Franchitti makes move to NASCAR, will drive No. 40 Dodge
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Juan Pablo Montoya snagged his ride last year when Dario Franchitti tried to make into the stock cars racing, another year at the open wheel racing and another series championship in his name and an Indianapolis 500 victory as well to his credit, this time round when Chip Ganassi called again with a new offer Frachitti was up for the taking as he had nothing to prove and there was probably nothing else he could have achieved at the IndyCar series.
“We had conversations last year, and one of the options going into the ‘07 season was NASCAR,” Franchitti said in a Wednesday telephone interview. “Then with Juan coming along, it didn’t work out. And looking back, I am really happy it didn’t work out. To win the Indianapolis 500 this year, and then the open-wheel title in my last race, it was a great way to sign off. ”
“I had 10 really good years, and it was the perfect time to try a new challenge.”
He’ll have the battle ground open for him to get that exactly in NASCAR as he joins the league of open wheel stars who have given up open wheel racing for trying a hand at the more glamorous stock cars racing. He is the first European to have entered NASCAR full time, he was introduced to the press as Ganassi’s driver for the number 40 Dodge at the team’s Concord Shop.
Franchitti will join Montoya and Reed Sorenson in the three car team which would see the exit of David Stremme.
