INDYCAR: DIXON LEADS PLANKING COMPETITION ON DAY 5 AT INDY

Marshall Pruett, SPEEDTV.com

IZOD IndyCar Series team were teased today by the possibility of getting in a few practice laps towards the end of the day, and just as a half-dozen drivers sat on pit lane and counted down the three-minute warning to commence the session, rain began to fall, bringing and end to Day 5 at the Speedway.

With no opportunities to improve their respective racecars, many drivers used the rain delay to perfect their 'Planking' setup.

Of the drivers who posted photos of their planking performances, Target Chip Ganassi's Scott Dixon showed a clear advantage over the rest of the field.

In an exclusive interview with SPEED.com, the Kiwi revealed his secret technique that allowed him to shoot to the top of the leader board on Day 5.

"It started a little while back...maybe about a week or so...and it started at home Down Under in New Zealand and Australia. For my setup, you have to incorporate the Indy car, the helmet and the suit and the boots. I guess you can call it 'extreme planking.'

Like a ragged qualifying lap used to claim pole at Indy, Dixon says he was willing to push beyond his comfort zone to come out on top on Wednesday.

"My engineer was mad...I think almost broke my neck doing it...and my neck is still sore..."

The 2008 Indy 500 winner say he has an even more extreme version of planking in his arsenal if he's forced to use it.

"I want to do the next plank on the rear wing...but the team won't let me...maybe I'll sneak into the garage late one night and do it and throw it up on Twitter."

The gracious driver refused to critique the feeble planking attempts made by some drivers in Wednesday's competition, but say he expects a lot of them to vie for his crown in the coming days.

"I have a feeling we'll see some really strange ones pop up now. I'll be keeping my eye on them."

KV Racing-Lotus driver Tony Kanaan ran P2 on Wednesday, with an innovative cycling-inspired plank.

Dixon is accustomed to fighting with his teammate, Dario Franchitti, for the upper hand at Target Chip Ganassi Racing, but so far, the Scot has yet to rise to the planking challenge.

"I told him that he needs to get on it...I told him it's going to blow on by if he doesn't get one out soon."

Can Franchitti topple Dixon? Is he tall enough for his head and feet to straddle the front tires on an Indy car? We just might get that answer if it rains again tomorrow.

SPEEDTV.com