So close in 2006 for Wheldon

Chip Ganassi Racing enters its sixth season of IndyCar Series competition in 2007. The season begins under the lights this Saturday night with the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Drivers Scott Dixon is back in the No.9 Target Honda-powered Dallara and Dan Wheldon returns at the helm of the No.10 Target Honda-powered Dallara.

Dixon won the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2003 on his way to his first IndyCar Series Championship. Wheldon won his first race for the team at HMS to launch the 2006 campaign in dramatic fashion as he overtook Helio Castroneves on the final lap to take his tenth career IndyCar win by just 0.0147 of a second.

Dan Wheldon
“I've been kind of disappointed with my 2006 season because of all the chances we missed. We came so close in so many races including the Indy 500 but just didn't quite get it done in the end. You don't want to tie for a Championship. You want to win it outright."

"This year, we'll do everything not to let those opportunities get away from us. This season should be a lot better after getting a year under my belt with a new team and engineer. We know each other a lot better now. I'm really eager to get back to Homestead and start the season off. One of the changes that I'm happy about is running the Dallara chassis on road courses this year. I'm more familiar with it and I feel really confident and comfortable in the car. It'll help in developing my road course driving technique and hopefully will translate with success on the track."

Scott Dixon
“You don't really get a really good idea of where you really are until you get that first race under your belt. We saw some of the usual suspects at the front, but preseason testing isn't always a good indication and there are bound to be some surprises in the first two races. We have a lot to build on. Last year was a strong year and we're looking to improve on it. Consistency will be the key and capitalizing on every opportunity. It should be a fun year.”

Mike Hull, Team Managing Director
“We feel that this Target team is in a strong position to contend for the IndyCar Series championship. We have shown well at tests at Daytona and Homestead but that's not a lot of testing, and like everyone else we're waiting to see what the first race of the season holds to see where we really stand. You just can't make assumptions based on the past. This is a new season and everyone has a clean slate.”

E.A.
Source Ganassi Racing