Jeff Ward drove Ganassi's lone IRL entry in 2002, winning a June race in Texas but finishing 11th in the season standings.

Ganassi is expected to keep at least one car in CART next year. His team won an unprecedented four straight CART championships from 1996 through 1999, and is running three cars this year with Kenny Brack, Bruno Junqueira and Dixon driving.

Scheckter, the 22-year-old son of 1979 Formula One champion Jody Scheckter of South Africa, drove most of his rookie season in the IRL this year for Eddie Cheever Jr. He left the team late in the season after a dispute with Cheever.

Dixon, also 22, has nine top-10 finishes in 12 oval races during his two seasons in CART. The New Zealander became the youngest winner in major open-wheel racing history in April 2001 when he won a race in Nazareth, Pa., at 20 years, nine months.