IndyCar Series: Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

Topics:  Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma

Scott Dixon
August 22, 2009

SONOMA, CALIFORNIA

THE MODERATOR: We have been joined in the downstairs media center by points leader Scott Dixon. Scott will start 10th in Sunday's race. Scott, how did you qualifying go for you today?
SCOTT DIXON: Well, it was probably one of our worst qualifyings. You know, it was a bit frustrating, especially coming off such a strong finish at Mid-Ohio. But we struggled here in the test. This weekend we seemed to have some inherent braking problem. All the time that I lose comparing to Dario is basically in the big braking zones. We found something wrong in a master cylinder or braking kit that we run that seems to lock the rears straightaway, and then halfway through the braking zone. We don't really know what's going on. Hopefully we can turn that around tomorrow.
All in all, obviously 10th, we'll have to be on an off-strategy kind of race and try to work out something a little bit different to try to compete up there, you know, with the front-row guys, obviously Dario and Penske.
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Scott.

Q. Scott, what do you think this is going to do to your pit strategy for the race on Sunday? Obviously you're starting in 10th position. Might change the way the Target Chip Ganassi team might want you to come in earlier.
SCOTT DIXON: It depends. Many different ways to look at it. I think obviously the good thing for us would be maybe, you know, to be an early caution that the leaders wouldn't take and then we would take and maybe stretch our second window a little bit more.
I don't know. It's constantly a moving target. No pun intended. You know, you just kind of got to go with the flow. I don't think it's good for us to go in with a set idea. The only set idea I think we all have is probably do the opposite to the leaders.

Q. With the new configuration of the wings and stuff, will that help? Is 'push to pass' on the cars now already?
SCOTT DIXON: Yeah, it is. The wing configuration for road course racing stays the same. It's for the mile-and-a-half ovals or some of the ovals that we've hit, some changes. We have 'push to pass' here. It's 15 pushes I think for 15 seconds. When you're running full mixture, it's only five horsepower, so it's not a huge difference.

Q. (No microphone.)
SCOTT DIXON: Any addition is good. The problem is every other competitor's got one, as well. You got to try to time it right. Probably coming out of the carrousel up to seven might be a good way. And obviously out of seven down to nine is quite tough because you rely on the downforce through the high-speed corners. It's really hard to get close to someone
You know, this place is going to be tough to pass. That's why strategy sometimes seems to be the big race decider.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks, Scott. Good luck tomorrow.
SCOTT DIXON: You're welcome.