Change didn't suit Franchitti
Saturday, Jun. 27, 2009
Two years ago, after Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 and went on to take the Indy Racing League championship, his excitement for the moment was mixed with uncertainty about the future.
''I didn't know if I'd have the fire to do the job again," Franchitti said.
So off he went to the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, where a new car, a new challenge, and a new team owner were waiting.
But, like putting a diving board on a wading pool, the change turned out to be a bad idea. Franchitti started 10 Sprint Cup races last season and never finished higher than 22nd. He broke his ankle in one race, failed to qualify for another, and failed to finish two.
And after those 10 races, just as the NASCAR season was building speed, car owner Chip Ganassi shuttered the team.
''With a year away ... I found the fire was still there," Franchitti said, "and that's why I'm back in this series."
And yesterday evening, there was Franchitti, zipping his No. 10 Target car around Richmond International Raceway at 167.315 mph, taking the pole position for tonight's Sun Trust Indy Challenge.
Franchitti's teammate, Scott Dixon, qualified second (166.638 mph), and will also start on the front row.
''You have lots of different elements thrown at you here," Dixon said. "But the short tracks, for 90 percent of the drivers, are the fun ones. You can really get aggressive with the car."
Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves (165.931) and series points leader Ryan Briscoe (165.749) will fill Row 2. Danica Patrick qualified 10th.
For Franchitti, the return to the IRL has gone smoothly. Through seven races, he has two wins and five top-fives, and he is currently second in the series point standings.
And since there is rarely much passing during IRL races at RIR, Franchitti is in position for another strong finish. In 2007, Franchitti started from the pole, led 242 of 250 laps, and won the race. Tonight's race will be 300 laps.
''When you're on a new team, each week you get to know the team better and they get to know you," Franchitti said. "Hopefully we can keep going in the positive direction that we're seeing."
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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