Scott Dixon muses on Indy 500's row of champions

INDIANAPOLIS — Until Thursday, Scott Dixon hadn't thought about the numbers in his row.

But they're profound.

Inside to outside, the fourth row on the Indianapolis 500 starting grid reads: Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon, Kurt Busch.

Statistically, it reads something more like this: Multiple victories in Formula One, IndyCar, CART and NASCAR. Two Indianapolis 500 wins. Championships in NASCAR Sprint Cup, IndyCar and CART. A compilation of success in the world's three largest racing series (IndyCar and CART unified in 2008).

"It's weird how things like that work out and put us all in the same place," Dixon told USA TODAY Sports. "For Kurt to be doing the double is awesome in it's own right."

Dixon has been getting to know Busch as both prepare for Sunday's 98th running of the Indy 500. Busch is attempting to compete in the 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the same day, the first time it's been attempted since Robby Gordon in 2004.

Dixon knows Montoya from their association with Chip Ganassi, Dixon's IndyCar team owner and Montoya's former boss in NASCAR. Montoya now drives for Target Chip Ganassi Racing's arch rival, Team Penske.

"I can't say I've thought about it that much, but when I did see we were all in the same row, I thought that was pretty cool," Dixon said. "I haven't had a chance to talk much to Kurt about it, but I've known Juan for some time through the Target partnership on the IndyCar and Cup side."

Dixon, who has won three IndyCar championships and the Indianapolis 500 in 2008, said the fact that Busch had left Saturday's first day of qualifying to get to Charlotte and couldn't improve his position was key to the three drivers ending up in the same row.

"Kurt was close to making the Fast Nine, but left for Charlotte and wasn't able to return," Dixon said. "And then with my deal, we were struggling on the first day of qualifying and didn't start to make progress until the second day."

When asked who in the row was best, Dixon turned coy.

"We are, of course," he said.

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2014 Indianapolis 500 lineup

The starting grid for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday at noon on ABC:

With start position, car number in parentheses, driver, hometown and team:

1. (20) Ed Carpenter, Indianapolis, Ed Carpenter Racing

2. (27) James Hinchcliffe, Toronto, Andretti Autosport

3. (12) Will Power, Toowoomba, Australia, Team Penske

4. (3) Helio Castroneves, Sao Paulo, Team Penske

5. (77) Simon Pagenaud, Montmorillon, France, Schmidt Peterson Hamilton

6. (25) Marco Andretti, Nazareth, Pa., Andretti Autosport

7. (34) Carlos Munoz, Bogota, Andretti Autosport-HVM

8. (67) Josef Newgarden, Hendersonville, Tenn., Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing

9. (21) JR Hildebrand, Sausalito, Calif., Ed Carpenter Racing

10. (2) Juan Pablo Montoya, Bogota, Team Penske

11. (9) Scott Dixon, Auckland, New Zealand, Target Chip Ganassi Racing

*12. (26) Kurt Busch, Las Vegas, Andretti Autosport

13. (98) Jack Hawksworth, Bradford, England, BHA/BBM with Curb-Agajanian

14. (19) Justin Wilson, Sheffield, England, Dale Coyne Racing

*15. (7) Mikhail Aleshin, Moscow, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

16. (10) Tony Kanaan, Salvador, Brazil, Target Chip Ganassi Racing

17. (11) Sebastien Bourdais, Le Mans, France, KVSH Racing

18. (16) Oriol Servia, Pals, Spain, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

19. (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Fort Lauderdale, Andretti Autosport

20. (15) Graham Rahal, New Albany, Ohio, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

*21. (18) Carlos Huertas, Bogota, Dale Coyne Racing

22. (63) Pippa Mann, Ipswich, England, Dale Coyne Racing

23. (14) Takuma Sato, Tokyo, A.J. Foyt Enterprises

24. (68) Alex Tagliani, Lechenaie, Quebec, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing

25. (6) Townsend Bell, San Luis Obispo, Calif., KV Racing Technology

26. (83) Charlie Kimball, Camarillo, Calif, Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing

27. (5) Jacques Villeneuve, St Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

*28. (33) James Davison, Melbourne, Australia, KV Racing Technology

*29. (41) Martin Plowman, Tamworth, England, A.J. Foyt Enterprises

30. (8) Ryan Briscoe, Sydney, NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing

*31. (22) Sage Karam, Nazareth, Pa., Dreyer & Reinbold -Kingdom Racing w/CGR

32. (17) Sebastian Saavedra, Bogota, KV AFS Racing

33. (91) Buddy Lazier, Vail, Colo., Lazier Partners Racing