IndyCar

Q&A with Chip Ganassi Racing

Scott Dixon
Scott Dixon

Chip Ganassi Racing
Scott Dixon
Tony Kanaan
Charlie Kimball
Max Chilton

SCOTT DIXON, NO. 9 TARGET CHEVROLET, CHIP GANASSI RACING (qualified 13th; 2008 Indy 500 winner)

ARE YOU GETTING ANTSY TO GET OUT THERE AND DO IT? “Excited to get out there; this is always the hardest week because you just talk about what you hope to do and how the race may play out. I just can’t wait to get gloves and helmet on Sunday and get in that car and hopefully have the speed to have a shot at the victory. For most of us, the most comfortable time is when we get into the car."

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN I ASK WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE RACE THE ANSWER IS SCOTT DIXON. WHY IS THAT? “I think there definitely going to be a few common names, and when you come with a great team like Team Target you’ll have a great opportunity. We’ve had one victory and come close a few other times. As long as we have a clean day I hope we have a good shot. There is a long list of names that will have a great shot at winning this race."

IS FINISHING SECOND TOUGHER THAN ANYTHING? “There’s only one person who’s happy leaving this place on Sunday and that’s the winner. Second is probably the worst position you can finish, and the sheer fact that you came so close."

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT’S GOING TO COME DOWN TO FOR THE WIN? “It’s going to be a dogfight to the end. It’s going to be about being at the right place at the right time, but also managing the cars around you, know what your strong point is and when to strike. We may see a finish similar to when Tony (Kanaan) won (in 2013)."

IS IT ALMOST SURREAL THAT THERE MAY BE 400,000 PEOPLE IN THE STANDS? “It’s cool; it’s what it’s all about. We have to be thankful that we have the fans and sponsors, because if we didn’t have fans and sponsors we wouldn’t have a series. It’s been cool living in Indianapolis and seeing the town thrive and getting really excited for this race, which they do every year."

Tony Kanaan
Tony Kanaan

TONY KANAAN, NO. 10 NTT DATA CHEVROLET, CHIP GANASSI RACING (qualified 18th; 2013 Indy 500 winner):

PEOPLE HAVE SAID EVERYTHING SLOWS DOWN ON SUNDAY. IS THAT TRUE? “We can’t wait to get in the car. This week is a lot of distractions, a lot of talking, a lot of sitting around, and sponsor functions, a lot of interviews. By the time you get to Sunday you can’t wait to get I the car by yourself and do your thing."

WHEN YOU WON HERE, WHAT DID THE MILK TASTE LIKE? “It was the best afternoon milk I’ve ever had. (Going into Victory Lane) is a feeling of relief. In the previous years, the question that I got asked all the time was ‘Is this the year?’ I was so relieved that I was never going to get that question again. That was the first thing that came into my mind in Victory Circle."

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INDIANAPOLIS 500 TRADITION? “I have so many but the parade on Saturday, the interaction with the fans, for me is what I get the most kick out of it. Also, I had a pretty neat experience when I won, on the victory lap, everyone in the stands stayed. That was probably the best part of my win."

WHEN DID YOU START THINKING ABOUT THE 100TH RACE? “I never did really. This is such a big race that it didn’t matter if you won the 95th or the 110th, it’s still the Indy 500. As it got close to the 100th, I started thinking three years ago if I’m going to be a part of it. Will I still be around? I’m glad I’m here."

HOW FORTUNATE ARE YOU TO BE IN THIS PLACE FOR THE 100TH? “I don’t think I can describe how fortunate I am not to just be a part of the 100th Indy 500, but to have the career that I’ve had with all the adversities. I enjoy my life every day. I could stop racing today for some reason. I’m very thankful. I think I have the best job in the world."

Charlie Kimball
Charlie Kimball

CHARLIE KIMBALL, NO. 42 TRESIBA CHIP GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET:

SO YOU GET A LOT OF LAPS HERE AND THE RACE IS A LOT OF LAPS. DO YOU HAVE A PLAN OR DO YOU JUST LET THINGS HAPPEN? “What is it that the military says? A good battle plan never survives first contact with the enemy. Or something like that? You have to be prepared to adjust. I spoke to her earlier this week and I have been pulling a lot of her catch-phrases out of the bag, but I spoke to Billie Jean King and one of her most famous comments was ‘champions adjust’. And so as a team we have to adapt. So yes, you visualize how you want the start to go, you visualize how you want the end to go, and you visualize how you want every lap to be. But as it develops, you have to adjust, you have to change. You have to adapt and overcome whatever challenges are thrown your way."

YOU TALKED TO BILLIE JEAN KING. WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT AND WHAT TRANSLATES TO HERE? “I would call her my hero, and she would say my shero. She talks about paying the price and putting the work in. She talked about the times when there is nobody watching, the hours in the gym, the hours at the race track, the hours in deep and dark research/ development halls. The times when you educate yourself and put that last bit of knowledge and tools in your tool box. So when, not if, the weather conditions change… you have the ability to react, adapt, overcome and adjust to be successful. And that transcends tennis, racing, triathlons, or whatever. It’s that ability to manage the situations with confidence. She talked about pressure being a privilege and I think for all of us as drivers we love this race. We are one of 33 people in the world that will be on the starting grid for the Indy 500. How cool is that? It just gives me goose bumps thinking about it."

IS IT IMPORANT IN ANY WAY THAT AN AMERICAN DRIVER WINS THE 500: “Seeing as that I run with an American flag on my car, I would love to see an American win. There are a lot of those now, which is good, I love that there are a lot of Americans and Americans from all walks of life. People who have cut their teeth in Europe, myself, familial dynasties with Marco and Graham, drivers like Josef Newgarden who have come up the ladder system like me, Ryan who has won it before, Brian Clauson who came from dirt track, Conor Daly who is an Indiana Hoosier, they are all great stories. But then there are great stories like Scott Dixon, being a kiwi and has won this race once, has won four championships and he is as much of a Hoosier as I am. He makes Indianapolis his home and he loves this place. He is in the gym every day in Indianapolis and he loves being here because of the opportunities it has given him. So if it’s an American or anyone with a great story, let’s put it this way, I feel the track won’t let someone who doesn’t have a great story win. I talk about the track having a personality and it may not be obvious right away what that story is, but I can almost guarantee that there will be a great story from the winner of the 100th running."

DRIVERS ARE A LITTLE BIT SUPERSTICIOUS AND NOW YOU ARE SWITCHING FROM THE NUMBER 83 THAT YOU HAVE RUN FOR A LONG TIME TO 42. CAN YOU TELL US THE REASON BEHIND THAT?“The first reason is that it’s a collaboration with Chip Ganassi Racing and my title partner Novo Nordisk, the insulin sponsor that is on the car all year. Once you have been taking it eight days, it lasts in your body for 42 hours. Couple that with my NASCAR teammate from Chip Ganassi Racing and the Target car Kyle Larson who is also running the number 42, has a cousin who has diabetes as well. Finally the third point in that triangle is that we have 42 names of people within the diabetes community who have supported me, influenced me, or have been a part of my race program."

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO WIN THE 500? “Everybody talks about it being life-changing. I was at a race event and a race winner talked about splitting his life up into before he won the Indy 500 and after. And for me my life has been kind of split in working my way into IndyCar and then being in IndyCar and being a part of the Indianapolis 500. I don’t know that you could put into words what winning the 500 would be like. Every driver who has ever wanted to race at this facility dreams of winning here. Dreams of milk in victory lane, dreams of the wreath, dreams of coming back first thing Monday morning and getting that photo bent over kissing the bricks."

Max Chilton
Max Chilton

MAX CHILTON, NO. 8 GALLAGHER CHEVROLET, CHIP GANASSI RACING (qualified 22nd; Indy 500 rookie):

ARE YOU A STUDENT OF BRITISH RACING HISTORY? “Yes, for sure. There are four winners out of less than 100 isn’t many. You try to learn as much about them as you can. Jim Clark was God’s gift; he still has the best record out of any racing driver that’s ever lived with his ratio of getting in the car and winning. It’s nice to have him on my helmet."

YOU’RE WORKING WITH DARIO (FRANCHITTI). HOW IS THAT HELPING YOU AS A ROOKIE HERE AT THE SPEEDWAY? “He’s on my pit stand for every race and every practice session except a couple in Formula E. It’s invaluable. He’s won three times is a four times IndyCar champion. It’s little tips here and there that makes the whole process that much easier. He makes you comfortable with each situation you’re in because he tells you he has been in those situations as well. He’s a father figure for me in motorsport."

IS IT A LITTLE SURREAL THAT YOU’RE GOING TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST OF DRIVERS WHO HAVE RACED IN THE INDY 500? “There are a lot of drivers who have done this race. I’ve been fortunate to race in the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans… most of the big races in the world have been flooded with the top-end drivers. Of course it’s an honor. To get my face on that (Indy 500) trophy would be amazing. I’d do anything to try and get myself there."

HOW DO YOU LIKE INDY? “It’s amazing. It’s the fastest place I’ve ever been to. It’s pretty crazy when you add up how quickly you are going. Sometimes when there aren’t cars around, it still feels quick in the corner. But you don’t have a sense for how quick you are going. Then you work out that you’re going to do 500 miles – if the race stays green – in something like two hours and 20 minutes. It makes you realize just how quickly you’re going. It’s an amazing experience – one you won’t experience anywhere else. It’s the fastest motor circuit in the world for probably."