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Meg, I liked the flowers, too! Especially the gold/yellow one. I would much much rather look at those than the wrecks. I opened one of the wrecks and ignored...
Broken ankle forces Franchitti to miss Talladega race
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Thursday, May 01, 2008
SCENE ON THE CIRCUIT
Dario Franchitti was on crutches instead of in a Sprint Cup car April 27 at Talladega Superspeedway, but there was still a familiar face behind the wheel of the No. 40 Chip Ganassi Racing car.
David Stremme, who drove the car in 2006 and 2007 before being released at the end of the ’07 season, replaced the injured Franchitti and had a good run going until being caught up in a final-lap accident.
It was a one-week deal for Stremme, but Franchitti likely will miss more racing after getting T-boned in the Nationwide Series race April 26 and breaking his left ankle. Because he brakes with his left foot, it is highly unlikely he would be ready for the May 3 race at Richmond.
But Franchitti held out hope as he planned to visit noted Indianapolis orthopaedic surgeon Terry Trammell on April 28 before making a final decision.
“I wanted to drive today, but I’m going to listen to doctor’s orders,” Franchitti said on April 27. “But I will be pushing to get back in that car as soon as possible. … It’s not a bad fracture in any way. It’s just a small crack. I’m pretty lucky.”
Stremme, who drives for Rusty Wallace Racing in the Nationwide Series and was recently signed by Penske Racing as a test driver, was able to step right into the car and work with the team without an adjustment period. But he was only granted permission to drive for Ganassi in the emergency situation.
“I left Chip and them on good terms and we’re still friends and that’s why we’re helping them out,” he said.
Who will drive at Richmond was still to be determined as of April 27. Ganassi officials had requested Stremme for more than one race but Penske Racing wouldn’t allow it.
Ganassi competition director Steve Hmiel said former Cup drivers Sterling Marlin and Tony Raines and Craftsman Truck Series driver Dennis Setzer were all possibilities. None of the Ganassi development drivers are ready for Cup, and the team will have to make the Richmond race on speed.
NASCAR took Franchitti’s crashed car to its research and development center. NASCAR’s new Sprint Cup car is specifically designed to reduce the potential for injuries in that type of accident. The Nationwide Series will have similar construction for its new car next year.
The wreck started when Franchitti blew a tire, spun and was later T-boned by Larry Gunselman.
“It was an awful hit – the car did a good job,” Hmiel said. “There were pieces of Gunselman’s car in our car. If you look at the car, you’d be amazed he only had a broken ankle.”
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
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