Indycar: Kiwi Scott Dixon tricks fans with number change post

  • 14/01/2019
Scott Dixon's Instagram post
Scott Dixon's Instagram post Photo credit: Instagram: @scottdixon9

Kiwi IndyCar driver Scott Dixon will retain his lucky number nine for the 2019 season, despite posting a photo with him next to the number one car.

As Dixon will head into the next season as the reigning IndyCar champion, he has the right to use the number one on his car, which is always reserved for last year's winner.

So when the 38-year-old posted a photo on Instagram of himself standing beside the number one Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, it was assumed he'd be changing numbers.

But it was all a hoax, as Dixon just wanted to see what the reaction would be.

"Reunited with this beauty. Little preseason shoot. That orange pops," the caption read on Instagram.

His post drew close to 7000 likes and more that 150 comments with people complimenting the decision, but when the IndyCars Facebook page shared it, most of the comments begged for him to keep his lucky number nine.

Dixon, a five-time IndyCar champion, has only used the number one once after winning - back in 2004 - and it became one of his worst seasons in the sport, as he finished 10th in the standings and didn't register a single win, with only one podium finish.

When he won championships in 2008, 2013 and 2015, he's always kept number nine for the following season.

"We'll turn up to the official test with the number nine on there," he told IndyCar's website.

"That’s after we won the 2003 championship. We ran it into 2004 and then we’ve never done it since.

"I think some people will get a little bit of a laugh out of it. I like [number] nine, but to be honest, it's Chip's decision."

The first race of the 2019 IndyCar season is scheduled for March 11 (NZ time) at St Petersburg, Florida.

Dixon has been nominated for Sportsman of the Year finalists at the Halberg awards. 

Newshub.