By alley - Jun 10, 2016, 4:35 PM ET

INDYCAR: Dixon expects Texas race to be closer at the front

Reigning Firestone 600 champ Scott Dixon started off the weekend in similar fashion at Texas Motor Speedway, following teammate Tony Kanaan in a Chip Ganassi Racing 1-2 in first practice that reversed their finishing order here last year. However, he expects other teams to follow Ganassi's setup choice that proved dominant in 2015.

"I think last year had all the components to make it a really close race," he said. "It was just kind of shocking that really only three or four cars chose to run the downforce that we did, which made the cars very consistent and good on the long runs, whereas the rest of the field were quite trimmed out and were dropping like flies sort of halfway through a stint.

"I think last year, had most of the field ran downforce similar to what we did, it would have been a close race. I think with what happened last year, I think you're going to see a lot of teams run similar downforce and pile it on."

"The dome skid is one thing. I think you have to give the safety team and everyone at IndyCar huge credit," Dixon said. "At Indianapolis, with crashes, there were no cars coming off the ground with the rear flap and the dome skid. That was huge for everybody involved and great to see. Big credit to them.

"It does affect the mechanical balance. You get a little more washout because it seems to float the front a little bit more. They've given us the required amounts we've asked for, as far as strakes, underwing stuff. We have a wide range of other bits you can put on the car. It's just at what lack of speed you want to take those things out. If you can be finishing a run at 206 instead of in the 190s, it's probably going to be the best bet.

"I think, in short, the race should be closer. It's just what the teams choose to run. You have to remember last year we only had one caution, which was before halfway. Had we had a caution or two with 60 to go, it would have been a pretty tough race.

Although Firestone has brought a different compound of tire for Texas this year, Dixon was unsure about its effect.

"It's kind of hard to tell because there's so many variables," he said. "The body kits have changed, the dome skid has affected the car a lot. I think Firestone have made a small change. But at the test I think it was more noticeable the other things that had changed on the car as opposed to the tires.

"I think the degradation they give us is very good for racing – the drivers and teams having to figure out how to preserve the tire better. I think it's just so hard when you can potentially run 212 or 214, then you pile on a bunch of downforce[ and] you can only run 207 – nobody wants to run that. But on the long run, it's going to be a huge amount better for you. You're going to slow down three or four miles an hour instead of nine or ten.

Dixon added that he expects more lanes to open up as the weekend continued.

"This morning, it was hard because some were doing qual sim, some did it at the start of the session, some did it at the end," he said. "For at least myself, lane two and three, we didn't have a neutral enough car to run up there – a lot of understeer. As the race goes on, I know lane two becomes almost like the preferred lane, then three gets used a lot more.

"Right now, especially just a bit before Turn 2, the bumps are pretty bad there. With the dome skid and the titanium plates, it hits the bottom and moves your car around. That's the same in the exit of [Turn] 4. Those are areas that everybody is being a little cautious about. When it comes down to the race, man, you'll have everybody using every lane possible, I think."