Scott Dixon's F1 aspirations

[Down F0rce]

Jeff once said "If you've not won Indy, you're nothing." Interesting comment from someone with multiple titles in NASCAR. Really shows that open wheel is where his heart is.

[Tim Northcutt]

When NASCAR finally did come to Indy in 1994, it was a very important race to him...I know he has won it at least twice, including the first-ever...which was especially important to him...

[rustyfan]

I forgot to post these yesterday;

Barcelona testing day 3 (unofficial)
Pos Driver Chassis-engine Tyres Time Laps
1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari B 1m23.764s 51
2 Fernando Alonso Renault M 1m25.650s 40
3 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari B 1m25.923s 29
4 Jenson Button BAR-Honda M 1m26.140s 36
5 Alexander Wurz McLaren-Mercedes M 1m26.162s 56
6 David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes M 1m26.392s 51
7 Jarno Trulli Renault M 1m26.966s 22
8 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW M 1m27.028s 62
9 Felipe Massa Sauber-Petronas B 1m28.174s 24
10 Scott Dixon Williams-BMW M 1m28.318s 66
11 Cristiano da Matta Toyota M 1m28.457s 24
12 Ricardo Zonta Toyota M 1m29.372s 18
13 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda M 1m30.535s 5
14 Bjorn Wirdheim Jaguar M 1m31.444s 16
15 Marc Gene Williams-BMW No time 5

It was wet pretty much the whole day, so I'm not surprised Dixon ended up quite far down.

Hopefully it'll remain dry during today's testing.

[rustyfan]

Results from Dixon's third day of testing at Barcelona;

Barcelona testing day 4 (unofficial)
Pos Driver Chassis-engine Tyres Time Laps
1 Jenson Button BAR-Honda M 1m15.079s 73 (32 in hybrid)
2 Takuma Sato BAR-Honda M 1m15.304s 93 (43 in hybrid)
3 Michael Schumacher Ferrari B 1m15.625s 76
4 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes M 1m15.812s 73
5 Mark Webber Jaguar M 1m15.886s 120
6 Marc Gene Williams-BMW M 1m15.948s 104
7 Alexander Wurz McLaren-Mercedes M 1m16.268s 61
8 Rubens Barrichello Ferrari B 1m16.515s 29
9 Scott Dixon Williams-BMW M 1m16.621s 53
10 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW M 1m17.191s 5
11 Giancarlo Fisichella Sauber-Petronas B 1m17.244s 78

He experienced somewhat of a moment when the right-rear suspension collapsed on the exit of a corner, sending him into a spin. Guess there's a first for everything, and now he's managed to get his first F-1 spin done as well

[GP Racer]

Wow, a Williams suspension failure!

Ferrari will surely roll on this year!

[Just Do It!]

Within one second of Michael is Scottie. What does that tell you? He is going to be a star and win championships.

He will be as hot a property as Mr Webber.

Well done, Scott. You deserve to go far!

[GP Racer]

Originally posted by Just Do It!
Within one second of Michael is Scottie. What does that tell you? He is going to be a star and win championships.

He will be as hot a property as Mr Webber.

Well done, Scott. You deserve to go far!

Easy there my friend.

I don't think Scott will be challenging Michael anytime soon! Remember, many have tried, and many have failed...

[Just Do It!]

That's exactly correct, GP Racer.

But let's look at the odds for a moment, because at some point soon, someone has to challenge Michael or step up to his position/out of his shadow when he finally hangs up the helmet.

[GP Racer]

Originally posted by Just Do It!
That's exactly correct, GP Racer.

But let's look at the odds for a moment, because at some point soon, someone has to challenge Michael or step up to his position/out of his shadow when he finally hangs up the helmet.

True, and if someone has to challenge Michael, I wouldn't mind seeing it be an IRL alumni, like Scott Dixon, being the one!

[Just Do It!]

Well look at that! Agreeance!

[tanalised]

of topic for the moment I think TGF will retire before he & Ferrari are seriously challenged by anyone

Well done Scott, good looking test at Barcelona

[N I Tram]

Everything Scott has done in these tests marks him out as a real prospect for Williams. They seem to be able to take their pick from drivers the world over, and it's a major honour that Scott has got so many tests considering that he hasn't won a major road-course race, and doesn't have past experience of any of the F1 tracks.

It's also indicative of the switch in the balance of OW power, that they've tested Scott as opposed to Bourdais or Bruno, especially as they know Bruno and he outpaced Dixon when they were teamed at Ganassi, and he's been raicng road and street tracks for 4 years.

[chunterer]

Bruno is quick but there must be other reasons why he's been 'forgotten'. Dixon is just one of those 'must try' kinds talents.

Hopefully he's done enough to get a deal (if not already done?)

[GP Racer]

Maybe I'm wrong, but Bruno seems alittle to whiny and soft for F1.

Everytime something goes wrong in a race, he seems to complain, and whine about it. I think he needs to toughen up abit. Don't mean to put him down or anything, but thats been my observation.

[tanalised]

Dixon also thrashed him (Bruno J) in the Rookie of the year competition in 2001 in what was a less than competitive team.
2002 saw him start poorly due to the disintegration of PacWest and then suffer a string of mechanical failures in the third Ganassi car. He ran very strongly in the street races that year, following Bruno home in second in one and getting put into the wall by Kanaan in another while trying to pass for the lead.

[Snrub]

Dixon may have beat Bruno in 2001 for points, but I honestly think Bruno performed better.

Interesting quote from a link posted in the F1 forum by ralf fan:
"Well it’s difficult for someone in Formula One to follow all the Junior Championships in England, let alone on the continent as well." - Frank Williams
http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.h...23111546.shtml

Frank has a history of finding top drivers, but sometimes I've had my doubts as to his methods. I seriously do not think Frank understood IRL in 2003. JV got Williams interested in '95 after winning the Indy 500. While it was a spectacular drive it didn't seem to me that Frank understood the circumstances. Yes he won from 2 laps down, but on the same token the competition was a weak. JV could never have won from 2 laps down if his major competitors were in top form.

With all honesty I don't see Dixon as the guy who most deserves a seat at Williams.

[GP Racer]

Originally posted by GP Racer
Maybe I'm wrong, but Bruno seems alittle to whiny and soft for F1.

Everytime something goes wrong in a race, he seems to complain, and whine about it. I think he needs to toughen up abit. Don't mean to put him down or anything, but thats been my observation.

Did anyone catch Bruno's post race interview after the LBGP?

He made my point. Thats why F1 will never look his way...