Dixon looks strong on Indycar circuit

While talking to one of my clients this week after his race at Pukekohe we strayed onto the subject of his younger years and the karting scene.

This is where he competed side by side with all the big names in New Zealand motorsport including the late Jason Richards who was so emotionally remembered at the weekend with the presentation of his memorial trophy to his team mate Jason Bright.

But the name that triggered a response in me was Scott Dixon.

With all the hype and talk of the V8s returning to Pukekohe and dramas in Formula One including the return to the dangers of Bahrain this weekend, the Indycar season was seemingly passing by unnoticed.

Sure there have been only two rounds gone but it was pleasing to see Dixon finish second at the Birmingham Circuit in Alabama adding to his fifth place at the opener in St Petersburg, Florida.

This places him in excellent shape early on in the season with second place in the championship behind the fence climbing and always outspoken Helio Castroneves.

Dixon is a fair few years between championship titles but he always gets himself inside the top three at the end of a season often having to fight back from some disastrous starts to the year.

This weekend the Indycar field are in California at Long Beach, a street circuit where he will be expected to do well as long as he can keep the car off the concrete walls, the inherent danger of all temporary street circuits.

Indycars has progressed well over the seasons by moving away from being a predominantly oval series, which I consider to be the most boring of motorsport circuits.

Sure, the series incorporates six oval circuits, and of course we cannot forget that includes the almighty Indy 500 in all it's magnificence, but with the integration of CART into Indycar we have seen the ratio switch during the years to where we currently have 13 road courses.

Ironically, Dixon being a Kiwi honed his skills on road circuits but has forged his international fame on ovals with the Chip Ganassi team who shine on these circuits and are also a formidable force in NASCAR.

But the combination of a team experienced on ovals, Dixon and a Scottish team mate Dario Franchitti with experience on circuits around the world, the pair are never far away from the top of the points ladder and both past multiple champions.

Dixon is looking strong after two rounds and although there is a long season before him we can expect another strong campaign as he vies for another Indycar title.