KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders are showing their support for Auckland race car driver Scott Dixon, backing him to win the Indy 500 on Monday morning (NZT).
A TAB spokesman said today that Dixon, who has pole position for the race, is a $3.25 favourite to win the famous race for
the first time.
"Over 80 per cent of bets we have received are on Dixon," the spokesman said.
Second favourite is Dixon's Target Chip Ganassi teammate, Dan Wheldon, who will start alongside Dixon on the front row.
Wheldon is at $4.75 and about 10 per cent of the betting has gone on him. The remaining 10 per cent has gone on American female driver Danica Patrick who is at $10.
"Nobody seems to have gone for Brazilian two-times winner Helio Castroneves who is paying $10," he said.
Dixon, who finished second at the Brickyard last year, is also the top bet with US betting agency, Sportsbook.com who rate him at 3-1.
Castroneves and Wheldon, the 2005 winner, are at 9-2.
The last two winners, Sam Hornish Jr (2006) and Dario Franchitti (2007), are not racing this year, making Wheldon a big threat to enter victory lane and win another Indy 500, Sportsbook.com said.
Castroneves was third last year and won in 2001 and 2002.
Team Andretti Green's Brazilian, Tony Kanaan is at 5-1, Marco Andretti at 7-1 and Patrick, who notched her first Indy series win last month in Japan, is at 10-1.
ESPN.com scored Dixon as their "Level One" favourite.
"He has led 313 of 600 oval laps this season, more than three times as many as his nearest challenger.
"Dixon and his team seem to have a more intense focus this year, and one gets the sense that Indy is their biggest prize."
At level two were Kanaan and Wheldon with Castroneves, Marco Andretti and Patrick on level three.
"Castroneves is a two-time Indy winner, but some question whether the distractions from his (US) `Dancing With The Stars' victory tour have been a problem," ESPN said.
Dixon's Honda-powered Dallara has been tough to keep up with this month.
Three times he has posted the top speed during practice. On Pole Day this month, he averaged 226.366mph (364.29km/h) making him one of only three drivers on the 33-car grid to eclipse the 226mph barrier.
Wheldon and Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe are the others.
"Even on an average lap (during qualifying) we had the field covered, and I think that just shows how strong the team was," Dixon said.
"I think Chip and all of the guys on the team are adamant about putting up a strong fight for this year's 500."
Dixon credits Wheldon with forcing a change in his driving style, which has given him the consistency to finish second in the series last year.
"Dan was a big part of my transition to pick it up.
"He's a fierce competitor, and there's no better person to have than someone like him when you are racing in the IndyCar Series," Dixon said.
"For sure, 2004 and 2005 were some rough times for us, but I was lucky enough to be able to stick around after the bad times when it got good.
"In 2006 (when Wheldon joined the team), I learned a different style of racing.
"You've really got to be thankful for a lot of the wins that you get because when you are on a roll, it doesn't always last long."
Dixon is second in the Indy Racing League points standings, six points behind Castroneves, who ranks second to Dixon in laps led this year with 99.
Dixon won the first race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, mechanical issues saw him 22nd at next race but he bounced back with two thirds at the next two rounds.
He will be hoping the roll will include his taking the chequered flag first at the Brickyard on Monday.
- NZPA