Kiwi Indycar star Scott Dixon has been there and done it many times before at Indianapolis but as he attempts to win a second title at the famous Brickyard circuit he is having to adjust like everyone else.
Nothing is quite the same this year as the world deals with the Covid-19 situation and Indianapolis is no different. Normally staged in late May, the iconic race has been pushed back to an August timeslot this year.
The rules and restrictions have also had to change to accommodate Covid-19 life.
“It is definitely, very different,” the Manurewa product told Newstalk ZB after qualifying second for Monday morning’s race.
“Indianapolis is all about the people – the celebration of what typically is the month of May,” Dixon added. “The generations sitting in the same seats for so many years, to the people that skip the whole month of work and sit in the stands and drink beers.
“It is very eerie; very quiet.
“The city is still really behind it though – there are chequered flags on everyone’s homes and out on the lawns.”
Dixon has been the dominant figure in Indycar racing over the past two decades, claiming five championships and figuring at the pointy end of the championship battle in all of those seasons.
He has a handy lead in this rejigged championship as well and impressed during qualifying before eventually parking his Chip Ganassi car on the front row – something he feels is an important factor in adding a second crown to his 2008 triumph.
“The #9 PNC Bank Honda has been strong,” Dixon said.
“I think it is basically trying to clear yourself in those first laps or even the first couple of stints of somebody making a mistake and getting collected up in some issue as has happened to us in the past.
“It gets pretty chaotic in pitlane too, when you are in that mid-pack it can get very stressful in pitlane.”
While Dixon is clearly a strong chance of drinking the famous quart of milk in victory lane on Monday morning, he will have a number of challengers in a series that has definitely become more competitive in recent seasons.
“The talent is really strong in Indycar right now and the competition is just so tight between the teams for one but also the drivers,” Dixon said.
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