Whether it’s being ‘embarrassed’ about his qualifying form, botching the Indianapolis 500 with a pitlane speeding penalty when he should have finally ended his drought there, set-up gambles failing to pay off or personnel movement disrupting his part of the Ganassi team, it’s felt in many ways like a nightmare 2022 season for IndyCar’s most successful current driver.

But, clearly there’s room for analysis of that hypothesis, because all of that aside he’s only finished outside of the top 10 once all season and that was in that ill-fated 500.

dixon’s latest win is more important than you might think

To see Scott Dixon win a race is a familiar sight, so much so that perhaps fans don’t always consider how difficult they come sometimes for him. Especially this year. Especially in the 14 months since his last win at Texas Motor Speedway. “We needed this,” he beamed to a crew member leaving victory lane in Toronto on Sunday.

“It’s been a bit of a blah year,” Dixon said when asked about the win in the context of his 2022 plight.

“We’ve had loads of top fives, but they’re not going to win you a championship. We’re in the business of winning, right?

“I think that’s where it gets frustrating. You see the close misses.

“Indy is a good example. Indy is a good example for several years. It’s a team effort. I made a big mistake this year. Definitely frustrating.

“I think you start to hit a bit of a bottom-out.

“It’s weird, this sport. When you’re on a roll, you just think it happens, it’s easy, stuff like that, you maybe don’t really respect it as much.

“There are low points. I’ve had these periods in my career just where you have to be really respectful of the sport. When it comes, you got to be extremely happy about it.

“It’s never one thing. It’s attention to detail. It’s hundreds of small details. But that’s where this team, as we’ve seen, winning last year’s championship with Alex [Palou], to winning the Indy 500 this year with Marcus [Ericsson], they’re a tough group and a group that works extremely hard.

“Just very lucky to be a part of this team.”

dixon’s latest win is more important than you might think

All but one of Dixon’s now 52 victories have come with Ganassi and his new tally matches IndyCar legend Mario Andretti for second in the all-time list. Dixon, about to turn 42, added he’d “probably have to be racing well into my 50s for that one” in response to questions on if he could reach AJ Foyt’s record of 67.

But really, Dixon knows this win was far more important for his immediate future than for when he’s looking back on the milestones he reached during his career.

Even one race finish outside the top 10 this season in 10 attempts isn’t good enough in this series and you need to be winning two-to-four races if you’re going to win the title because of the weighting of points in IndyCar.

“I’m probably more relieved to just get a win,” he said when asked whether the victory or reaching Mario’s record was more important.

“There’s definitely people that just keep talking about it [not winning], which gets a bit frustrating. It’s not like anything changes. We’re still the same process, trying just as hard.

“Again, I think in this sport you always think about the close misses that you had more than the actual victories. It can be a bit sad in some ways.

“I’m happy for myself and my family, but really happy for the team. They’ve deserved it. They’ve done a tremendous job this year.

“We got the win, so that’s all that matters at this point, I guess.”

You’re only as good as your last race as the old adage goes. That’s certainly been Dixon’s mindset in the past.

It has to be given some of the lows that punch you in the gut in IndyCar, such as his Indy 500 experience, which Dixon repeatedly brought up in the post-race press conference despite not being specifically asked about it. It’s clear it’s still a sore one for him to process as he has five poles there but only one win.

“Obviously if you keep knocking on that door, eventually it opens,” he said of the Toronto win.

dixon’s latest win is more important than you might think

“I was hoping it was going to open at Indy this year, but it just wasn’t the case.”

Winning Indy would have boosted him significantly in the championship standings, too, because he’d be three points off the championship lead, although I won’t assess that further for fear of being accused of over-criticising double points at a race everyone is already trying to win anyway.


Standings without double points at Indy 500

1 Marcus Ericsson 301 =1 Will Power 301 3 Scott Dixon 298 -3 4 Alex Palou 292 -9
5 Josef Newgarden -11

Actual current points

1 Marcus Ericsson 2 Will Power -35 3 Alex Palou -37 4 Josef Newgarden -44
5 Scott Dixon -44


Back to Toronto and the race looked fairly serene from the outside. Pitting a lap before Colton Herta allowed Dixon to leap ahead with a lap with clean air and fresh tyres. From there he had to manage the restarts and stay clean.

It wasn’t that simple, though. There was the small matter of Alex Palou’s future looming over this team and causing “awkwardness” as Dixon put it before criticising Palou’s handling of the situation pre-weekend.

Dixon praised Chip Ganassi’s “calmness” and “real leadership” during the week in which the team’s announcement that it was keeping Palou for 2023 was followed almost immediately by Arrow McLaren SP announcing that it had signed Palou itself. Palou then distanced himself from his current employer’s press release about his 2023 deal.

“I think somebody’s kind of throwing their toys out of the cart, running around, that’s going to be a different reaction for everybody to see,” added Dixon.

“He’s very calm. I think it was a great calmness and a sternness that he had this weekend that kind of clears out the noise that’s out there.”

Don’t forget, Dixon himself has been pursued by Zak Brown – perhaps again recently, as it was rumoured he was in 2019 – and faced countless questions and rumours about whether he intends to carry on racing, which he emphatically answered saying he can’t see his current situation changing for five years if he remains competitive.

Sunday seems to have put the last question to bed!

A trip to Toronto and the travel complications that arise from that also meant many crews didn’t have their optimal personnel and Dixon’s engineer Michael Cannon was absent.

That said, the replacement was Chris Simmons, who engineered Dixon to five of his six championships before moving into more senior roles at Ganassi. Not a bad replacement and perhaps another indicator of the level of resources the top teams boast.

His car was still oversteering massively which he said helped with rolling to the apex of the corner and therefore saving some fuel, but proved problematic when he had to push to extract lap time and keep Herta behind.

So this victory, like Dixon’s season, had plenty of behind the scenes complexities that contribute to a somewhat bizarre year that in many ways deserves more credit than it’s received so far.

But such is the way with Dixon, he’s just held to a much higher standard.

Keyword: Dixon’s latest win is more important than you might think

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Best cars for a 'Love Bug' remake

Tennessee’s Yard Art The Thorndyke Special The Hot Rod The Hippie Van Jim’s Lamborghini Growing up, it’s safe to say my absolute favorite movie was Disney’s “The Love Bug.” As a kid living in a world before Pixar’s “Cars,” it was pretty much the best car movie. I loved ...

View more: Best cars for a 'Love Bug' remake

Audi timing belt tensioner prompts Utah bomb squad visit

An aftermarket timing belt tensioner found in a Salt Lake City apartment prompted a visit from the bomb squad this week after it was mistaken for a potential explosive device. Police partially evacuated the apartment complex in which it was found “out of an abundance of caution” and called ...

View more: Audi timing belt tensioner prompts Utah bomb squad visit

2023 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 will get more expensive

GMC Sierra HD pickups are about to get more expensive again after recently becoming more expensive, according to GM Authority. In July, GMC and Buick raised the prices on certain vehicles in their lineups anywhere from $975 to $1,675 by making the previously optional OnStar a standard feature. Next ...

View more: 2023 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 will get more expensive

Our week with EVs: Recapping the diverse collection of electric cars we tested

Mercedes-Benz EQB First Drive Review: Next electric Benz is a little different 2022 Chevy Bolt EV Road Test Review: Time to play EV, gas or airplane 2023 Genesis GV60 Road Test Review: The third of Hyundai Group’s E-GMP EVs is the fastest, but softest It may be hard to ...

View more: Our week with EVs: Recapping the diverse collection of electric cars we tested

Europe car sales lowest since 1996 after 12-month decline

BERLIN – Europe registered the lowest number of new passenger cars in the month of June this year since 1996 at just over 1.06 million vehicles, with some carmakers seeing sales drop by nearly 50%, data from Europe’s automobile association showed on Friday. Volkswagen Group was the hardest-hit major ...

View more: Europe car sales lowest since 1996 after 12-month decline

More Than Just A Carmaker: Toyota Motor PH Launches Toyota Mobility Solutions

Automotive industry leader, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) inaugurated today Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines, Inc. (TMSPH), a wholly owned subsidiary that will be a provider of mobility-related services. TMSPH ventures into the development and offering of a range of ‘new mobility solutions’ that will enhance Toyota as a brand ...

View more: More Than Just A Carmaker: Toyota Motor PH Launches Toyota Mobility Solutions

'F1 22' feels fast and familiar | Gaming Roundup

‘F1 22’ impressions ‘Construction Simulator’ is launching Sept. 20 Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. This week in racing game news: ‘F1 22’ impressions At its core, “F1 22,” the latest installment in the F1 ...

View more: 'F1 22' feels fast and familiar | Gaming Roundup

Watch a single-engine plane crash-land on 91 Freeway in California

A single-engine Piper Cherokee airplane was forced to crash land on the 91 Freeway in California after losing power about 45 minutes outside of Los Angeles. Yes, that means this was a very busy highway, practically bursting at the seams with traffic. No, amazingly nobody died, either in the ...

View more: Watch a single-engine plane crash-land on 91 Freeway in California

Ford files 'Mustang Dark Horse' trademark application

Make adventures more comfortable with high-quality Jeep grab handles

New Lucid Air variant to debut & Stealth Look to be on display during Monetary Car Week

Chevy offers incentives to prevent Corvette Z06 flipping

Average U.S. gas price falls below $4/gallon

German court: SUV driver must pay more than a car for running red light

Australian vehicle crash tests to include underwater performance

Toyota C-HR rumored to get revamp next year and an EV version

Geely's electric Zeekr 009 is an EV Alphard we never had; 700 km, 542 PS, top speed 190 km/h

A Newey, Brawn and Anderson row that shows F1 doesn’t change

Sorry, EV buyers, you won't get to pick your own pedestrian safety sounds

There won't be enough copper to meet climate goals, study indicates

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel