Motorsports FanHouse

NASCAR's Open-Wheelers Slowly Fading

Geoffrey Miller — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:16:00 EST

Filed under: Dario Franchitti, Chip Ganassi Racing, Other Racing Series, Sprint Cup

Dario Franchitti is done with NASCAR, and if you're surprised, then, well, you shouldn't be.

Franchitti announced Tuesday that he'd be heading back to life in the IRL IndyCar Series with the same owner who drove for in NASCAR, Chip Ganassi. The move was a little puzzling especially knowing that Franchitti would be replacing Dan Wheldon -- one of the series' top drivers.

But more telling of Franchitti's move was how quickly the idea by NASCAR owners to bring open-wheel talent to NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series with limited stock car experience at best became a bust.

Franchitti is the third driver to take the reins in NASCAR with intentions of making a long-term career move at the beginning of 2008 to succumb to the economics of NASCAR. In other words, open-wheel drivers with limited experience struggle early in their stock car careers and sponsors just don't want to spend money and time on such a move.

That list includes Franchitti, Jacques Villenueve and Patrick Carpentier, and leaves just one question.

Who's next?
Villeneuve departed from his intentions to become a full-time NASCAR driver nearly as quickly as he started when he failed to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 in February.

Carpentier, as we mentioned last week, was unofficially cut from his No. 10 car after 2008 thanks to Gillett-Evernham Motorsports signing Reed Sorenson and placing Carpentier into the group of "we'll race you if we get a sponsor, but you're not a priority with us."

The former open-wheel drivers who haven't made the cut list include A.J. Allmendinger, Sam Hornish Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya and, if you're really digging deep, Casey Mears. Mears, however, has been in Sprint Cup for six years now and has made a name for himself only because of his stock car exploits, despite getting into racing via open wheel.

Allmendinger has likely shown the most overall improvement from the point at which he started in NASCAR with Red Bull Racing until now (so much so that I was inclined to write about how Red Bull would be simply stupid not to re-sign the guy in 2009), and he'll undoubtedly have a future in NASCAR no matter where he ends up.

Hornish Jr. appeared to come in to NASCAR much like Franchitti -- on the back of a team owner with previous IRL ties (Penske Racing) that saw his raw talent and wanted to adapt it to the more prestigious Sprint Cup. Hornish has been able to maintain sponsorship on his No. 77 car despite having a mediocre season in 2008, though there have been flashes of brilliance. And much like Franchitti, Hornish isn't exactly driving for NASCAR's best teams and has done what he can.

And for Montoya -- driving for the same team Franchitti did -- his career took off like a rocket in 2007 with some wins in both the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series. Combine that with his brash personality, F1 experience, and ability to market to the hispanic NASCAR audience and you've got a poster child for how the open-wheel experiment should work.

But the statistics don't lie, and when three of the six open-wheel aces are already exiting NASCAR less than a year after their arrival, the story is quite telling about the simplicity of NASCAR.

Or, in other words, NASCAR isn't quite as easy as some people give it credit for, and when drivers come in with high aspirations because life has been easy in everything else they've raced, they seemingly get a punch in the gut when they find learning the stock car craft takes time and effort -- especially when they are thrown into the meanest of the NASCAR wolves in the Sprint Cup Series.

NASCAR's Open-Wheelers Slowly Fading originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Franchitti's Benching Is Quite Puzzling

Geoffrey Miller — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Chip Ganassi Racing, Sprint Cup, Dario Franchitti

After blowing up colorful projectiles in name of freedom on the 4th, hang out with FanHouse for the Coke Zero 400 Live Blog Saturday night at 7:45pm/ET.

Did Chip Ganassi give up on Dario Franchitti as a Sprint Cup driver?

All signs point that way after Tuesday's announcement that Franchitti's No. 40 team is now a defunct asset in the Ganassi racing stable.

The team owner cited a lack of funding as the reason why the No. 40 won't be competing anymore in 2008, effective for this weekend's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. The team has lacked full-time sponsorship all season, but has seemed to get by with a little help from multiple sources, including Fastenal, Tums, Target, and others.

But if Robby Gordon or Yates Racing can race all season with less than perfect sponsorship packages, how in the world can Chip Ganassi -- a true racing mogul -- not afford to run a team through at least one of NASCAR's crown jewel events?

To me, Ganassi's unwillingness to keep Franchitti in through Daytona shows that he isn't satisfied with Franchitti's performance in his first season in Sprint Cup. Franchitti's stats of no Top-5s, no Top-10s, and an average finish of 34th don't do much in his defense.

Regardless, its still surprising to me to know that Ganassi is essentially giving up on a Sprint Cup program for a guy he knew would struggle. A reason that Ganassi gave last fall when he fired David Stremme from the No. 40 ride was that he felt Franchitti either had sponsorship dollars with him or could bring them in more easily.

Then, it looked like Stremme was the victim, but now its looking like he got out at the right time from what seems to be an imploding Ganassi racing.

No worries for Mr. Franchitti though. He still has a backup gig of fighting crime without pants.

Franchitti's Benching Is Quite Puzzling originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Broken Ankle Sidelines Dario; Stremme In

Geoffrey Miller — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Chip Ganassi Racing, Sprint Cup, Dario Franchitti

Dario Franchitti won't get to join the mayhem that is scheduled to start Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway when the green flag drops.

The Scottish IndyCar star turned NASCAR driver fractured his ankle during Saturday's Nationwide race.

Franchitti was injured early in the event when Larry Gunselman plowed into the side of his No. 40 after Franchitti blew a tire in turn 3.

David Stremme, the driver who was canned by Chip Ganassi from the ride Franchitti now holds at the end of 2007, is expected to make the start in place of the injured Indianapolis 500 champion for the Sprint Cup Series' Aaron's 499.

Stremme has already had a very decent weekend at Talladega after finishing second to Tony Stewart during the Nationwide Aaron's 312 driving for Rusty Wallace Inc.

Subbing in Stremme won't make a difference in the team's starting position because Franchitti was scheduled to roll off dead last in 43rd from the grid anyways.

It's known right now when Franchitti will be back in the drivers seat, especially given that he isn't competing for anything driver points-wise. Instead, a primary goal of the team right now is to keep moving up in the Top-35 standings to keep the No. 40 in each event.

Knowing that, Franchitti might be able to take at least next week's race at Richmond off without having to worry about qualifying the car or starting the race and could potentially do so at Darlington the week after as the Nationwide Series races side-by-side with the Sprint Cup for those weeks.

Broken Ankle Sidelines Dario; Stremme In originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Franchitti Transported to Hospital After Crash

Geoffrey Miller — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:50:00 EST

Filed under: Dodge, Chip Ganassi Racing, NASCAR Crashes, Talladega Superspeedway, Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Dario Franchitti

UPDATE: Team owner Chip Ganassi said that Franchitti is currently undergoing X-rays on his ankle. Larry Gunselman was also later transported to the hospital.

Original: Sprint Cup Series driver and 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti was helped to a waiting ambulance after being involved in a drivers-side impact Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway during the Aaron's 312 Nationwide Race.

The impact occurred after Franchitti cut down a rear tire on his No. 40 Chip Ganassi Dodge entering turn 3 on lap 10. Franchitti's Dodge snapped sideways and brushed the nose into the side of Nationwide point leader Clint Bowyer.

The No. 40 then slid down the track -- nearly to a stop -- when Larry Gunselman plowed into his left side.

From video replays, I can't understand how Gunselman didn't slow down any more than he did. There was no tire smoke and no last second attempt to swerve out of the way.

Had Gunselman missed Franchitti, Dario's car likely could have continued in the race. Instead, he hobbled to the ambulance in obvious pain.

As Franchitti's car was being towed back to the garage, the drivers side of the car was deeply mangled and the roll cage had been pushed in significantly towards the cockpit. The image makes the announcement last week of the Nationwide Series adopting the Car of Tomorrow platform in mid-2009 seem like its too far away.

The new race car -- currently campaigned in the Sprint Cup Series -- has a number of safety features to help drivers in such impacts including the drivers seat moved more towards the middle of the car and a large foam block built in between the roll cage and the outside sheet metal.

Franchitti qualified 43rd for Sunday's Sprint Cup Aaron's 499.

Updates on Dario's condition will be posted when available.

Franchitti Transported to Hospital After Crash originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chip Ganassi Calls His Team "Pathetic"

Geoffrey Miller — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Reed Sorenson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Dario Franchitti

For any employee of Chip Ganassi's three NASCAR racing teams, it's a good thing that the owner is over a 1,000 miles away at the IndyCar event in St. Petersburg, Fla.

His words, though, about the performance of the No. 40, No. 41, and No. 42 teams could be well heard in the garage area of Texas Motor Speedway.

Ganassi sure didn't mince any words when talking about it on Saturday:

"Frankly, there are 46 cars there and if you can't beat three of them, that's pretty pathetic," Ganassi said on Sirius Satellite Radio. "I certainly have all the faith in the world in (Franchitti's) driving abilities. I don't think it's that. The fact of the matter is, we didn't give him a car that was capable of doing it."

Heading into Texas, Juan Pablo Montoya's team is 17th in points, Reed Sorenson's is 26th, and Dario Franchitti -- who didn't make Sunday's race -- sits 37th. Teamwork is the problem, Ganassi says.

"When you say 'this team' you hit the nail on the head - we're not working as a team," Ganassi said. "You can't have guys that are fast and guys that are slow. It doesn't make any sense. These guys, these teams are not talking to each other, they are not working together, they are not using all the resources that are available to them. That's how you end up in a fix like this."

You've got to love this brutal honesty. Ganassi indeed hits the nail on the head himself with the summary of his team. They have frankly been mediocre for a long while and with the sponsorship and racing experience a guy like Ganassi has, he knows when a team is reaching its potential.

And in this case, he knows that his Sprint Cup teams aren't cutting it. It should be an interesting week around the CGR shop.

Chip Ganassi Calls His Team "Pathetic" originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Montoya, Franchitti Win Daytona Rolex 24

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: Juan Montoya, Penske Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Other Racing Series, Dario Franchitti

Winter has officially ended in the racing world.

Dario Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas scored Chip Ganassi Racing's third-consecutive Rolex 24 overall win Sunday afternoon on the road course at Daytona International Speedway. The event marks the official beginning to the 2008 racing season and is a precursor to Speedweeks in Daytona that get started Feb. 8.

Though the team battled rain, darkness, a near-record of full course cautions and a slight overheating issue, the Ganassi entry led 252 of 695 laps. The car was powered by Lexus on a Riley Chassis.

The top-three overall finishers all had NASCAR drivers on the driving crews.

A.J. Allmendinger, racing in a Michael Shank entry, led 118 laps and looked very strong early. At around the 21 hour mark, the car broke a suspension piece, ending all chances for Allmendinger & company.

Jimmie Johnson finished second in the GAINSO/Bob Stallings Racing car two laps back of the Ganassi car with teammates Jimmy Vassar, Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney.

Kurt Busch teamed with Penske Racing's IndyCar Series drivers Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves to take third place 6 laps behind Ganassi.

Montoya, Franchitti Win Daytona Rolex 24 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dario Franchitti Fights Crime Without Pants

Geoffrey Miller — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:08:00 EST

Filed under: Chip Ganassi Racing, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Police Blotter, Nashville, Sprint Cup, Dario Franchitti, NASCAR Testing

If you're a weirdo looking for Ashley Judd inside her own home, make sure there isn't a Scottish guy sitting at her table in his boxers.

And make sure his name isn't Dario Franchitti.

The 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner-turned-NASCAR-driver apparently isn't a fan of random people walking into the home that he and wifey Judd share in Nashville, Tennessee. So much so that he will jump into his car with nothing but those boxers and a white t-shirt on and chase people until the police find them.

That's at least how Dario told the story Monday night to reporters over a dinner after NASCAR testing at Daytona International Speedway. From ESPN's Terry Blount:

"I was just sitting in the kitchen, eating a bowl of cereal in my boxer shorts," Franchitti said. "I looked up and some guy is standing in front of me. He just walked in the house.

"I really don't think I was the one he was looking for, but the guy quickly turned around and ran out of the house. He got in his car and sped off. So what did I do? I got in my car and chased him."

But Franchitti forgot one important thing in his quest to catch the intruder.

"The police caught up [to] the guy before I did," Franchitti said. "And apparently some people in the Nashville media also heard on the [police scanner] about it, so they were there, too. They came up to talk to me about the time I realized I was still in my boxer shorts. I had to stay in the car the whole time."

That likely goes down as the single-best NASCAR driver story of the off-season. But I can't decide which part is the best -- Dario proving he's like the rest of us during a lazy morning or the fact that the unnamed stalker guy thought he would get away from, oh, just a really good race car driver.

Props to Dario on this one. And welcome to NASCAR. %Gallery-7156%

Dario Franchitti Fights Crime Without Pants originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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