Scott Dixon heads to the Watkins Glen International Raceway ready to bounce back from a pair of sub-par outings. Granted, sub-par for Dixon this year resulted in a fourth at Iowa and third at Richmond, but the 2008 Indy 500 winner, and current IndyCar Series point leader has set a very high standard for himself this season.

The winner of a series leading three races so far in 2008, Dixon heads in to the second half of season with wins at Homestead, Indianapolis, and Texas, a second place run at Milwaukee, and three third place finishes that have given him a 43 point lead over the consistent, but winless, Helio Castroneves.

Strangely, Dixon's worst outing of the season came on the street course at St. Petersburg, a type of racing where he would normally shine, yet he started just 13th after getting blocked during qualifying and thanks to mechanical gremlins he finished just 22nd.

Getting to turn right as well as left for just the second time this year, Dixon should be expected to win this weekend at Watkins Glen. After all, since the IndyCar Series started running there in 2005, Dixon is the only driver to visit victory lane.

Team manage Mike Hull attributes Dixon's prowess at “The Glen” to his knowledge of the former Formula 1 circuit's history.

“I think one of the biggest reasons for (his) determination to win is the history that the track represents - it makes everyone on the team work hard, as World Champions have won big races there,” said Hull.

Located in a forested park like setting in upstate New, York, Watkins Glen hosted the United States Grand Prix races from 1961 to 1980, with legends like Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and James Hunt capturing multiple wins during the F1 years.

One interesting part of Dixon's attempt to win four straight at Watkins Glen will be a unique bar-be-que that is being thrown for him by the New Zealand Lamb Cooperative. The NZLC has bestowed “free lamb for life” on their native son after his history making Indy 500 win, and they will cook up a special meal for Dixon and his Ganassi Racing crew after qualifying on Saturday night.

For the second weekend in a row, Dixon will race his Indy 500 winning chassis. The car was converted during the week from the Richmond short oval configuration to the low drag high downforce trim needed on the long Watkins Glen road course.

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