INDYCAR: Project 2016 - Scott Dixon

To kick off our 2016 IndyCar preview, RACER.com will be talking to some of the likely contenders for this year's championship about how they're approaching the coming season.

Scott Dixon welcomes the start of the 2016 season as a new opportunity to silence his critics.

The surprise outcome that handed Dixon his fourth championship during the wild double-points finale in Sonoma has been an ongoing source of derision, and even Dixon admits he wants the new championship, which starts in just over 20 days, to conclude with less controversy.

Becoming a five-time champion in 2016 would be much easier if he and the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team can make one significant adjustment: Front-loading their results. Among IndyCar drivers, the 'epic comeback' is Dixon's thing - his calling card - but even he concedes the routine of digging out from a points deficit to rally late on the season is rather precarious.

"Last year was kind of weird," Dixon told RACER.com. "I'm going to keep saying it: There was nobody that was really stellar. Juan [Montoya] had a great start but tapered off, and there were guys that were good in short burst—myself included, but nobody took control, and I think that's why we were able to get [the championship] in a way nobody really thought would happen in those last races."

Dixon's reflection on 2015 came while searching for any takeaways that could be used to improve his No. 9 TCGR Chevy program in 2016. Solving the slow starts tops his list, but so far, few answers have emerged.

"I don't think you can control it," he said. "You try to put an emphasis on starting the season stronger, but last year was pretty average that way; we've had worse. I think the only thing that was positive was winning Long Beach. St. Pete was pretty s***ty. The NOLA race was s***ty, GP of Indy was s***ty. I think we had quite good speed; we just had really bad results. Montoya won St. Pete and Indy, and was generally strong between those races so he got out ahead of everybody.

"It's not like we don't go into the season planning to do well. One year I would just love to get a couple of wins like in the first five races. That would be awesome. Maybe changing it up is not the right thing, either. The last few years it's been somewhat successful, but if we had a strong start, then it would be really good and maybe it would take some pressure off of everyone."

Two poles, 13 starts inside the top-10, and an average starting position of 6.1 was among the best any IndyCar driver managed last year, but Dixon still feels there are gains for he and TCGR engineer Chris Simmons to make in 2016.

"Right now, whether it is me or the team, not really extracting enough out of qualifying or not hitting the job we should be, especially on red tires, is something to improve," he said.

"I think generally our cars are quite good on the long runs, so we'll look at any reasons we are not getting the jump we want from a lap or two in qualifying. I wouldn't say it's a big thing; not at all, but there's something we can gain there."

IndyCar will continue is practice of awarding double points at the Indy 500 and the season finale at Sonoma. Montoya benefited from the points he earned at Indy, Dixon prospered from Sonoma's double points (and earning extra points for winning the pole and the race), and the Kiwi says he expects the 2016 title do go down to the wire where the extra helping of points will shape the final championship standings.

"The [double points] help, [but] I also think it washes out, to be honest," he said. "At least you've kind of got one [double points race] midseason, then you've got one for the finale. I understand why they do it. It is to create a lot of hype and obviously have more cars in contention. But I don't think that is a problem for our series anyway. Some people criticized it after Sonoma, but there were a lot of drivers still in contention for the championship that could have gotten it done."

Knowing how he benefited from Sonoma's double points last year, would Dixon mind if the series reverted to standard points when the field returns in September?

"I don't think we need it," he said. "I know Montoya was a little disappointed. Whichever way you looked at it, there are equal opportunities to get maximum points at every race. Each year, everybody knows going in what the rules are and what the points situation is. It's going to help you in some situations and probably hurt you in others.

"It doesn't really bother me, to be honest. I'm going out to win more races than the other guy, and if we do that enough times, and get a lot of points on the days we don't win, the championship will take care of itself."