September 2, 2024 • 8 mins
Another record in the storied career of Kiwi IndyCar driver Scott Dixon.
The six-time champion's second place finish in race two at the Milwaukee Mile was his 142nd podium finish - moving him past Mario Andretti for the most in series history.
Dixon's runner-up finish completed a Kiwi 1-2, with Scott McLaughlin taking his third win of the season.
Motorsport analyst Eric Thompson joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Scotty McLoughlin's driven to his third victory of the Indiecar season.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Start Ben Is won again on an.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah way to go Scottie Mack even better, he and
fellow key We Scott Dixon claimed a one to two
finish at the Milwaukee Miles, Scott McLoughlin taking the check
and flag by juster point four to five eight eight
of a second over Dixon. Scott Dixon that is as
the key We pair stood on the top two steps
of the podium. Scotty McLoughlin's win saw him move to
(00:43):
third in the Indiecar Championship standings. He has four hundred
and seventy five points. That's exactly fifty behind Scott Dixon's
Chip Ganassi teammate Alex Below on five hundred and twenty five.
Team Penskes will Power second on four hundred and ninety two,
and then Scott McLoughlin third four hundred and seventy five points.
There is just the one race left in the season,
(01:04):
the Big Machine City Grand Prix. Goodness me in Nashville.
In a couple of weeks, Motorsport analyst Eric Thompson has
with us. Thanks for your time this evening, Eric, how
significant is this A one two can we finish in IndyCar?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
I think it's fantastic. It's not often. I mean to say,
three or four years ago, you would never ever expected
to have seen that in IndyCar because you know, Scott
Dixon was the you know, flew that flag for decade
plus in that championship. Really and until in Scotty McLoughlin
moved over there and is racing and doing really well.
(01:40):
And we've got the other young guy, Marcus Armstrong, so
you know, and he's doing really well. He's picked up
a podium so far this season. So mate, we're taking
over that category. We just got to get Formula one sort.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Indeed, Oh we can get to that another day. Eric,
you're did right, You're dead right. That's a that's an
entirely different conversation. This might be a tough question to answer.
Is Scott McLaughlin now a better indiecar driver than Scott Dixon?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
No, because if you watching, Dixon started seventeenth, but Goochlain
started on pole, so Dixon time from on a short
it's only a mile oval, the Milwaukee miles, it's a
really tight little place, not you know, oval is difficult
to pass on, always chaos and carnage. They're pinty. But
the thing is Dixon went from seventeen to second and
(02:25):
he I mean I reckon if there'd been another two
or three laps, maybe four, he would have got by
him because he posed right up to less than a
second on McLoughlin. So you can't beat experience in that game,
especially on ovals. But the great thing about McLaughlin he
said earlier this season, because he'd won three four times
on road courses, but he refused to call himself an
(02:45):
IndyCar driver, and he publicly said that until he won
on ovals. Now he's got two Oval wins, so even
in his mind he's an IndyCar driver now. I quite
like that.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
That's absolutely brilliant analysis. Is the fact that he's now
winning on ovals a good demonstration of his improvement as
an IndyCar driver. What's the second part of that is
where are you seeing the improvements in Scott Dixon's draw
a Scott McLaughlin's driving, I.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Mean, well spotted on that he's just getting better and
better on ovals, I mean the thing. He was fascinated
by them anyway, and the first thing I reckon. The
only time he got a bit sort of like but
Cheeks Titan was the first time he went to the
Indianapolis five hundred as a you know, they have to
do a rookie test, which means they have to get
within I think it's fifty kilometers an hour on a
(03:34):
lamp and you're looking at it. Damn close to three
hundred klmeters an hour at the ending to get that close.
And he said, it's a matter of its strategy and
the best thing, Unlike virtually any other motorsport, they have
spots on every single corner, so you can spend more
time concentrating on your driving and not worrying whether somebody's
above you, behind you, you know, or on the inside
(03:56):
of you. And the spot has help you navigate the traffic.
But it's been able to listen to somebody who's in
your ear, listen to the car, and also drive the
thing and being aware of everything around you. It's a
lot to balance point him, but he's just getting better
and better at it.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
There are fifty points available for a race when you
get bonus points for pole position, leading the most laps,
leading at least one lap, that sort of thing. McLoughlin's
fifty points behind in the overall standings with just the
one race to go. I guess mathematically he could still
win the championship, couldn't he. But he'd need Alex Plow
and will power to have serious misfortune, wouldn't he at
the last event.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yeah, Alex Pollow would basically have to do what happened
unfortunately for him and his team and chick Ganassi Racing
like to have a hybrid failure. But at least, you see,
the thing is Pillow actually just waited and waited. They
got the car back running, it stalled again, but they
got him out there and eventually with all the other
attrition and DNFs, he actually managed to pick up a
couple of points. So one thing you've got to say
(04:53):
to Alex Perlau and his team, they never gave up.
It's not you know, most people have just partner the
car on the garage and said I'll bugger it. But
he just knew even if he got two or three
points that could help. But he would have to dnf
as not start that race or not complete one lap
plow for McLoughlin to have pretty much any chance, and
will Power would have to finish. I think it's McLoughlin
(05:13):
wins it. Power would have to finish fourth or fifth.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
All right, So yeah, all right, so it seems unlikely.
But does it now seem if it's not to be
this year, Eric, does it seem now a matter of
when not if Scott McLachlan eventually wins an IndyCar Championship.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I would comfortibly say to you, now, Pony, this time,
at this stage this year. Yes, definitely, within the next
two to three years, he'll win an IndyCar Championship. This
time last year people were saying, you know, he's got
in the chance. I wasn't absolutely convinced, purely because of ovals,
which is something you know, people from the Southern Hemassy
don't really well the rest of the world really don't
(05:52):
really do. But he's shown he can win on an
oval and hold them off. So now, yep, once he's
you know, those boxes have been tacked. So next year
and the Penske's got a good car. The Chevy engines
are very good, you know, and he's one of her
powerhouse teams. So yes, yeah, and back to Dixon.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Back to Scott Dixon, how many more years do you
perceive he has and you're still driving? Well, as you've
already outlined during our chat, how many more years you
wreck in? Scott Dixon will go around.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Well. It's funny when I was talking to him for
a preview last week about this and he sort of said,
it's almost like little bit, but like Valentino ROSSI wants
to sort of said, when I get bored, you know,
or I end up training the field home, that's when
I'll stop. And he did. Scott, he's still finishing, you know,
he'll finished this championship inside the top five. And he has.
(06:44):
In the twenty plus years he's been in that championship,
he's only finished outside the top five. I think it's twice.
So why would you go? Why would you? Yeah? Amazing,
He's still likes the challenge, He's still got the drive.
And just going back to what we were chatting about earlier,
is that, you know, to come from seventeenth to finish second,
(07:04):
you know, that shows that somebody's still got an awful
lot of drive and passion for the sport left in him.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
And just a word on Marcus Armstrong. How do you
assess where he currently is?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Oh, he's doing really well. He's last year when he
won the thing, he won Rookie of the Year last
year without racing on any of the ovals, and the
other rookies in the pack last year all raced on
the ovals, so he missed something like six or seven
races and still won Rookie of the Year. This year
he got his first podium. Last couple of rounds. You know,
(07:36):
he's finished top six and he said a couple of
a couple of fifths. It's unfortunately he got crashed into
in the last race at Milwaukee, so he got taken
out and got to dnaut. But he's you know, he's
on a fast track learning curve as well. He'll be
there or thereabouts and challenging for podiums next year as well.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Exciting time to be a fan of indie cars with
three kiwi's involved in the one two finish in Milwaukee
this morning. Eric, thanks for joining us. Always great getting
analysis from you around the world of modus.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Thank you, Barney, I appreciate it. Man.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Good on you.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Eric.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Eric Thompson there with his thoughts on the one two
IndyCar Finish for Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncie Wildergrave
from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Scotty McLoughlin's driven to his third victory of the Indiecar season.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Start Ben Is won again on an.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah way to go Scottie Mack even better, he and
fellow key We Scott Dixon claimed a one to two
finish at the Milwaukee Miles, Scott McLoughlin taking the check
and flag by juster point four to five eight eight
of a second over Dixon. Scott Dixon that is as
the key We pair stood on the top two steps
of the podium. Scotty McLoughlin's win saw him move to
(00:43):
third in the Indiecar Championship standings. He has four hundred
and seventy five points. That's exactly fifty behind Scott Dixon's
Chip Ganassi teammate Alex Below on five hundred and twenty five.
Team Penskes will Power second on four hundred and ninety two,
and then Scott McLoughlin third four hundred and seventy five points.
There is just the one race left in the season,
(01:04):
the Big Machine City Grand Prix. Goodness me in Nashville.
In a couple of weeks, Motorsport analyst Eric Thompson has
with us. Thanks for your time this evening, Eric, how
significant is this A one two can we finish in IndyCar?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
I think it's fantastic. It's not often. I mean to say,
three or four years ago, you would never ever expected
to have seen that in IndyCar because you know, Scott
Dixon was the you know, flew that flag for decade
plus in that championship. Really and until in Scotty McLoughlin
moved over there and is racing and doing really well.
(01:40):
And we've got the other young guy, Marcus Armstrong, so
you know, and he's doing really well. He's picked up
a podium so far this season. So mate, we're taking
over that category. We just got to get Formula one sort.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Indeed, Oh we can get to that another day. Eric,
you're did right, You're dead right. That's a that's an
entirely different conversation. This might be a tough question to answer.
Is Scott McLaughlin now a better indiecar driver than Scott Dixon?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
No, because if you watching, Dixon started seventeenth, but Goochlain
started on pole, so Dixon time from on a short
it's only a mile oval, the Milwaukee miles, it's a
really tight little place, not you know, oval is difficult
to pass on, always chaos and carnage. They're pinty. But
the thing is Dixon went from seventeen to second and
(02:25):
he I mean I reckon if there'd been another two
or three laps, maybe four, he would have got by
him because he posed right up to less than a
second on McLoughlin. So you can't beat experience in that game,
especially on ovals. But the great thing about McLaughlin he
said earlier this season, because he'd won three four times
on road courses, but he refused to call himself an
(02:45):
IndyCar driver, and he publicly said that until he won
on ovals. Now he's got two Oval wins, so even
in his mind he's an IndyCar driver now. I quite
like that.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
That's absolutely brilliant analysis. Is the fact that he's now
winning on ovals a good demonstration of his improvement as
an IndyCar driver. What's the second part of that is
where are you seeing the improvements in Scott Dixon's draw
a Scott McLaughlin's driving, I.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Mean, well spotted on that he's just getting better and
better on ovals, I mean the thing. He was fascinated
by them anyway, and the first thing I reckon. The
only time he got a bit sort of like but
Cheeks Titan was the first time he went to the
Indianapolis five hundred as a you know, they have to
do a rookie test, which means they have to get
within I think it's fifty kilometers an hour on a
(03:34):
lamp and you're looking at it. Damn close to three
hundred klmeters an hour at the ending to get that close.
And he said, it's a matter of its strategy and
the best thing, Unlike virtually any other motorsport, they have
spots on every single corner, so you can spend more
time concentrating on your driving and not worrying whether somebody's
above you, behind you, you know, or on the inside
(03:56):
of you. And the spot has help you navigate the traffic.
But it's been able to listen to somebody who's in
your ear, listen to the car, and also drive the
thing and being aware of everything around you. It's a
lot to balance point him, but he's just getting better
and better at it.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
There are fifty points available for a race when you
get bonus points for pole position, leading the most laps,
leading at least one lap, that sort of thing. McLoughlin's
fifty points behind in the overall standings with just the
one race to go. I guess mathematically he could still
win the championship, couldn't he. But he'd need Alex Plow
and will power to have serious misfortune, wouldn't he at
the last event.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yeah, Alex Pollow would basically have to do what happened
unfortunately for him and his team and chick Ganassi Racing
like to have a hybrid failure. But at least, you see,
the thing is Pillow actually just waited and waited. They
got the car back running, it stalled again, but they
got him out there and eventually with all the other
attrition and DNFs, he actually managed to pick up a
couple of points. So one thing you've got to say
(04:53):
to Alex Perlau and his team, they never gave up.
It's not you know, most people have just partner the
car on the garage and said I'll bugger it. But
he just knew even if he got two or three
points that could help. But he would have to dnf
as not start that race or not complete one lap
plow for McLoughlin to have pretty much any chance, and
will Power would have to finish. I think it's McLoughlin
(05:13):
wins it. Power would have to finish fourth or fifth.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
All right, So yeah, all right, so it seems unlikely.
But does it now seem if it's not to be
this year, Eric, does it seem now a matter of
when not if Scott McLachlan eventually wins an IndyCar Championship.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
I would comfortibly say to you, now, Pony, this time,
at this stage this year. Yes, definitely, within the next
two to three years, he'll win an IndyCar Championship. This
time last year people were saying, you know, he's got
in the chance. I wasn't absolutely convinced, purely because of ovals,
which is something you know, people from the Southern Hemassy
don't really well the rest of the world really don't
(05:52):
really do. But he's shown he can win on an
oval and hold them off. So now, yep, once he's
you know, those boxes have been tacked. So next year
and the Penske's got a good car. The Chevy engines
are very good, you know, and he's one of her
powerhouse teams. So yes, yeah, and back to Dixon.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Back to Scott Dixon, how many more years do you
perceive he has and you're still driving? Well, as you've
already outlined during our chat, how many more years you
wreck in? Scott Dixon will go around.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Well. It's funny when I was talking to him for
a preview last week about this and he sort of said,
it's almost like little bit, but like Valentino ROSSI wants
to sort of said, when I get bored, you know,
or I end up training the field home, that's when
I'll stop. And he did. Scott, he's still finishing, you know,
he'll finished this championship inside the top five. And he has.
(06:44):
In the twenty plus years he's been in that championship,
he's only finished outside the top five. I think it's twice.
So why would you go? Why would you? Yeah? Amazing,
He's still likes the challenge, He's still got the drive.
And just going back to what we were chatting about earlier,
is that, you know, to come from seventeenth to finish second,
(07:04):
you know, that shows that somebody's still got an awful
lot of drive and passion for the sport left in him.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
And just a word on Marcus Armstrong. How do you
assess where he currently is?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Oh, he's doing really well. He's last year when he
won the thing, he won Rookie of the Year last
year without racing on any of the ovals, and the
other rookies in the pack last year all raced on
the ovals, so he missed something like six or seven
races and still won Rookie of the Year. This year
he got his first podium. Last couple of rounds. You know,
(07:36):
he's finished top six and he said a couple of
a couple of fifths. It's unfortunately he got crashed into
in the last race at Milwaukee, so he got taken
out and got to dnaut. But he's you know, he's
on a fast track learning curve as well. He'll be
there or thereabouts and challenging for podiums next year as well.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Exciting time to be a fan of indie cars with
three kiwi's involved in the one two finish in Milwaukee
this morning. Eric, thanks for joining us. Always great getting
analysis from you around the world of modus.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Thank you, Barney, I appreciate it. Man.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Good on you.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Eric.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Eric Thompson there with his thoughts on the one two
IndyCar Finish for Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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