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Dixon Looking Forward To Another Perfect Year

Daytona Beach, FL – For Scott Dixon, 2008 is a year he will never forget. In a span of 12 months, he accomplished more than others do in a lifetime. Not in any particular order, the likable New Zealand driver won the Indianapolis 500, earned the IndyCar Series championship with six strong wins and many consistent finishes, and walked down the aisle with long-time girl friend Emma.

“Winning at Indianapolis and winning the championship for the second time are things you can’t top,” said Dixon while in Daytona Beach preparing for the upcoming Rolex24. “To repeat it is the only way to top 2008.”

Dixon drives for the Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates race team, which is a proven winner in IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series racing.

For the Rolex24, one of the most grueling sports-car races in the world, the Ganassi team is in quest of its fourth overall victory. The team has entered two cars with six world-class drivers, including Dixon and his new IndyCar teammate Dario Franchitti.

“Dario’s presence makes our team stronger,” he noted. “We got a jump start on the new season when we raced together in Australia. It is cool to be with him. We have similar driving styles, as we learned during our first race together.”

Dixon said he learns from all his teammates and he went out of his way to praise former teammate Dan Wheldon. “A big transition for me came in 2006 when Dan joined us. He is a very good driver, and he taught me a lot.”

At this time, Dixon and his team are focused on the Rolex24 where it requires a monumental effort to reach the finish line and an even greater one to win the fabled race. “Winning the race four times will be extremely hard to do, but we have a great driver line-up with Dario and Alex Lloyd. For me, it is a relaxing way to start the new season as the pressure is spread across a lot of people. Yes, luck is involved in the outcome, although not everyone believes that. I am also a believer in karma.”

With 50 or more cars and some 200 drivers participating in the Rolex, traffic can be a bear as is the weather and numerous other conditions. “For the drivers, it is a matter of keeping the car on the track,” the champion said. “We may not have the fastest car but in our pit, everything is very efficient. If we have small problems, the team can rectify it, which makes a big difference. More than any other race this is a team effort.”

Dixon attempts to be cautious in traffic and in his ear, he hears the advice administered by owner Ganassi. “If you hit another car or another car hits you, it is your fault, Chip tells us. You can’t hold grudges and as long as you are not doing something stupid, you should be okay.”

The competition in the early stages of the race is intense but after four or five hours, Dixon indicated the race pace seems to settle down. He looks forward to the night-time action as it is cooler and the car performs better. “Night racing is a lot of fun.”

Dixon views training as an essential component of his life and said his conditioning program has made him a better driver. In a way, the Rolex24 is the requisite winter exercise that conditions Dixon and his fellow drivers for the season ahead.

And if the stars and the planets are perfectly aligned, Dixon, Ganassi and the Ganassi team may take the familiar path to victory lane when the checker drops on the 47th running of the Rolex24 at Daytona.

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