ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In a turn of events that dramatically affected the outcome of the IndyCar season-opening race, Scott Dixon faced significant challenges after a radio communication failure during the entire race on the busy streets of St. Petersburg. This technical mishap is thought to have cost him what could have been his inaugural victory at this elusive venue.
Dixon, a celebrated six-time IndyCar champion, had to settle for second place, finishing behind Alex Palou in a 1-2 victory for Chip Ganassi Racing. Team owner Chip Ganassi expressed his belief that without the radio issue, Dixon would have clinched the win effortlessly. “He would have won — it was simple,” Ganassi stated.
This event marked Dixon’s fifth runner-up finish out of 21 attempts at St. Petersburg, a track where he has managed to step onto the podium eight times but never on the top step. “I’m pretty pissed off,” Dixon admitted. “We had a good race going and we didn’t get it done, so it doesn’t feel good, that’s for sure.”
Throughout his long career, this was the first time Dixon completed an entire race without any radio communication. He permanently lost contact with the No. 9 crew around the 10th lap, relying solely on his fuel gauge for pitting decisions. The absence of radio communication “ultimately cost us the race,” he reflected.
As Dixon navigated the race with limited information, he noted a strategic miscalculation by staying out one lap too long before pitting. “You have a fuel light so you know when the car is going to run out,” he explained. With uncertainty about whether his team could hear him, he chose to push until the fuel light indicated an urgent need to pit.
Team owner Ganassi confirmed that while the team could sometimes hear Dixon, the driver couldn’t hear them, leading to a crucial delay in pitting for fuel. “If everything was 100% he would have won — it was simple,” Ganassi reiterated. The miscommunication had a direct impact on the race’s outcome, altering what might have been a certain victory.
Regardless of the setback, Ganassi viewed the race as a promising start for the season, noting improved performance at the St. Pete track after past challenges. This season marks Ganassi’s 35th as a team owner, and the strong finish has bolstered his team’s confidence.
Palou, who has won three of the last four IndyCar championships, now leads Dixon by ten points heading into the subsequent event. “Really good here for us in St. Pete — not one of our favorite tracks,” Ganassi noted, expressing optimism about the team’s performance improvements.
It was Marcus Ericsson who last secured a win for Ganassi in St. Pete in 2023, following Dario Franchitti’s triumph in 2011. As the season progresses, Chip Ganassi Racing appears set on maintaining this competitive momentum, hopeful for further success in upcoming races.
