Target Chip Ganassi Racing Open Wheel History

Team owner Chip Ganassi and Target began their partnership in 1990 with the creation of a one-car IndyCar team. Since then, the Target team has amassed five championship titles, 50 wins, including an Indianapolis 500 victory, and 51 pole positions.

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Target Team solidified its place in open- wheel racing history, as Chip Ganassi became the first owner to lead his team to four consecutive championships with Jimmy Vasser (1996), Alex Zanardi (1997-98) and then with rookie driver Juan Montoya's championship in 1999. In 2000, Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Montoya blew away the competition in the Indianapolis 500, claiming the title for his team which had not raced at the famed Brickyard since 1995.

Then in 2003, following a switch from the CART Series to the Indy Racing League, Ganassi and Team Target driver Scott Dixon proved they could meet the challenge of a new series and new competition by capturing the 2003 IndyCar Series Championship. In 2004, defending series champion Dixon was joined by Darren Manning, and together the duo set the stage for a talented, stronger and more experienced team.  Dixon highlighted the 2005 IRL season for Ganassi with a trip to the winner's circle at Watkins Glen International.

At the end of the 2005 season, the Target Team unveiled a long list of exciting changes to their IndyCar program for the season, including a new engine and chassis manufacturer package and a return to IndyCar Series competition with two Indy Racing League Champions, Scott Dixon (2003) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

Those enhancements paid immediate dividends this past 2006 season as both drivers were contenders in every race and ultimately for the IndyCar Series Championship, earning four wins, three pole positions and leading a combined 976 laps (of 2510). The season came to an end in dramatic fashion as the Target team took the checkered flag in first and second place, the team's second 1-2 finish of the year, but fell just short of the IndyCar Series title as Wheldon's win tied him for first with Penske driver Sam Hornish with 475 points but then lost in the tiebreaker with two less wins (Hornish 4 - Wheldon 2). 

The win in the 2006 IndyCar season finale at Chicagoland Speedway, also marked the Target Team's historic 50th victory in open wheel racing, adding to an impressive resume. The team boasts five Championship titles with 22 wins on ovals, 16 victories on street courses and 12 on permanent road courses. The first 40 wins came in the CART Series while the following 10 victories were earned in the Indy Racing League.

Returning for his fifth IndyCar season in 2007 at the helm of the No.9 Target car, Scott Dixon is looking to build on the positive momentum that the Target Team had built up at the end of last season. With five road courses on the upcoming season schedule to compliment twelve ovals races, Dixon, known as a road course specialist, is hoping to add a few more trips to the winner's circle to add to his six wins and six pole positions and vie for another Championship.

The Target team will also welcome back Dan Wheldon for a second season at the wheel of the no.10 Target Honda Dallara. The 2007 season can't start quickly enough for Dan Wheldon, who is looking to build on last year's successes with the Target team and, in this his fifth season of competition, add to an already impressive IndyCar career with 11 wins, including an Indianapolis 500 victory, four pole positions and a IndyCar Series Championship title.

The 2007 season will feature a 17-race schedule, with events on 12 ovals, three permanent road courses and two temporary street circuits, and includes every venue from last season plus new events at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio and the Raceway at Belle Isle near Detroit.