In the qualifying rounds, cars with Chevrolet engines took the top eight spots, with Scott McLaughlin from Team Penske securing pole position.
During the final practice on Carb Day, Dixon led a group of seven cars with Honda engines in the top 10, reaching a speed of 227.206mph.
Dixon, a six-time IndyCar Series champion and a winner of the Indy 500 in 2008, thinks the race between the two engine manufacturers will be closer. He mentioned that while the cars seem more evenly matched, speed isn’t the only important factor in winning.
He said, “Yeah, it’s kind of hard to tell in race trim, to be honest. I’d say it seems more level, but they still seem to pull off and come back from fairly far back.”
Dixon also pointed out that the temperature of the track could make a difference. Earlier in the week, it was very hot, but now with cooler conditions expected, it might change how the cars perform.
When asked about the cooler conditions, both Dixon and McLaughlin shared their thoughts. Dixon mentioned that the pack of cars might get closer together, while McLaughlin said that while there might be more grip, everyone will benefit from it, so the gaps between cars might stay the same.
