Now, this is the kind of seismic shift that shakes the entire paddock to its absolute core. According to Speedcafe, Scott Dixon will embark on a completely fresh chapter in his legendary career ahead of the 2027 season, walking away from Chip Ganassi Racing to join forces with McLaren. It marks the first time since 2004 that the veteran will carry anything other than the #9 machine he became entirely synonymous with throughout his storied career. After claiming the IndyCar title in 2003 with the #9 and briefly running the #1 plate in 2004, that iconic number has remained glued to his car until the end of 2026.
That departure from Ganassi also forces a massive manufacturer change for the New Zealander. It will be the first time since 2016 that Dixon straps himself into a Chevrolet-powered IndyCar, stepping away from the Honda powerplants he has known for over a decade. But he will hardly be lonely in this new garage. McLaren has put together a terrifyingly strong lineup, pairing Dixon alongside Mexico’s Pato O’Ward and Sweden’s Felix Rosenqvist.
The number shuffle within the squad is a thing of absolute beauty. O’Ward keeps his trusted #5, while Rosenqvist takes over the #7 upon his arrival from Meyer Shank Racing—a number he previously campaigned during his two-year stint with McLaren in 2021 and 2022. On top of that heavy-hitting trio, the team is expanding to facilitate a fourth entry for the Indianapolis 500, handing the #31 car to the United States' Ryan Hunter-Reay.
“We’re excited to begin our next chapter in 2027,” said McLaren team principal Tony Kanaan. “This team has continued to raise the bar year after year, and with Pato, Scott, Felix and Ryan in the cockpit, we believe we have the tools to achieve our goals. While fans will have to wait a little longer to see the 2027 liveries, today’s announcement offers a fun glimpse of what lies ahead.”
Before any of that 2027 madness kicks off, however, Dixon still has one final piece of unfinished business to attend to. Even though the IndyCar season has already wrapped up, he has one more assignment awaiting him with the Chip Ganassi Racing-affiliated Meyer Shank Racing outfit in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. He is set to join Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun at Petit Le Mans, tackling the grueling 10-hour endurance race at Road Atlanta scheduled for September 30-October 3.
That means sharing the #60 Acura ARX-06 alongside a star-studded sister #93 car featuring Renger van der Zande, Nick Yelloly, and Alex Palou. The GTP grid for that Road Atlanta showdown is packed with heavy hitters, too, featuring Earl Bamber in the #31 Cadillac V-Series.R alongside Matt Campbell piloting the #6 Porsche 963. But make no mistake—the motorsport world will be watching Dixon's every move as he prepares to write the final chapter of an era before his massive leap into the orange of McLaren.
