Recent Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Scott Dixon is set to tackle a new challenge, when he joins Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates drivers Scott Pruett and Joey Hand in the 2014-winning No. 01 Ford EcoBoost/Riley in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida on Saturday, March 21.
Dixon opened the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season with his second victory at Daytona, joining Verizon IndyCar Series teammate Tony Kanaan and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson in the No. 02 Target Ford EcoBoost/Riley.
“Sebring is one of those iconic motor races in the world and I think we’ll have a good chance,” said Dixon, who also won the Rolex 24 in 2006. “The team started strong with a win in the Rolex 24 At Daytona with the No. 02 car this season, and the No. 01 car won in its Sebring debut last year. I’m looking forward to working with Scott and Joey again, and the whole IMSA program.”
Dixon will be looking to carry the Daytona momentum not only into Sebring, but into the upcoming Verizon IndyCar Series, where he is a three-time champion while entering his 14th season for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“Obviously, we’re starting off the year in a winning way, which is always exciting,” Dixon said. “Winning the Rolex 24 was exciting for the team and a lot of fun. Hopefully, it’s a sign of things to come, some momentum we can carry from the first part of the IndyCar season.”
Pruett gave Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates a victory in its first appearance at Sebring, co-driving with Memo Rojas and Marino Franchitti. Dixon, Kanaan and Sage Karam finished sixth, on the lead lap in the team’s No. 02 car.
Dixon is no stranger to Sebring, though.
“Sebring was actually the first place I tested in America in an Indy Lights car,” Dixon said. “Sebring has been a staple testing circuit for as long as I’ve been in America. I’ve run the long circuit [for the Twelve Hours] in 2008, and won the pole driving the Acura LMP1 for Gil De Ferran.”
Dixon’s Rolex 24 victory also gave him the early lead in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup. He has 13 points, two more than Action Express Racing’s Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Sebastien Bourdais, Ricky and Jordan Taylor with Wayne Taylor Racing teammate Max Angelelli. Pruett and Hand are fourth with 12 points.