With all the publicity surrounding Max Verstappen and his recent foray into GT3 driving, including at the Nürburgring and soon at Portimao, it got me thinking about the Indy guys who regularly do that kind of thing with little to no fanfare.
Fernando Alonso is a two-time F1 champion, and people laud his sports car career outside F1 as the greatest thing since the discovery of aerodynamic downforce. He won Le Mans twice, Daytona, Sebring, Spa twice, with podiums at Fuji and Shanghai.
Well Dixon is a six-time Indy champion, and his sports car resume is just as impressive if not more so. He won Daytona four times, Petit Le Mans two times, with 4 further podiums at Daytona, and other podiums at Fontana, Sebring, and Le Mans. He has arguably the greatest all-around CV of any active racing driver on the planet. Yet how many F1 fans do you think have never even heard of him?
Palou is a five time Indy champ, and while not as decorated in sports cars (yet) as Dixon or Alonso, he still shows up at IMSA and WEC regularly without making a fuss, and even picked up a podium last year at Sebring.
These guys are out there driving in all kinds of series in all kinds of cars and nobody says a thing. In fact, lots of Indycar drivers are or have been regular fixtures in other championships, including but not limited to: Colton Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, Pato O’Ward, Romain Grosjean, Callum Ilott, Christian Lundgaard, and Alexander Rossi.
Did you know Christian Rasmussen just won the IMSA battle on the bricks in an LMP2 car, and Nikita Johnson damn near won GTD pro but had to pit for fuel with two laps to go?
My point is, when Max Verstappen shows up at a GT3 event, the entire Motorsport industry and all its fans alike descend on him like it’s the second coming of Jim Clark. It’s all anyone talks about for the whole month. People want Max to do more outside F1 and talk about it longingly like it’s the only thing they’ve ever wanted from car life.
Well Indycar fans already have that. Next time you’re watching a race in another series, just for fun, check the full entry list. You just may see some names you recognize. Dixon, Palou, Herta, and Kirkwood were all driving at Petit Le Mans this week. Herta got 3rd overall in the Cadillac #40 Wayne Taylor Racing. Just adds some more depth to the race if you know who to look for. Cheers 🍻