'High risk' Watkins Glen plays to Dixon's strengths

Watkins Glen always seems to bring out the best in Scott Dixon, and Friday practice was no exception as the Chip Ganassi Racing Honda driver led the way, just a tenth of a second off his own track record at the upstate New York road course. While Dixon can't put his finger exactly on why he's had so much success at this track, winning four times in the IndyCar ranks, he does know he rates its fun factor highly.

"I don't know, just really enjoy it. It's a fun place, man," Dixon said. "It's extremely fast. It's definitely some pretty high-risk situations. For me, the tracks of the current day are nothing like these. It's a lot of fun to come here."

On Friday, the New Zealander reckoned he and his team got things right by eliminating where they went wrong in testing at he track a couple of weeks earlier.

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"We probably didn't have the speed at the test we were quite hoping for. Backed up on a few adjustments we made, kind of understood a little bit better where I think we went wrong," Dixon said. "First practice went good. We had a really strong car. We only ran one set of tires. On our quickest two laps we had a bit of traffic, so didn't get to show the potential. The car was really good on blacks. We changed a couple things when we went to the reds. I think we missed the balance there. I was on a lap to equal our black time, but not as good as maybe some of the others on the reds – little bit of work to do there for the weekend.

"But all in all, I think Chip Ganassi Racing brought some strong cars here that hopefully come tomorrow, Sunday, can be in contention fighting for the win.

"These high-speed road courses, I would definitely say the Honda aero kit is probably not ideal for a track like this – much similar to what we had at Road America. But it doesn't hurt us as bad as maybe the high downforce at Mid-Ohio, some of those places."

Dixon added that he thinks the particulars of the Watkins Glen circuit provide scope for a little more variety in terms of strategy.

"It's a track you can save some fuel and maybe extend your window, jump someone in the pits," he said. "If you can trim out to a pretty significant level, it can aid you in the race with being able to pass people on the straights.

"I find that a lot of teams try vastly different aero configurations. You have guys that are good through the corners, slow on the straights. I think that mixes it up pretty good.

"But, each year I find it changes. A little bit has changed that you have to catch up with, maybe make exception for. But I think our cars on the long runs here have always been strong. This weekend will be interesting – especially Sunday if we get bouts of weather, maybe a bit of rain."

Although the possibility of a wet race might seem to offer more potential for scrambling the order, Team Penske's Will Power – whose No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet was second fastest to Dixon on Friday – feels it could make passes for position more problematic.

"We did test here in the wet two years ago. But I think it's still very difficult to pass when it's wet around here," Power said. "I think the best opportunity is when everyone first gets out there. Once everyone starting getting their braking zones and all that, it's still difficult.

"Yeah, it will be tough around here in the wet with all the spray and everything. It's still very fast..."