 season. He finished fifth overall with one win.

In 2000, Scott joined PacWest Racing's Indy Lights team. He won the championship with six victories. He was the second-youngest winner in the series' history.

CART (2001–2002)

Dixon driving in the 2002 Sure for Men Rockingham 500

In 2001, Scott moved up to the CART series with PacWest. He won his first CART race in his third start. This was the 2001 Lehigh Valley Grand Prix at Nazareth Speedway. He was the youngest driver to win a major open-wheel race at the time. He finished eighth in the championship and won the IndyCar Rookie of the Year award.

In 2002, PacWest Racing had money problems and closed down. Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) then signed Scott. He joined CGR for the rest of the season. He had nine top-ten finishes that year. His best was second place at the 2002 Shell Grand Prix of Denver. He finished 13th in the championship.

IndyCar Series (2003–Present)

First Championship Win (2003–2006)

Scott and CGR moved to the IndyCar Series in 2003. Scott was not sure about racing only on oval tracks. But he quickly learned how to do well. He won his very first IndyCar race at Homestead–Miami Speedway. He then won two more races that season. He finished second at the final race. This helped him win his first IndyCar championship with 507 points.

In 2004, Scott had a tougher year. His car's engine was not as powerful as others. He finished tenth overall. In 2005, he won one race at Watkins Glen. This was his first win in 40 races. He finished 13th in the championship.

For 2006, CGR switched to Honda engines, which were more powerful. Scott started the year with two second-place finishes. He won two races that year, at Watkins Glen and Nashville Speedway. He finished fourth in the championship.

Second Championship and Indy 500 Win (2007–2010)

Dixon in the 2007 Motorola Indy 300 at Infineon Raceway

In 2007, Scott had a great season. He won three races in a row. He also won at Sonoma. He was very close to winning the championship. But in the last race, his car ran out of fuel. He finished second overall, just three points behind the winner.

Dixon celebrating victory in the Indianapolis 500 in 2008

The 2008 season was amazing for Scott. He won the first race of the year. Then, he won the famous 2008 Indianapolis 500. This was his first and only Indy 500 win. He led 115 laps in that race. He won five more races that year. Scott won his second IndyCar championship in a very close finish.

Dixon's victory in the 2009 Honda 200 meant he surpassed Sam Hornish Jr.'s all time IndyCar series wins record

In 2009, Scott continued to win. He won five races that season. One of his wins at Mid-Ohio broke Sam Hornish Jr.'s record for most IndyCar wins. He finished second in the championship, just behind his teammate.

Dixon practising for the 2010 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Scott won three races in the 2010 season. He won at Kansas, Edmonton, and Homestead. He finished third in the overall championship standings.

More Championships (2011–2015)

Dixon after winning the 2011 Indy Japan: The Final

In 2011, Scott won two races: Mid-Ohio and Motegi. He finished third in the championship.

Dixon en route to winning the 2012 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

The 2012 season saw Scott win two races. He won at Detroit and Mid-Ohio. He finished third in the championship again.

Dixon during a press conference after winning the 2013 Pocono IndyCar 400

Scott signed a new contract with CGR in 2012. In 2013, he had a fantastic year. He won four races, including both races of the Toronto doubleheader. He won his third IndyCar championship.

In 2014, CGR switched to Chevrolet engines. Scott won two races that year, at Mid-Ohio and Sonoma. He finished third in the championship.

Dixon claimed his third IndyCar championship with victory in the 2015 GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma

Scott continued with CGR in 2015. He won at Long Beach and Texas. In the final race at Sonoma, he won the race and his fourth IndyCar championship. He tied with Juan Pablo Montoya in points. But Scott won the title because he had more race wins (three to Montoya's two).

Later Championships (2016–2020)

In 2016, Scott won two races: Phoenix and Watkins Glen. He finished sixth in the championship. This was the first time since 2005 he was not in the top three.

Dixon racing in the 2017 Indianapolis 500

CGR switched back to Honda engines for 2017. Scott started on pole position for the 2017 Indianapolis 500. But he had a big crash during the race. Luckily, he was not hurt. He won the Kohler Grand Prix at Road America. He finished third in the championship.

Dixon competing in the 2018 ABC Supply 500

In 2018, Scott won three races: Detroit, Texas, and Toronto. He consistently finished well in other races. He won his fifth IndyCar championship.

Dixon in the lead of the 2019 Indianapolis 500

Scott signed a new contract with CGR through 2023. In 2019, he won two races: Detroit and Mid-Ohio. He finished fourth in the championship.

The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott started the season strong. He won the first three races in Texas, Indianapolis, and Road America. He also won at Gateway. He finished in the top ten in all but two races. Scott won his sixth IndyCar championship, beating Josef Newgarden.

Recent Seasons (2021–Present)

Dixon racing in the 2021 Indianapolis 500

In 2021, Scott won one race at Texas. This was his 19th season with at least one win, breaking A. J. Foyt's record. He finished fourth in the championship.

In 2022, Scott started on pole for the 2022 Indianapolis 500. He led many laps but got a penalty for speeding in the pit lane. He finished 21st. He won two races that year, at Toronto and Nashville. He finished third in the championship.

Scott improved his qualifying in 2023. He won three races: the Gallagher Grand Prix, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, and the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. He finished second in the championship.

Dixon at Mid-Ohio in 2024

In 2024, Scott won at Long Beach and Detroit using smart fuel-saving strategies. He also reached a new record. His second-place finish at Milwaukee gave him 142 career IndyCar podiums. This moved him past Mario Andretti for the most ever. He finished sixth in the championship.

Sports Car Racing Career

The No. 2 Riley-Lexus Dixon shared with Salvador Durán, Alex Lloyd and Dan Wheldon at the 2008 24 Hours of Daytona

Scott also races in endurance events. These are long races that last many hours. He first raced in the 1999 Petit Le Mans. In 2006, he won the 24 Hours of Daytona race with his teammates. He won it again in 2015 with CGR.

The No. 66 Ford GT of Ryan Briscoe, Dixon and Richard Westbrook that finished third in the LMGTE Pro class of the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans

From 2016 to 2019, Scott raced the Ford GT in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. His team finished third in 2016. In 2018, he won the GTLM category of the 24 Hours of Daytona.

In 2020, he won the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona again, this time with Wayne Taylor Racing. He also won the 2020 Petit Le Mans.

Dixon competing during the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.

In 2023, Scott finished third at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona. He also finished fourth at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2024, he won the 2024 Petit Le Mans.

How Scott Drives

Scott Dixon is known for being a very patient driver. He is often better in races than in qualifying. He can make his car perform well for a long time. This patience helps him save fuel during races. He can drive fast while using less fuel. This means he can make fewer or faster pit stops. This strategy often helps him win races.

He is also very good at making small adjustments to his car while driving. This helps him handle the car perfectly. Experts say he is always trying to get the most out of his car, even when things are difficult.

Other Activities and Awards

Dixon before the 2021 REV Group Grand Prix at Road America

Scott is an ambassador for groups that help young cancer patients, like CanTeen. He also supports Chip Ganassi Racing's Women in Motorsport program. He believes women can help racing teams do better.

He has appeared on TV shows like Late Show with David Letterman. His life was also featured in a documentary called Born Racer.

Scott has won many awards for his racing. He won the Jim Clark Trophy several times. He also won the Bruce McLaren Trophy. In 2009, he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. In 2019, he became a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. These are special honors from New Zealand. He was named New Zealand's Sportsman of the Year in 2008 and 2013.

In 2009, New Zealand Post released stamps featuring Scott and other New Zealand racing champions. In 2018, the Mayor of Indianapolis declared September 24 "Scott Dixon Day." In 2024, he was added to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Indianapolis 500 Results