Scott Dixon moves past Taco Bell armed robbery to focus on winning Indy 500

It should have been a day where Scott Dixon basked in the accolades that come with putting together a steely eyed four-lap qualifying run that was the fastest (232.164 mph) in 21 years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, earning him the pole for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 (noon ET, ABC).

For a few hours, Dixon did just that. There were countless media obligations along with the usual pomp and circumstance associated with being the top qualifier for one of the most famous races in the world.

Then, after an impromptu jaunt to a fast-food restaurant less than a mile from the speedway, the story line changed dramatically.

Needing dinner but with few options at 9:30 p.m., Dixon, along with good friend and former IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti, elected to stop at Taco Bell. They would’ve gone to McDonald’s, a sponsor of Chip Ganassi Racing, except it was closed for renovations.

As the trio sat in the drive-thru line, two juvenile males, ages 15 and 14, approached their SVU and held a gun to Scott Dixon’s head. The armed robbers took a wallet belonging to Dixon’s wife, Emma, and nothing else. Thankfully no was hurt, with the suspects later apprehended by police.

Suddenly, all the good that had transpired mere hours before seemed meaningless.

“It was definitely an odd situation, an emotional swing” Dixon said Thursday at Indianapolis 500 media day. “It gives you a bit of a reality check.

“You feel pretty big for one minute, then pretty small for another.”

Naturally in the days since, Dixon’s accomplishment on the treacherous 2.5-mile track became overshadowed. But it’s not as if the New Zealander isn’t quite familiar with being unnoticed. It’s been a common occurrence throughout his stellar career where he’s established himself as one of IndyCar’s all-time greats — yet with little fanfare.

A glance at the IndyCar Series record book, and it becomes readily apparent Dixon’s career is worthy of far more praise than he receives. His 40 wins rank fourth all-time, trailing only drivers with the surname Foyt and Andretti. His four championships are second only to A.J. Foyt’s seven.

Considering Dixon is 36, in excellent health, and aligned with a team in Ganassi that is one of the sport’s blue bloods, it’s plausible his championship and race win totals will continue to rise significantly.

“In my generation, he’s already the best,” said Tony Kanaan, Dixon’s teammate, and himself a former Indianapolis 500 winner and series champion.

So why then isn’t he regarded with the same adulation one should expect?

Charismatic Brazilians Kanaan and Helio Castroneves are IndyCar’s go-to faces in promotional campaigns, and both regularly get the loudest reception during prerace driver introductions. Kanaan and Castroneves are both successful in their own right, but the totality of their respective careers pales to Dixon’s résumé.

Also frequently touted are Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal, sons of former series champions Michael and Bobby. Many within the industry have long contended that if either could begin winning with any regularity, it represents open-wheel racing’s best chance to amass greater popularity. (Graham has won four times; Marco just twice.)

Not that the lack of spotlight bothers Dixon any.

“Scott doesn’t care. Scott is a pure racer,” Kanaan said. “I admire that. If you look at the popularity of him and me, it’s kind of a big step. But look at the success between him and I, that’s another big step.”

Although friendly and engaging as anyone in the garage, Dixon demurs when it comes to discussing his lofty stature. Befitting his “Ice Man” nickname, he’s largely emotionless, remaining even keel in the hairiest of situations -- including in a Taco Bell drive-thru line, when all he’s trying to do is order a Gordita Crunch with beans substituting for the meat, but instead finds himself staring at a gun.

Later, after the police had been called and all the reports filled out, Kanaan was flabbergasted at how Dixon recapped his eventful day in the most nondescript manner.

“When he told me what happened he was like, ‘Yeah, I put it on the pole today at 232 mph. Went to eat, got robbed. Went to bed,’” Kanaan said. That’s him for you. The way he talks about his achievements or misfortunes, it’s always in the same tone. All the time.

“I’ve barely seen this guy get mad. … He’s the most chill person I’ve ever met.”

What Dixon values more than publicity is results, because in his estimation that’s the ultimate measure of a driver. Above all else. Down the road, he says, when the checkered flag waves on his career, perhaps he’ll reflect on his legacy.

Until then, it’s all about the next race. That next victory.

“It’s not something I think about,” Dixon said. “If you’re winning, the rest takes care of itself. For us, if we can keep achieving milestones and big wins then we’re doing the job right. Stats are something you can look back on and be happy with.”