BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Scott Dixon has a secret weapon as he prepares to become a ninja warrior – trainer Jim Leo.
Dixon, the winningest active driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series, has been training for NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” with Leo, the longtime racing trainer. So daunting and unusual are the show’s obstacle courses, Dixon wanted Leo to join the April 29-30 qualifier in Indianapolis.
“He’s definitely into it,” Dixon said today before practice for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by America’s First at Barber Motorsports Park. “At one point, we were trying to get him in on it, as well. He was really enthused about it and amped up. We've been doing a lot of the training for it together.”
Dixon, driver of the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, announced Thursday that he would participate in the Indianapolis city qualifier and city final, which determines which competitors advance to popular obstacle-course challenge show’s national finals later this year in Las Vegas. Leo, whose Indianapolis-based PitFit Training works with drivers and crew members, works with Dixon, Will Power, James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi, among others.
But this – a reality show featuring grueling obstacle courses – is beyond the typical racing-based training.
“The thing about this is that it’s so far out of our wheelhouse of what we normally do,” Dixon said. “But it somewhat complements it, too. It’s something that’s new and exciting. I’ve never done rock climbing, and I think rock climbing is probably the best foundation you could have for something like this.”
Dixon, 37, has been into fitness for much of his career. He competes in triathlons and credits distance running with helping him win four championships and 41 races – fourth on the all-time Indy car list – during his 18-year career.
He also credits Leo’s driver-specific training regimen, which focuses on shoulders, the core, forearms and hands. But the “American Ninja Warrior” competition requires a different set of skills and the two only began training for it recently. “I wish I’d started about six months ago,” Dixon said.
At 5 feet, 10 inches and just 150 pounds, Dixon said he could stand to lose some weight for the competition.
“If I could drop 15 to 20 pounds, that would definitely help – which is crazy in its own right,” Dixon said. “(It’s about) how your body can twist in different ways. From my instances of knowing many drivers, we’re definitely not a very flexible bunch of people, and that plays into this.”
Dixon will be the fifth Verizon IndyCar Series driver to compete in the show. Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Josef Newgarden participated in the Indianapolis qualifier in 2016. Conor Daly took part in the San Antonio qualifier last year.
The skills required for rock climbing – hand strength, feet placement and arm extension – are like those Dixon expects to use for the competition. At times, they have little to do with the skills required for racing.
“There are a lot of movements that have been quite interesting and painful to go through,” Dixon said. “We’ll see where it’s at. I’m taking it as an experience and I’m excited for the opportunity. I just hope I don’t make a fool of myself.”
The new season of "American Ninja Warrior" premieres on Wednesday, May 30 – three days following the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. The first Indianapolis episode is currently scheduled to air on Monday, June 18 when the show moves to its regular Monday time slot (8 p.m. ET/PT). For more information, visit the "American Ninja Warrior" website.
Verizon IndyCar Series action continues at Barber Motorsports Park with a 60-minute practice at 3:50 p.m. ET today that streams live on RaceControl.IndyCar.com and the INDYCAR Mobile app.
Verizon P1 Award qualifying airs live at 4 p.m. Saturday on CNBC, with a same-day replay on NBCSN at 6:30 p.m. The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, 90 laps on the 2.3-mile permanent road course, airs live at 3 p.m., Sunday on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.