Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Wildergrave
from News Talk z'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're talking now to Chip Ganassi Racing's the number nine car,
Scott Dixon, as we look ahead to a double header
over the weekend the Milwaukee Mile, a couple of two
fifty races. Scott, Welcome to the show. We'll talk about
last week shortly, but look ahead to Milwaukee. Look, this
is the first time they've been there since what twenty fifteen,
(00:33):
It's been a while, and you have history there. You
won back what an oh nine, so place you probably
quite enjoy.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yeah, it's definitely you know, good good memories, bad memories
as well. I think I destroyed two cars and four
laps back in maybe two thousand and four, so I
think that might be a record as well. But no,
it's it's definitely a fun place. I think traditionally it's huge, right,
I think the track opened at nineteen oh three, and
you know, the first IndyCar race was there in the
nineteen thirty, so a lot of a lot of history
(01:00):
and used to be always the race after the DY
five hundred the following weekend, So that's how I I
remember it mostly but yeah, looking forward to it. It's
good to see it back on the schedule. Hopefully they're
able to to wrangle the fans and get it back
to where it needs to be as far as an event,
and they're kicking it off with a double header, so
it'll be interesting to see how it plays. But definitely
(01:21):
a very tough circuit, very tricky and trying to get
the car into a good, good and happy spot. So
you know, hopefully we roll off with good speed and
look forward to it.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Mate. Not easier than it was back in I three
because it was a dirt track back then, so I
wouldn't have got sea I think in the fifties. So
I mentioned running that tight mile on the mud, there'd
be something else. It's stock car racing.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yeah, maybe they'll maybe they'll bring that back. They'll convert
it right back to the start and we can start
racing and do it in an IndyCar. But yeah, I
don't know about that, man. It would definitely be interesting.
But yeah, you know, it's again I think just the
history of the place and you know, the big time
names that have that have won it that place, and
I don't know, you know, hopefully I think the Midwest
now has definitely got a ton of races when you
(02:06):
look at it, you know, we've We've got obviously the
Indy five hundred, You've got you know, Road America that's
just up the road, and you got Iowa which is
not too far. You got midd O Higo, you got Detroit.
So you know, definitely a close pack of races in
this demographic. But you know, hopefully other fans come out.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
You're crazy because they had a twenty four hour race
way back in the day at the same track, which
I cannot imagine twenty four hours are turning the left.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Get'll tell me about it.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Let's go back to last week before we look forward
to the two races and of course the final race
of the season. Out on the first lap, it was
pretty ugly. Fittipaldi got the penalty, but it was Kirkwood
that kind of put you crooked, wasn't it When you
re enter the track again. There's not really a lot
that fit a palty can do. Is that pretty much
how you'd summarize it, Scott.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, I guess the only positive was it was over quick,
you know, just frustrating. I think, you know, the last
two races for us, especially when you're getting into the
hunts for the championship, and you know, I think Saint
Louis we had good pace. We just chose a stray
and didn't bail off it quick enough, which put us
in a pretty big hole. And then you know obviously Portland,
(03:12):
but yeah, you know the twenty seven, you know, I
gave him room to get to the apex because otherwise
I think it was going to hit me on the
entry and then just you know, totally drove me off
the circuit, which was for sure an amateur move, kind
of going a bit like going intoor go cutting. And
then the chain reaction was obviously you know, getting back
up to speed and the melee of people trying to
pick which side to go, and I think, you know,
(03:34):
unfortunately for the pole, you kind of hit the curb
there and just just hit us and drove us straight
into the wall. But yeah, it's frustrating when a racing
is like that. You know, we had really good pace
all weekend. Qualifying was a bummer, you know, kind of
missing converting by less than half a tenth, which was
which is super frustrating considering the speed that we had.
So yeah, it is what it is, man, you just
got to put your head down and get after it.
(03:55):
And luckily enough we've got another race this weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Well, I don't need to tell you this. You might
hang up on me, but that qualifying works out, suddenly
you're not in that Malay, you don't add that issue
because you're right up the under the pack. And I
suppose that's the nature of qualifying out there super important
that you're away from all the chaos.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Yeah, I agree, agree, you know, I think we're in
six or seventh at the spot you know when it
actually happens, and you know, yeah, it could either it
can go either way. You know, I've been at the
front being collected and you know, definitely in the midpack,
it definitely gets pretty pretty rough for sure, you know.
So yeah, I couldn't agree more man, And we need
to do a bit of job of that, especially on
(04:33):
weekends like that.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Scott Dixon joining US season, then I'm a nine catchup.
Can see racing currently sitting at fifth, So you've got
three races short of something crazy going on, the Championship
is not coming your way. So after two wins this season,
you're racing for wins. Now that's your primary focus Scott Or.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, absolutely, you know, tou it should be every weekend,
right as just having the mindset of trying to win
each each race. You know, the last three paid the
same amount of points as the first three, so yeah,
you know, I think it's it's been an interesting year.
We definitely had some great races, some standout races, some
good pace, but you know, I think, you know, kind
of the issue that we had at Barber and then
(05:16):
you know the hybrid failing at Mid Ohio than the
Tiaphia Road America, and then you know, the last two
races have definitely put us in a bit of a whole.
So you know, nothing's nothing's impossible until you know you're
told that you can't generate enough points to win the championship.
So we'll keep fighting for it, but definitely a clear
race for second at the minute. And you know, if
it comes to it and I need to help, you know,
(05:37):
Alex and the team you know, get his championship, that's
what we'll be doing.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yeah, well, you've got I suppose that how important is
the team's championship the constructors if you will, because you're
leading that at the moment, is that something that you
lean on that's of great importance. And Formula one it's
all about the constructors arguably.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah, it is in F one just because that's how
they get paid. So it's a it's a different situation
for us. It strictly goes off driver championship, so no
real meaning for the team's championship or anything like that,
especially when you've got you know, our team has five cars.
Some teams have you know, one or two cars, so
you know it works a little bit differently. But no,
(06:18):
it's all about the driver's championship and that's what we're
trying to keep our home at Ganassi and you know,
hopefully Alex can have a smooth run you know, to
a still championship there.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Well, Alex pull out. He has been the racer of
recent times. He's been in fantastic form, but I believe
he's never won at an oval, so a big test
for him. The next three races are all at the oval,
and of course got will Power right behind him. He's
had what three victories this yere he understands ovals, He's
won at Milwaukee Mile. Do you spend much time with
Alex talking to him about how to apply himself at
(06:50):
the end of the season on and oval, and I
suppose deal with will Power, who can be a menace
at the best of times.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Yeah, you know, I think team wise, you know, we
obviously work very closely together, and you know, Alex is
very accomplished and you know, shockingly still hasn't you know,
won a race on a on an oval, which I don't.
I don't think I even realized until this year when
McLaughlin got his first one and they they made the
comment of saying, Alex has never won one. So, you know,
(07:18):
whatever it takes to win championships, you know, maybe you
don't need to win ovals, But I think with kind
of the circumstance of how the championship kind of schedules
have been going, there's definitely more ovals on the schedule.
It's definitely a great time for him to try and
win it. But more to your point, you know, Penske
had been extremely strong on ovals this year, you know,
especially short track stuff, which is the last three. But
(07:42):
you know, I'd like to think with the testing and
some of the off season stuff that we've done as
a team, you know, I think we were much more
competitive at IOWA this year, you know India as well
with a third and fourth with Alex and myself, so
you know, we we we should have the pace, I
hope and hopefully hopefully the nine is winning and Alex
can get on the podium as well.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
And one last thing's got Dixon, thanks so much for
joining us. As always, coming toward the end of the season,
you gotta master plane for when you finally go on
holiday or is it just more racing wherever you can
find it.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, I don't think a lot of the off season
stuff is set in stone yet. I still have a
you know, an IMSA race, sports cor race at Petite
Lamar in October. We have some tests in actually a
lot of sports car testing because I'll be switching to
a new team now that Ganassi is not going to
be running an MS next year for you know, for
that series, so I'll I'll shift to another manufacturer and
(08:37):
a new team for that. So that will that will
make the off season pretty busy, to be honest, And
you know, once you get to December testing and then
once you know, Daytona kicks off in January, so it's
it's always pretty flat out. But looking forward to to
get some downtime with the family.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And then freshening out to have another attack at it
in twenty twenty five. Still quick, still relevant, still hungry.
That's what we like. Scott Dixon, always a pleasure, good
word pal. You enjoy yourself at the ovals.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Huh cheers mate, Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
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