Motorsport: Dixon all business ahead of Indy tilt

New Zealander Scott Dixon says his team is a lot closer to the speeds they should have been at the beginning of the season. Photo / AP

Kiwi Scott Dixon off pace in qualifying but banking on experience to win the day

Scott Dixon is in unfamiliar territory starting in 11th position on the grid for Monday's Indianapolis 500.

While not happy about being that far back, the New Zealander knows he has finished only once (2013 in 14th) outside the top 10 since 2005. Dixon was thoughtful after qualifying, saying his team had a bit of work to do but wasn't overly concerned about qualifying, as it's the race that matters.

"We're a lot closer to the speeds that we should have been at the beginning of the season, it's just frustrating that we didn't have it [qualifying]," Dixon said.

"We've got some work to do, but it has woken us all up a bit."

The team's managing director Mike Hull was also unimpressed where his cars ended up on the grid and told USA Today: "We're a big team and we should be better than what we showed. There's no excuse for what we did [last weekend].

"What we're guilty of is working on the race maybe too much and qualifying not enough. And sometimes it shows."

While mid-field isn't the best of places to be starting from it's a long race and two years ago Dixon and then teammate Dario Franchitti qualified 15th and 16th, but went on to finish second and first respectively.

"One of the reasons we changed to Chevy this year is that the teams running Chevy were so strong last year," Dixon said. "We still hope to have that advantage but Honda have closed the gap up. It's been a bit tough this year so far so maybe I can pull something big out this weekend. The car has been generally pretty good, and anyway, your racecar is vastly different to your qualifying car.

"You might run 260kg more on the front springs, for example, disconnect the rear bar for the race and the toes and cambers are also very different as is the wing distribution."

The Indy 500 for the drivers is the most difficult to manage from inside the car.

Sure, they have spotters, pit crew and assorted other bods handing out advice and tweaking the car, but the person holding the wheel is where the buck stops. While flinging themselves around an oval at speeds approaching 360km/h, each and every one of them is calculating where the traffic is, fuel burn, tyres, race strategy and how to be first across the finish line.

"I think if you're in a comfortable situation, your demeanour is a little more comfortable throughout [the race]," Dixon said. "With the style of racing we saw last year, it's pretty hectic for the three and a half hours straight up. Your emotions go through roller coasters like anybody in a high-stress situation.

"I think the biggest thing is trying to concentrate on what's ahead, what you need to improve. You have to think about the big picture -- keeping an open mind because things change constantly. I think if you get too hung up on certain things, it's going to ruin your day."

The Kiwi is fired up and relishing the chance of getting his likeness on the Borg Warner Trophy a second time.

Drivers' standings
IndyCar Series points after four races

1. Will Power 149
2. Ryan Hunter-Reay 148
3. Simon Pagenaud143
4. Scott Dixon 102
5. Helio Castroneves102
6. Mike Conway 93
7. Marco Andretti 89
8. Justin Wilson 87