IndyCar driver Scott Dixon confirmed to Autoweek that he has been contacted by McLaren about the possibility of joining the team in the Verizon IndyCar Series next season, but said his focus for 2018 is to win a fifth series championship for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Dixon finished third in Sunday’s KOHLER Grand Prix at Road America and did a great job of not letting the McLaren situation distract him from his focus over the weekend.
“We constantly talk to other people, but it’s not in a situation where we are shopping around or looking to move,” Dixon told Autoweek. “A lot of these scenarios, I have known these people for over 15 years. Zak Brown (McLaren CEO), in general, that storyline is pumping up a little bit more. I have known Zak since 1999, when he was running ‘Track Attack,’ so I have known the guy for a long time.
“I speak to him on a frequent basis, but that has been the same for many years.”
Rumors in the IndyCar paddock at Road America had Dixon offered a lucrative three-year deal to drive for a McLaren entry in IndyCar beginning in 2019.
“There are always going to be talks and whenever there is a season where a few guys have their options up, it will spark talk,” Dixon told Autoweek. “With new teams coming in, it sparks it even more.
“For me, it’s about this season. We are really focused on trying to win this championship. The other stuff is away from the track and there is nothing really there at the minute. I’m a little surprised by all of the talk so far.”
Dixon is in the final year of his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing, a team he has been with since 2002. Dixon is represented by former Formula 1 and CART driver Stefan Johansson as his agent.
Dixon’s time with Chip Ganassi Racing has included many legendary moments, including 42 of his 43 career IndyCar wins including the 2008 Indianapolis 500 and four Verizon IndyCar Series championships.
“I hope that continues,” Dixon said. “My focus right now is to win more races with Chip and his team and another championship. That is what we are focusing on now.
“That other stuff, we’ll look at further down the road.”
The 37-year-old Dixon began his career with PacWest Racing in 2001. He drove to victory in just his third CART start when he won at Nazareth Raceway on May 6, 2001. At the time, he was the youngest winner in CART history at 20 years, nine months, 14 days.
Generally, Dixon’s renewals with Ganassi have been finalized later in the year.
Mike Hull is the managing director of Chip Ganassi Racing and calls Dixon’s race strategy.
“I think trained professionals work on their day job,” Hull told Autoweek. “And that’s what Scott Dixon has done. I think it’s gratifying to hear that a team like McLaren wants to come IndyCar racing and I hope that they do. But we just want to move forward.
“We don’t talk about contracts and I think we are better off to race and work hard together as a group of people. That is what we did today. We’re proud of what we have accomplished as a team and certainly proud of what Scott has accomplished with us over the years.
“Let’s just keep rolling.”
