AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Quick quiz, Scott Dixon. Name four fellow New Zealanders who played in the NBA.
“Really?” the reigning IndyCar Series champion says. “I can’t imagine they’re very tall. You don’t walk around New Zealand (with your neck craned). Now Andre (Drummond) over here, he’s 6-10 but looks 8 feet when you’re talking with him. I was craning my neck.”
Courtside before the Detroit Pistons hosted the Chicago Bulls on Chevrolet Belle Isle Grand Prix Night at The Palace, Dixon chatted up Drummond between interviews. He also signed autographs and posed with fans beside the IndyCar Series championship Astor Cup and the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit Presented by Quicken Loans first-place trophy on the main concourse.
Settling in to his courtside seat, Dixon noted that the NBA and IndyCar racing have the commonality of a different perspective live as opposed to watching on TV.
“You see it on TV and the game is fast, but when you go on the floor it hits you how tall and skillful the players are,” he said. “It’s most definitely a physical sport. Fans at IndyCar races always say how they were blown away by the speed and how physical – like on the Belle Isle circuit – they are.”
Fans who attended game received a $5 discount on the purchase of any single-day admission ticket to the May 30-June 1 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. It also was announced that Comerica Bank Free Prix Day will return May 30 – IndyCar Series practice and qualifications for Race 1. GET RACE WEEKEND TICKETS
Dixon, who won the race on technically-challenging 2.35-mile Belle Isle course in 2012, finished fourth in both 70-lap races of the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit Presented by Quicken Loans last June.
“If you took the (three) doubleheaders out of last year we probably wouldn’t have won the championship,” he said. “We had three wins (sweep at Toronto, Houston 1), a second and the fourth-place finishes. It’s a fun place, and with the improvements to the track it’s a fantastic place to race and exciting for the fans. I’m looking forward to coming back.”
Dixon will participate in an Open Test March 17-18 at Barber Motorsports Park before the season opener March 30 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla.
“It’s rather daunting that it’s in three weeks,” said Dixon, who kicked off his championship season by charging from the 20th starting position to finish fifth on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street course.
Earlier in the day it was announced that Dixon, 2013 Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan and 2013 Firestone Indy Lights champion Sage Karam will co-drive a second Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Prototype in the Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 14. All three competed in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in late January.
For the record, the New Zealanders who played in the NBA were Steve Adams (61 games), Aron Baynes (53 games), Sean Marks (230 games) and Kirk Penney (six games).
