Scott dixon cherishes 'friends' as legendary ganassi tenure ends

Twenty-five years. That is how long and Chip Ganassi Racing built an empire together, and as the 46-year-old father of three prepares for his final race weekend as a CGR driver at for the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, he is looking back at the people who made it happen.

Here's the thing about this partnership: it is simply unmatched in U.S. open-wheel racing. Together with managing director Mike Hull—who has been the voice in his ear nearly exclusively since 2002—Dixon captured 58 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races and six season championships. They racked up 417 races as one. Think about the sheer endurance required for Dixon's 373 consecutive series starts and 21 consecutive winning seasons, all earned under the CGR banner.

Wins and trophies are great, but Dixon made sure to highlight the moments away from the track. He fondly recalled staying at Ganassi's home and a wild team sponsor trip with PNC Bank into the desert to race buggies, where Ganassi unforgettably served as a passenger whose stomach simply could not handle the ride. Those are the memories that linger far beyond the asphalt.

From his debut in the team's No. 44 car at the Milwaukee Mile back in 2002—before current series drivers , , , and were even born—to making the iconic No. 9 his own through triumphs and heartbreak, the numbers are staggering. All 28 of his poles and 12 wins from the top qualifying spot came with Ganassi and Hull on the pit box. They conquered the 500 in 2008, claimed five poles at the Brickyard, and led a record 709 laps in the event. It could have been even more storied if not for a brutal heartbreak in 2007, when he ran out of fuel on the final lap at Chicagoland Speedway, handing the title to .

Other drivers notice the weight of this split. , who left Team Penske last year after 17 consecutive seasons, marveled at the sheer talent and professionalism of the duo, noting how strange it will be to see someone else in the No. 9 machine. holds the second-longest active tenure with one team at 14 years with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, but he would need to stay put until 2037 just to match what Dixon achieved here.