Chip Ganassi Racing has long been one of the dominant teams in IndyCar, and their history on the streets of Toronto is just one of many examples of that.
As a team, Ganassi has won at Exhibition Place eight times, with four of those wins coming from current driver, and six-time champion Scott Dixon. While not the winningest driver to ever run the annual race to the north, a title that belongs to Michael Andretti, Dixon has been more dominant than any other current driver. He won both races of the 2013 doubleheader, the race in 2018, and the 2022 race to tie Michael’s father Mario Andretti for 2nd on the all-time wins list with 52.
Who do you think wins the #IndyTO on Sunday?#INDYCAR // @hondaindy pic.twitter.com/vUhqjOFWHq
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) July 12, 2023
The streets of Toronto have been known to make for great racing as well as great finishes. Could we see more of the Dixon magic this year? If so, it would move him to within 12 wins of A.J. Foyt, who still holds the all-time record with 67 wins. Of course, Toronto has also been known to bring tragedy. 1996 saw the death of driver Jeff Krosnoff and track worker Gary Arvin in an accident that involved Krosnoff, Gil de Ferran, and Stefan Johansson where Krosnoff’s car was sent up into the catch fence and destroyed on impact.
Can Dixon win for a fifth time at Toronto?
This year, as we go into the 37th running of the race, Dixon looks as poised as ever to take his 5th win. After a 2nd place finish at Mid-Ohio, he currently sits 2nd in points. He has finished in the top seven in all but one race so far this year, and if not for his one DNF, which came on the streets of Long Beach, it is possible that he would be in the fight for the championship just past the halfway point of the season. Team Penske also has a history of running well at Toronto, having taken three of the last five races there. Drivers Will Power, Scott McLaughlin, and Josef Newgarden all have the capability of challenging for the win, and both Power and Newgarden have won there before.
One way or another, it is likely that the Ganassi team will make a strong showing this weekend. They have consistently had some of the fastest cars on the road courses and street circuits this year, and this is shaping up to be a year unlike any since the mid to late 90’s run by then Ganassi teammates Jimmy Vasser and Alex Zanardi. Dixon’s teammate, Alex Palou, has won three races in a row and four of the last five and has a lead of 110 points with eight races left. There is quite a bit to look forward to this weekend, but I know many eyes will be on the No. 9 of Scott Dixon as he looks to make history.
