IndyCar

IRL: Texas: Chip Ganassi Racing preview

Gunning for Two in a Row Team Target is after their second straight victory in the night race at Texas this weekend. Last year, Jeff Ward edged Al Unser, Jr. by .011 of a second in what was at the time, the closest finish in IRL ...

Edited: Mar 27, 2008, 5:32 AM

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Gunning for Two in a Row

Team Target is after their second straight victory in the night race at Texas this weekend. Last year, Jeff Ward edged Al Unser, Jr. by .011 of a second in what was at the time, the closest finish in IRL history.

Leading The Way

Scott Dixon is only one of two drivers to have led a lap in every race this season. He currently stands 2nd in laps led (147) for the season. His teammate, Tomas Scheckter, stands 4th in laps led (99) for the season. Last year at Texas, Tomas Scheckter led 107 out of the 200 laps run.

Fast and the Furious

Tomas Scheckter has set the fastest lap of the race in 8 of the 16 races in his career, including setting the fastest leader lap at the first Texas race last year. Teammate Scott Dixon has set the fastest leader lap in two out of the first four races so far this year.

Lap Leaders

A Team Target driver has led a lap in 10 of the last 11 races, including the last five in a row. So far this season the team has donated $12,175 to Target House and St. Jude's Childrens Hospital. Since 1997 the team has donated $5,000 for each win, $1,000 for each pole and $25 for each lap led to the charity. Target House serves as a home away from home for the families of children admitted to St. Jude Children's hospital.

Fast Starter

Scott Dixon has started in the top-4 in three straight races, including his first career pole position in Japan. Dixon started 4th at this year's Indy 500, the highest starting position for a rookie in the field as well as the highest qualifying Panoz G Force chassis.

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 at the season-opener 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.

Scott Dixon - #9 Target Toyota

"Indy was a disappointment, obviously, but I've got to put that behind me and get on with the season. We've qualified pretty well over the last three races, we just haven't had the finishes to go along with that. Texas is going to be a fun track to race on. I haven't raced there before, but I've been on the track for practice two years ago. It's going to be a great show for the fans."

Tomas Scheckter - #10 Target Toyota

"We were so close to winning last week--but you can't dwell on that because we have a lot of races left to go. I just love the track in Texas. It's fast and allows for a lot of close racing. It's been a good year for us so far. Team Target has given me competitive cars in all of the races so far. They are a very professional team and, like me, are driven to win. There's no doubt in my mind that we'll be winning races this year."

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