Racing Rivals

New Zealand-born IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, 29, discusses his respect for former teammate Australian Ryan Briscoe in an article written by Indy Star reporter Phillip B. Wilson. They had been friends since their days together with Ganassi Racing in 25. They became rivals after Briscoe caught on with Team Penske, but being on the Izod IndyCar Series’ elite teams didn’t diminish their friendship. “We obviously came from similar parts but had taken very different roads to get to where we met,” Dixon said. Dixon said any such rivalry would be more intensified if they were racing back home. “When you’re travelling and you’re with a group of foreigners anyway, it’s not too bad. But if we were back in New Zealand, the competition would be fierce.” Dixon has 22 series victories, including the most recent race, at Kansas, where Briscoe was on the pole. Dixon is second in series points, 26 behind Team Penske’s Will Power. Briscoe is 32 points behind Dixon in seventh.