Scott Dixon - Indy 500 Miller Lite Carb Day - Credit: Penske Entertainment: Joe Skibinski
Scott Dixon - Indy 500 Miller Lite Carb Day - Credit: Penske Entertainment: Joe Skibinski
Jun 6, 2026, 3:44 AM CUT
IndyCar Silly Season Begins With Big Update on Scott Dixon’s Contract From Insider
Yes, it is here. The IndyCar silly season for the 2027 driver lineup is here. And the first significant update comes on six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon's negotiations with Chip Ganassi Racing.
The 45-year-old New Zealand driver has been with CGR since 2002 in the series' CART era. In the 24 years preceding 2026, he had won at least one race in 23 seasons. Moreover, with his win at Mid-Ohio last year, he reached an incredible achievement with at least one win in 21 consecutive seasons.
However, it is possible that the partnership doesn't last beyond 2026. Reporter David Land shared an update on the 2008 Indy 500 winner's contract talks with Chip Ganassi in a recent YouTube video on his channel.
"One of the drivers who is in play (in the silly season), you believe it or not, is Scott Dixon," said Land. "We're not sure what he's gonna do next year. He hasn't re-signed with Ganassi as of yet, and my understanding from a conversation I had in Detroit is that the exclusive negotiation window has passed for Chip Ganassi Racing with Scott Dixon. So Scott, well and truly, is a free agent."
Scott Dixon - Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach - Image Credit: Penske Entertainment: Paul Hurley
Scott Dixon - Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach - Image Credit: Penske Entertainment: Paul Hurley
Land also revealed that he contacted CGR for a statement, but the team replied that it doesn't comment on driver contracts.
Dixon signed his last multi-year contract with the team in March 2022. Unfortunately, his results in the first half of 2026 have been the worst in any season since then.
He did secure a podium at the Long Beach GP in April, the 146th of his career, but called the race "blah" because it was rather uneventful for him. Other than that, he has yet to secure another top-five finish this season.
What Scott Dixon Said About IndyCar Retirement Last Year
Chatter around Scott Dixon's contract situation had also emerged last year. Though he was still winning races and securing podiums, being in his mid-40s raised questions about his potential retirement.
Appearing on Conor Daly's "Speed Street" podcast in early July 2025, when Dixon was asked about his future, he jokingly replied:
"Yeah, I just signed a five-year extension, man. So at least five more years."
Then, keeping the humor aside, Dixon explained his mindset about career longevity and why retirement is not on his mind.
"No, no, I'm just joking," he said. "Yeah, I'd love to do it... but no, I still enjoy it. This year has been a trying year, but it's still one of those years you learn the most about yourself, the most about the team, about anything like that."
"So yeah, I love it. I love racing. I love being part of this crazy circus on the road. Definitely not retiring anytime soon, that's for sure. But not sure about signing a five-year extension," the No. 9 CGR Honda driver added.
No one knows how many more years of IndyCar racing Scott Dixon has left in him. From Chip Ganassi's perspective, the team may be looking to prioritize its future with younger talent.
But for now, let's steer clear of speculation. The other key players in the 2026-27 silly season include Team Penske's Josef Newgarden, Andretti Global's Marcus Ericsson, and Arrow McLaren's Nolan Siegel, among others.
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