Indy 500 not only tests drivers' heads, but their hearts as well

INDIANAPOLIS -- Scott Dixon was asked last Friday if winning the pole for the Indianapolis 500 is as big as winning an IndyCar race anywhere else?

The quiet but talented driver from Auckland, New Zealand scoffed.

"No," Dixon said. "It doesn't pay any points, man. For a driver if you can say you won the pole for the Indy 500, for sure it's a very big accomplishment. But to be honest, not many people remember who won the pole. They always remember who won the race, not so much the pole.

Twenty four hours later, after Dixon took to the race course with 2 and 1/2 hours left in Saturday's qualifications to knock Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe off the pole, Dixon won his first Indy 500 pole with a four-lap average of 226.366 miles per hour.

Not surprisingly, his attitude about the magnitude of winning the pole for the Indianapolis 500 had changed.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet," Dixon said of winning the pole. "Indy for our team, our development, started well into the winter. I think all the guys on the team are adamant on putting up a strong fight for this year's 500. I think between the small group of drivers and obviously people like [team owner] Chip Ganassi that have raced cars before, it means a lot to them just because you're definitely right on the limit and giving it your all.

"It's definitely right at the top of accomplishments I've done."

The marathon six-hour qualification session played out under warm temperatures and sunny skies, which, combined with the recent unification of the IndyCar Series brought out the biggest crowd for Pole Day since the split began in 1996.

And at the end of what some call the fastest show on wheels, it was Dixon who heard the cheers from the fans after he achieved another big accomplishment of his IndyCar career, one that already includes the 2003 IndyCar Series title.

But there are many of items left on Dixon's career checklist, and one of them is an Indianapolis 500 victory. He came close last year, finishing second to Dario Franchitti in the rain-shortened race.