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Indy 500 Champ to Join NASCAR Next Year

Second open-wheel racer in two years added to Ganassi team

By Doug Sweeney,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 3, 2007 4:18 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Dario Franchitti, the 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner, confirmed today that he will make the transition from IndyCar to NASCAR for the 2008 season. The reigning IndyCar Series champion will join former Formula One and Indy driver Juan Pablo Montoya on Chip Ganassi’s three-car team. Ganassi is “thrilled” to have a “world-class driver” like Franchitti on board, reports Speed TV.

Franchitti will compete in ARCA, Busch Series and Nextel Cup races this year to be approved by NASCAR for the full 2008 Sprint Cup schedule. He makes his stock car debut this Saturday. Franchitti will drive Ganassi’s No. 40 Dodge when he joins the Sprint Cup next year. He is best known off the track for marrying actress Ashley Judd.

IndyCar Series champion and the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 winner Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, celebrates with his wife, actress Ashley Judd, left, at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Joseph Oliver)
IndyCar Series champion and the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 winner Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, celebrates with his wife, actress Ashley Judd, left, at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., on Sunday,...   (Associated Press)
Indy Racing League series champion and winner of the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300, Dario Franchitti of Scotland waves during his victory lap at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Joseph Oliver)
Indy Racing League series champion and winner of the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300, Dario Franchitti of Scotland waves during his victory lap at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, leads Tony Kanaan in turn nine during warm-up laps before the start of the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Kendall Newberry)
Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, leads Tony Kanaan in turn nine during warm-up laps before the start of the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Kendall Newberry)   (Associated Press)
Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, is ahead of Sam Hornish Jr. during the start of the IndyCar Series Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Joseph Oliver)
Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, is ahead of Sam Hornish Jr. during the start of the IndyCar Series Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Indy Racing League series champion and winner of the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300, Dario Franchitti of Scotland waves during his victory lap at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Joseph Oliver)
Indy Racing League series champion and winner of the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300, Dario Franchitti of Scotland waves during his victory lap at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Indy Racing League series champion and winner of the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300, Dario Franchitti of Scotland crosses the finish line at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Joseph Oliver)
Indy Racing League series champion and winner of the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300, Dario Franchitti of Scotland crosses the finish line at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP...   (Associated Press)
Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, leads Tony Kanaan in turn nine during warm-up laps before the start of the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Kendall Newberry)
Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, leads Tony Kanaan in turn nine during warm-up laps before the start of the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Kendall Newberry)   (Associated Press)
Indy Racing League driver Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, drives around the track during the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. Franchitti won the race.(AP Photo/Joseph Oliver)
Indy Racing League driver Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, drives around the track during the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. Franchitti won the...   (Associated Press)
Reigning Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, left, answers questions from the media during a press conference at the Chip Ganassi Racing compound in Concord, N.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007. Franchitti has signed a multi-year deal with Chip Ganassi to compete in the NASCAR...
Reigning Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, left, answers questions from the media during a press conference at the Chip Ganassi Racing compound in Concord, N.C....   (Associated Press)
IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti poses with the series trophy, right, and the 500 trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007. Franchitti is expected to leave Andretti Green Racing and join Chip Ganassi's NASCAR Nextel Cup team next season. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti poses with the series trophy, right, and the 500 trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007. Franchitti...   (Associated Press)
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Franchitti confirms switch to NASCAR
Associated Press

 
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