Franchitti's move to NASCAR is official
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) - From Danica Patrick to "Dancing With The Stars" virtuoso Helio Castroneves, the IndyCar Series can still boast of its share of big names.
But the open-wheel series lost defending champion Dario Franchitti to NASCAR on Wednesday, and he's not the only one eyeing the jump to stock cars. Sam Hornish Jr., the 2006 champion, appears ready to follow, and 2005 champ Dan Wheldon has expressed interest in NASCAR.
With so many of its stars looking to leave, is the IndyCar Series in trouble? The circuit's top drivers - or at least, the ones who are left - addressed the issue following a test run at Iowa Speedway on Wednesday.
"I think our series is definitely on the up," said Scott Dixon, who finished 13 points behind Franchitti last season. "It's producing a lot of great drivers. I think a lot of what's going on is what the drivers are feeling and what they want to do. But you're going to have plenty of talent that's going to come in and fill those spots."
Franchitti made the switch to NASCAR official Wednesday when he signed a multiyear deal with Chip Ganassi Racing. He will become the first European driver in NASCAR's 59-year history to join the series full time.
Franchitti's final season in IndyCar will likely be remembered as much for the crashes he walked away from as the races he won. Franchitti was involved in a spectacular crash at Michigan, when his car soared backward and upside down before landing on top of Dixon's car.
He crashed again at Kentucky the following weekend.
Franchitti dismissed speculation that his move to stock cars is partly because of safety concerns. But former Andretti Green teammate Marco Andretti relayed a conversation he had with Franchitti earlier this year.
"He told me as a friend, 'You don't like being upside down.' Especially in the later part in your career. If you don't have to take those chances, why are you gonna?" Andretti said. "He's won everything there is to win in the series, so it's his decision. I didn't see it coming. I didn't believe it until I heard it." Wheldon believes the move by Franchitti, and the expected departure of Hornish, could strengthen IndyCar's reputation for producing top talent. Of course, both drivers would have to fare well in the Nextel Cup Series for that to happen. "Times change and people want to move on," said Wheldon, who will likely table any thoughts of jumping to NASCAR after finishing fourth in 2006. "I'm sure both of those seats are going to be filled with talented individuals." Patrick, Wheldon, Dixon and Castroneves joined Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti for testing at Iowa's new .875-mile oval, hoping to refine the aerodynamic package currently used there. Franchitti won the inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250 in June, and while the race was a hit with fans, it uncovered some kinks that need to be worked out. The track's steep banking and high-speed, short-oval setup - along with unfavorable weather - resulted in little space for movement. Unseasonably chilly temperatures left tires colder than usual, and three accidents in the first 100 laps knocked seven cars out of contention.
But that didn't stop the Indy Racing League from extending its agreement with the Iowa 250 through 2009. Next year's race will feature a new champion, and if the IndyCar Series is lucky, a new star who can captivate the public. "It's about having many storylines, and I think the series is developing that," Patrick said. "Will it hurt us? We don't ever want to lose one of our top drivers. But it's just going to make us work that much harder and get some more drivers in the series. And I don't doubt that the racing will still be great." (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)