Franchitti mulling options, would be interested in fourth RCR car
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – A year ago, Dario Franchitti figured his future was in stock cars. Now, he’s not so sure.
Franchitti stepped out of IndyCars in 2007 after winning the series championship and the Indianapolis 500. He joined Chip Ganassi Racing, where he would compete full time in the Sprint Cup Series and part time in the Nationwide Series.
But those plans were derailed with Ganassi was forced to shut down Franchitti’s Cup team because of a lack of sponsorship. Franchitti is slated to drive in seven more Nationwide races this year, including this weekend’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International.
Beyond that, Franchitti doesn’t know what’s in store for him.
“They’re still trying to put sponsorship together for the 40 [Cup] car, but I don’t know what will happen there," he said. "Right now, it’s just about these Nationwide races. As far as next year, I really I don’t know. I don’t know if I’ll be racing in NASCAR or whether I’ll be racing in another series somewhere.”
Losing a ride because of economics was a first for Franchitti, who added that the episode hasn’t soured his love of stock cars.
“It definitely wasn’t ideal, and it’s not a good feeling,” Franchitti said. “It’s the first time it’s happened in my career, but it’s just a sign of the times right now.”
Franchitti and his wife, Ashley Judd, used the down time to spend three weeks in Scotland, the driver’s home country. They spent two weeks there, came back to test a Nationwide car at Road Atlanta and then spent another week in Scotland.
All the while. Franchitti has been talking to teams and manufacturers about driving next season – in all sorts of series.
“I haven’t talked to anybody in the IndyCar Series yet,” Franchitti said. “I’ve talked to a lot of other places, though.”
Franchitti said he will talk to other teams in NASCAR, though he said he hasn’t spoken to Tony Stewart about the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing ride. Richard Childress Racing’s fourth car is a possibility, he said.
“I speak to Richard all the time,” Franchitti said. “We haven’t spoken specifically about the fourth car yet, but that’s a subject I’m definitely going to talk to him about, for sure.”
