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Tue, Dec 02 2008 

Published: September 02, 2008 10:27 pm    print this story   email this story   comment on this story  

Dario Franchitti heading back to IndyCar

Tribune-Star staff report

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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Photos


In this May 27, 2008 file photo, Dario Franchitti stands in the garage area waiting for his crew to finish his car during NASCAR Car of Tomorrow testing at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Franchitti will return to IndyCar in 2009 as the replacement driver for Dan Wheldon at Chip Ganassi Racing. None/Associated Press (Click for larger image)

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