IRL: Phoenix: Chip Ganassi Racing preview

Going for 3 in a row.

Team Target is in pursuit of their third straight victory in Phoenix this weekend. In November of 2002, Kenny Brack closed the season with a victory in Mexico City. At the opening race of the year in Homestead, Scott Dixon brought home the checkered flag. It is the first back-to-back victories for the team since the 2000 season.

Dixon On Ovals

Team Target driver Scott Dixon has been phenomenal on ovals in his career. In 14 races in his career, Dixon has finishes in the top-10 in 11 out of 14 races, including his only two victories. Dixon also claimed victory in two out of the three oval races in Indy Lights back in 2000.

Scheckter A Superstar?

Tomas Scheckter recently competed in the 2003 Met-Rx Superstars Competition in Jamaica. Scheckter competed against the likes of National Football Players Ahman Green of the Green Bay Packers, Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins and Charlie Garner of the Oakland Raiders. The competition can be seen on CBS Sports on Saturday, April 5th and Sunday, April 6th.

Test in the West

In Phoenix at the annual Test in the West back in February, Scott Dixon was 2nd fastest overall and teammate Tomas Scheckter ended up 7th overall.

Dixon meets NFL MVP Rich Gannon

Team Target driver Scott Dixon met with Oakland Raider QB and reigning MVP Rich Gannon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday. The duo took a lap of the track, tossed a football and discussed training their training regimens. Gannon also stopped by the Target Chip Ganassi Racing shop for a tour of the 75,000 square foot facility.

Scheckter Chases 2nd win in the 4 races

Tomas Scheckter is after his second victory in his last four races this weekend in Phoenix. The 22-year old South African won the Michigan Indy 400 last year.

Lucky Number 9

The number 9 Target car has won 3 IRL events with 3 different drivers in the last 3 years. Juan Montoya piloted the #9 to a victory in the 2000 Indianapolis 500, Jeff Ward drove it to victory lane last year in Texas and Scott Dixon found the #9 to be the lucky number two weeks ago in Homestead.

First time's a charm

In Homestead, Scott Dixon became just the third driver to win in his debut in the Indy Racing League, with two of them being Team Target drivers. He joins Buzz Calkins and former Team Target driver Juan Montoya on that short list.

Quotes

Scott Dixon - #9 Target Toyota
"It was a great way for us to start the season, in fact, it couldn't have been any better! Now we have to keep the momentum rolling when we get out to Phoenix next week. The win has given everyone here at Team Target lot of confidence. We set some goals at the beginning of the season and one of them was to win the championship. We have a long way to go, but we started off in the right direction. At the Test in the West a few weeks ago in Phoenix, we ended up second overall, so I think that we'll be competitive there."

Tomas Scheckter - #10 Target Toyota
"Before the race in Homestead, I was just hoping to come out of there with some points and have a good finish. We pretty much accomplished that when we finished 8th. Phoenix is a very challenging track for a driver and it's a lot of fun to race on. We had a pretty good test down there a few weeks ago, so I think it's going to be good. The team has been working hard to get the cars ready. As always there, qualifying is going to be important. I think that both Scott (Dixon) and I will have a good chance at the win."

-cgr-