Grand Prix of Houston - Race Advance
Target Chip Ganassi Racing Reliant Park Advance Notes
RACE SETUP
Races: The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston Race 1, June 28
The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston Race 2, June 29
Drivers: @scottdixon9 @tonykanaan
Cars: No. 9 and No. 10 Target Chevrolets
Track: Reliant Park (1.7-street course) in Houston, Texas
TV: Race 1: NBC Sports Network 3:00pm ET
Race 2: NBC Sports Network 3:00pm ET
Social: @CGRTeams #TeamTarget
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT
Houston, We Don’t Have a Problem: Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) has won on the Streets of Houston twice (2000, 2013), claimed six podiums (1998, twice-2000, 2001, twice-2013) and finished inside the top-five seven times (twice-1998, twice-2000, 2001, twice-2013).
Launch Sequence Engaged: TCGR has topped the speed charts in four out of the first eight races of the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series. Scott Dixon set the fastest laps of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, the Inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the second race of the Chevy Indy Dual in Detroit, while Tony Kanaan set the fastest lap of the Firestone 600 on June 7.
Month to Month: After spending most of May in Indiana for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 , TCGR is spending much of June in Texas. The team was in Fort Worth on June 7 for the Firestone 600 and now is preparing for the double-header Grand Prix on the Streets of Houston this weekend.
Reliable Racing: Up to this point in the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season, TCGR has completed 1777 out of a possible 1858 laps, or 96 percent.
100+ Wins and Counting…: The Target Racing Program, which began with Target and Chip Ganassi Racing in 1990, will be contending for their 105th win as the season progresses. The first win for the program came in 1994 with Michael’s Andretti’s Indy car victory at Surfers Paradise, Australia, when the team was a two-car, Indy car program. 103 wins later, the program’s umbrella not only includes involvement in the Verizon IndyCar Series, but in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The partnership between Target and Chip Ganassi Racing is one of the longest consecutive team partnerships in motor racing history.
Finding New Roads: All four CGRT Indy cars are utilizing the Chevrolet 2.2-liter twin turbocharged V6 engine for 2014 season. The engine produces well over 600 horsepower and close to 300 lb. ft. of torque.
Racing Royalty: Former TCGR driver Dario Franchitti was among sports figures to be honored in Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday list earlier this month. The four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner from Scotland was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to motor racing. Earlier this year, Franchitti also received the honor of being named the pace car driver for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500, where he led the field around during the opening laps in a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. After retiring from his racing career at the end of 2013, Franchitti returned to Team Target in 2014 as a driving advisor for CGRT. Franchitti assists the team as it adapts to recent lineup changes and additions, and was on site with the team for the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit at Belle Isle at the end of May as well as the Firestone 600 on June 7. He will continue to work closely with the teams’ Verizon IndyCar Series drivers throughout the duration of the season.
Follow the Leader: On May 22, Chip Ganassi was inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame alongside Jimmy McElreath, Leo Mehl, Bobby Rahal and Bill Simpson. There are now 148 members in the elite fraternity, which is located at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
#TEAMGANASSI
Follow Team Target on Twitter: Continue to followTarget Chip Ganassi Racing through Chip Ganassi Racing’s official team Twitter page. Find in-race updates and weekly news on the No.9 and No.10 Target teams throughout the 2014 season by following “@CGRTeams”.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR RELIANT PARK
Scott Dixon and No. 9 Target Team
Eyes on the Prize: In three starts on the Streets of Houston, Scott Dixon has finished on the podium twice. At the end of the 2013 Verizon IndyCar Season, he claimed a victory and a second-place finish in the Houston double-header on his way to clinching the Series Championship.
Fast Father: Dixon enjoyed Father’s Day by spending time with his daughters in Indianapolis, Ind. during the day and then at night ventured to Kokomo, Ind. with his crew chief Blair Julian to watch a USAC Honda National Midget Series race at Kokomo Speedway where fellow Indiana resident and former Indy car driver Bryan Clauson claimed the victory.
The Best Defense Is A Good Offense: Dixon will spend the 2014 season attempting his first successful defense of a Verizon IndyCar Series title. "I think it's obviously a good problem to have," Dixon said. "I've been in this situation a couple of times before… I think we need to focus on making a good start in the first three or four races." His closest effort so far came in 2009 when he finished second to teammate Dario Franchitti by a mere 11 points. If Dixon is successful, he will become the 14th driver to have at least two consecutive series championships.
Go with What you Know: 2014 marks Dixon’s 13th year with Team Target – the longest tenure for a driver in team history (1990-Present).
The Ice Man Returns: The three-time Verizon IndyCar Series Champion (2003, 2008, 2013) and 2008 Indianapolis 500 Winner returns in 2014 for his first season alongside 2004 Series Champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 Winner Kanaan. Dixon, the active wins leader, is in seventh place on the all-time list (1909-Present) with 33 victories, ranking only behind A.J. Foyt, the Andretti’s (Mario and Michael) and Unser’s (Al, Bobby and Al Jr.). His next pole (21st) will see him tied for 13th on the all-time list with Gil De Ferran.
Title Talk: Should reigning Verizon IndyCar Series Champion Dixon take home the 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series title, he would become the fifth driver to win four Indy car titles (AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, Dario Franchitti). Dixon won the title in 2003, 2008 and again in 2013.
Moving Forward: With his next victory, Dixon would tie Al Unser Jr. for sixth on the all-time wins list. Dixon won his 33rd race at Houston's Reliant Park in October 2013. A victory in 2014 will extend Dixon’s streak of consecutive seasons with a win to 10; while qualifying in the top spot would mark eight consecutive seasons with a pole. He has led at least one race for 12 consecutive seasons. Dixon has 164 consecutive starts, placing him in sixth on the all-time list and in second place behind teammate Kanaan for active drivers.
SEASON
2014 Verizon IndyCar Series Standings
|
Starts |
Wins |
Poles |
Top 5s |
Top 10s |
Pts. Pos. |
|
|
Scott Dixon |
8 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
|
|
CAREER
|
Starts |
Wins |
Poles |
Top 5s |
Top 10s |
|
|
Scott Dixon |
228 |
33 |
20 |
112 |
157 |
|
|
ROSTER
Mike Hull – Managing Director
Barry Wanser – Team Manager, Competition
Scott Harner – Team Manager, Administration
|
No. 9 |
|
|
Crew Chief/(R/F): Blair Julian |
Shocks/Firebottle: Chris Clark |
|
Engineer: Eric Bretzman |
Engines/Radio: Troy Scheller |
|
Assistant Engineer: Brian Welling |
Fueler: Todd DeNeve |
|
Front End/Tire Helper: Jason Beck |
Gear Box/Air Jack: Andy Schneider |
|
Front End/(R/R): Greg Shuker |
Rear Tire Helper: Jake Klomp |
|
Rear End/(L/F): Adam Rovazzini |
Spotter: Robbie Fast |
|
Rear End/(L/R): Tyler Rees |
Floater: Wayne Westplate |
