Qualifying: Dixon makes it three
The first time Scott Dixon tested at Nashville Superspeedway, he left with a headache. The first time he qualified at the 1.33-mile track, he won the pole position. The Ganassi Racing driver was clocked at 206.211 mph Friday afternoon on his first qualifying effort on a concrete oval, taking the pole for Saturday night's IRL IndyCar Series race. Before a test session last week, Dixon had never seen an oval track that wasn't paved with asphalt

"The first time we tested here, I got a bad headache," Dixon said. "I kept bumping my head on the headrest. In the turns where there's been some grinding, you can really feel the grooves. That's what really wears on the tyres. I think tomorrow is going to be a race not so much of saving fuel, but of hooking up your tyres."
Dixon's pole was his third in a row, pushing him closer to the IRL record of four consecutive poles set in 1998 by Billy Boat. Dixon won poles at Richmond and Kansas City, but before Friday, his only experience with concrete came during CART races on street courses and Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport in 2000 and 2001.
Although he still trails Tony Kanaan in the IndyCar Series standings, Dixon has put together remarkable runs of success mixed with misfortune. His record string of laps led ended at Kansas City, as did his two-race winning streak.
"It would be nice if we could keep it going this way the rest of the season," Dixon said. "We've had the speed, we just haven't always been consistent."
Nashville's surface presents an unusual challenge for IndyCar drivers because of its abrasion and seams. The seams - placed in even intervals around the track to allow for expansion - create a constant rattling inside the cockpit. The abrasion creates a sensation similar to that felt when driving on interstate highways grooved with ribs.
"Sometimes you get that feeling when you're in the middle of the turn," Gil de Ferran said. "It's not actually sliding; the car is wiggling in the grooves."
Dixon's lap knocked Helio Castroneves out of the top spot after he had displaced Tony Kanaan. Castroneves, who held the pole for most of the qualifying session, says concrete magnifies several variables. Nashville is one of just three ovals in the U.S. with a concrete surface - Dover and Bristol are the others.
"It's tough here," said Castroneves, who experienced Nashville's layout for the first time last season. "You don't get the rubber that you do on an asphalt track. It's abrasive. You might have an issue with the tires. It depends on the setup you're running. There are so many different things."
Following Dixon and Castroneves on the starting grid will be Tora Takagi and de Ferran in the second row, and Tomas Scheckter and Alex Barron in the third row. Barron is in his first race in the Mo Nunn Racing No. 21 Toyota-powered Panoz G Force of injured driver Felipe Giaffone.
Latest news
Why the 2022 IndyCar title fight is Penske vs Ganassi yet again
There have been wins, poles and promise from others, but the 2022 IndyCar Series championship battle has distilled down to a fight between old rivals Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing once more. A principal from each explains what has elevated their teams beyond other rivals ahead of the final three races
Nashville IndyCar winner Dixon feared race was ruined by shunt
Scott Dixon was convinced that car damage had ended his victory hopes at IndyCar's Nashville round, before working his way to the front to eventually claim his 53rd series win.
Palou sure he has "fair shot" at IndyCar title despite Ganassi conflict
Defending IndyCar champion Alex Palou is sure he will have a chance to retain his crown despite being only third highest Ganassi driver and on the brink of an acrimonious departure.
Newgarden unapologetic over Grosjean clash in Nashville IndyCar race
Josef Newgarden said “welcome to IndyCar” in response to his clash with Romain Grosjean that took the French driver out of the Nashville race.
How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled
Chip Ganassi Racing team was strong again in the Indianapolis 500, with poleman Scott Dixon and reigning champion Alex Palou leading almost three quarters of the race between them. But when dominator Dixon was penalised for pitlane speeding, ex-Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson stepped up to score the biggest win of his career and seize the IndyCar points lead
Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021
In an enthralling 2021 IndyCar campaign, the series bounced back from its COVID-19 truncated year prior and Alex Palou defeated both the established order and his fellow young guns to clinch a maiden title. It capped a remarkable season with plenty of standout performers
How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential
Romain Grosjean's swashbuckling rookie year in IndyCar captured the imagination of many in 2021. But another ex-Formula 1 driver whose potential was masked by five years of toil in, at best, middling machinery also enjoyed a breakout year in 2021 - winning twice and finishing sixth in points. Here's how Marcus Ericsson finally delivered on his promise
How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best
IndyCar sophomore Alex Palou stunned by overcoming team-mate Scott Dixon and the rest of a white-hot field in 2021. He was consistently fast and crucially showed a level head, rebounding well from setbacks to put himself in a near unassailable position entering the final round
Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?
Despite appearing to have an IndyCar job for life with Meyer Shank Racing, Jack Harvey’s departure and move to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing sparked plenty of debate. However, Harvey's and RLL's combined strengths could prove to be a winning combination - if they get the balance right
Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win
Saturday 16 October marks the 10th anniversary of Dan Wheldon’s death. David Malsher-Lopez pays tribute, then asks Wheldon’s race engineer from 2011, Todd Malloy, to recall that magical second victory at the Indianapolis 500
Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting
Kyle Kirkwood, the record-setting junior formula driver, sealed the Indy Lights championship last weekend. But despite an absurdly strong junior career and scholarship money, his next move is far from clear
Why IndyCar title glory is just the start for Ganassi's new star
Newly-crowned IndyCar champion Alex Palou has been lauded as a complete driver and veteran-like in only his second season. The 24-year-old is still in the early days of his career, but the parallels are there for all to see with his six-time champion Chip Ganassi Racing team-mate who has been CGR's team leader since 2014