Published: September 02, 2008 10:27 pm            

Dario Franchitti heading back to IndyCar

Indianapolis — Dario Franchitti will be back in the IndyCar Series lineup next year.

The 2007 series champ will be driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing and will be a teammate of Scott Dixon, who seeks his second series title in the season finale Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.

Franchitti won eight times in the IndyCar Series in five seasons with Andretti Green Racing. He won the Indianapolis 500 and three other races in winning the championship last year, edging Dixon to do it.

He signed a contract with Ganassi to drive in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series events this year and still some Nationwide events left on the schedule.

He was hampered by a broken ankle before the Sprint Cup team lost

its sponsorship.

The 35-year-old Scottish driver said one option fo 2009 was to return to the Sprint Cup in the No. 41 car.

“The unified series is great. I think the [IndyCar Series] schedule was big in making my decision,” Franchitti said during a teleconference.

He said he made his decision Sunday in Detroit at the race won by Justin Wilson.

Franchitti also said he relished the chance to drive for Ganassi after competing against him in two series for 10 or 11 years and the chance to be teammates with Dixon.

“I am excited,” he said.

Dixon echoed the comments. “It will be cool . . . and be a huge influx on the team,” said the New Zealander.

Franchitti will replace Dan Wheldon, another former champ Indy 500 winner, on the Ganassi team. He will be with Panther Racing.

        

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