The noise surrounding Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon has been rather quiet.
Instead, the main storyline entering the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES seasons resides around his teammate Alex Palou, who can become the first driver since Dario Franchitti (2009-2011) to win three consecutive series championships. Another major preseason topic is the aspiration of Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden becoming the first driver in the 109-year history of the Indianapolis 500 to win three in a row.
Young stars Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward, along with Team Penske teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power, are often discussed as top contenders to halt both drivers’ reign.
Even FOX Sports’ introduction as the new TV provider is a major talking point, including promotional commercials featuring Newgarden, Palou and O’Ward.
What about Dixon?
Are we overlooking a generational talent with six NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships?
That’s the way he likes it.
“I'm fine with flying under the radar,” he said. “That's what I love the most. Keep those guys working flat out. That sounds good to me.”
In all fairness, Dixon, 44, enters this season on the heels of his worst points finish (sixth) since finishing there in 2016. Since 2006, those are the only two instances where Dixon has finished worse than fourth in points.
However, the chill isn’t thawing on the driver dubbed “Ice Man.”
Dixon extended his streak of 20 consecutive years with a win last season by earning two victories – Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. That’s the longest streak in major motorsports history.
He pinpointed the lack of execution on the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing team as to why he slid to sixth in points.
Expectations entering a new season are that’s been repaired. In fact, Dixon noted the search to correct mistakes from 2024 could make the No. 9 team stronger because it found plenty of other areas that might have been brushed aside with a stronger year.
“It sucks to get beat, and I hate it,” Dixon said. “I think that's what drives you. As I've always said, it's weird how you don't really think too much about the championships that you won. It's kind of the ones lost and even going to a different level, about the races that you lost over certain things or just not getting it right.
“We definitely have some big areas and some low-hanging fruit where I think we can make some big shifts and some big changes for a positive effect.”
One of those changes is Chip Ganassi Racing scaling back from five full-time cars to three due to the introduction of the new charter system. A byproduct of that shift will be in the attention to detail and getting back to basics. Dixon’s teammates this season are Palou and Kyffin Simpson.
“I think they were a little stressed on people and size of the team and things like that,” Dixon said. “It's just sometimes some areas lack a bit or cataloging things don't work as well. You don't have the same amount of parts maybe that are in rotation and things like that.
“I know for the crews it was kind of difficult, especially with how the season is structured. Those summer months are pretty brutal.”
A refreshed effort has Dixon motivated to join elite company. He is nine wins and one championship short of tying A.J. Foyt for most all-time. The pursuit of reaching both stats is as strong as ever, and he would love nothing more to rebound with a record-tying seventh title in 2025.
“The fire burns strong,” he said. “I'm looking forward to getting after it for another year.”