Dario Franchitti

George Dario Marino Franchitti,[2] MBE (born 19 May 1973) is a Scottish former racing driver and current motorsport commentator from Scotland. He is a four time IndyCar Series champion (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011), a three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 (2007, 2010, 2012) as well as a winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona (2008).

Dario Franchitti
MBE
Dario Franchitti at the 2015 Indianapolis 500
NationalityBritish
BornGeorge Dario Marino Franchitti
(1973-05-19) 19 May 1973
Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland
Championship titles
2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 IndyCar Series Champion
2007, 2010, 2012 Indianapolis 500 Winner
Awards
1992 McLaren Autosport Award
2001 Greg Moore Legacy Award
2017 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame inductee
2009 BRDC Gold Star
2019 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America[1] inductee
IndyCar Series career
151 races run over 11 years
Best finish1st (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
First race2002 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Last race2013 Grand Prix of Houston (Reliant Park)
First win2004 Menards A.J. Foyt 225 (Milwaukee)
Last win2012 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
21 57 23
Champ Car career
114 races run over 6 years
Best finish2nd (1999)
First race1997 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami (Homestead)
Last race2002 Mexico Gran Premio Telmex/Gigante (Mexico City)
First win1998 Texaco/Havoline 200 (Road America)
Last win2002 Sure For Men Rockingham 500 (Rockingham UK)
Wins Podiums Poles
10 32 11
NASCAR Cup Series career
10 races run over 1 year
Best finish49th (2008)
First race2008 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race2008 Lenox Industrial Tools 300 (Loudon)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
18 races run over 2 years
Best finish35th (2008)
First race2007 Sam's Town 250 (Memphis)
Last race2008 Food City 250 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 2 1
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
2 races run over 1 year
Best finish107th (2007)
First race2007 Kroger 200 (Martinsville)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Franchitti started his career in his native United Kingdom in the early 1990s, competing in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Three and was also the winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 1992. After Franchitti did not secure a single-seater drive in 1995, he was contracted by the AMG team to compete in touring cars in the DTM and its successor – the International Touring Car Championship. Despite 2 seasons with relative success, the series folded at the end of the 1996 season, again leaving Franchitti without a drive. Mercedes placed Franchitti in CART in 1997 with the Hogan Racing team.

Franchitti spent 6 seasons in CART, where he won 10 races with the Team Green squad that he joined in 1998; he failed to win a championship title, with a best final position of 2nd-place in 1999, behind Juan Pablo Montoya in a tie-breaker. Team Green moved to the IndyCar Series for the 2003 campaign, with Franchitti remaining in the team. Franchitti's first season for IndyCar was disrupted by an injury, but won his first races the following season. His break-out year came in 2007, when he won the rain-shortened Indianapolis 500 as one of 4 victories in his route to a first career championship title in a final-race title decider with Scott Dixon. At the end of the season, Franchitti was named as BBC Scotland's Sports Personality of the Year.

After an ill-fated move to NASCAR in 2008 (which ended after half a season)[3] Franchitti returned to IndyCar in 2009, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.[4] Franchitti won on his 2nd start back in the series, and eventually took 5 wins as he won a 2nd championship, again in a final race championship decider against Dixon and Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe.[5] He retained the title in 2010,[6] again with a final race championship win over Penske's Will Power; Franchitti's strong form on ovals – including a 2nd Indianapolis 500 victory – allowed him to overhaul Power by 5 points at the final race. His 3rd consecutive and 4th overall title came in 2011, in which he battled Power for the championship the second time but the championship win ultimately was decided in favour of Franchitti, after the season's final race was abandoned due to a serious crash that resulted in the death of his close friend and former teammate Dan Wheldon.[7] A new car was introduced for the 2012 season, in which Franchitti only scored 1 victory – in the Indianapolis 500 – to become the 10th driver to win at least 3 Indianapolis 500s during a career.[8]

On 6 October 2013, Franchitti was involved in a serious crash in the Grand Prix of Houston, when his car flew into catch-fencing after contact with the cars of Takuma Sato and E. J. Viso.[9] Franchitti suffered 2 fractured vertebrae, a broken ankle, and a concussion in the crash. A month later, on 14 November, Franchitti announced his immediate retirement from motor racing on medical advice; he retired with 31 victories from 265 starts in his American open-wheel racing career,[10] a tally which put him in a tie for ninth on the all-time wins list with former teammate Paul Tracy.[11]

After his retirement, Franchitti would become the co-commentator for Formula E's world feed broadcast.[12]

Early career

Franchitti was born in Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. While attending Stewart's Melville College in Edinburgh, he became interested in karting. Allan McNish credited a large part of the start given to himself, Franchitti and David Coulthard as being down to David Leslie senior and junior.[13] Franchitti won the Karting Scottish Junior Championship in 1984, the British Junior Championships in 1985 and 1986 and the Scottish senior title in 1988. He progressed to Formula Vauxhall Junior where he won the championship with four victories in 1991.

He moved up to Formula Vauxhall Lotus in 1992, where he joined Paul Stewart Racing. In his first year, he finished fourth in the overall championship, and was named the McLaren/Autosport Young Driver of the Year. Staying with the team for the next season, he won the championship in 1993.

He graduated to the British Formula 3 Championship in 1994, where he finished fourth and won one race in his first year. However, he was not retained for 1995 which was his final year in single-seaters in Europe.

Instead, Franchitti was contracted by AMG Racing to drive a works Mercedes C-Class in the German Touring Car Championship and the related International Touring Car Championship, where he finished fifth and third respectively. He continued in the ITC in 1996, finishing fourth overall with one race win.

In 1997, Franchitti was offered a deal to become McLaren's test driver which would have seen him flying to Europe to test during the week, returning to America to race in CART. He ultimately turned this down, preferring instead to pour his energies into racing in CART for the Hogan team.

Franchitti tested for the Jaguar F1 team at Silverstone in 2000, but the car proved to be problematic. These troubles combined with him still recovering from neck discs ruptured in a crash at Homestead earlier that year. The test was ultimately a disappointment and the door to racing for Jaguar effectively closed.

CART
Franchitti's car being pushed up to qualify for the 2006 Indianapolis 500

With the demise of the ITC, Mercedes placed Franchitti in Hogan Racing in 1997, making his US debut in the CART Championship Series where his best finish was a ninth at Surfers Paradise. In 1998 he joined Team Green (forerunner to Andretti Green Racing and the current Andretti Autosport), finishing third in the season standings with three wins (his first coming at Road America) and a season-high five pole positions.

Franchitti finished runner-up in the 1999 CART season behind rookie Juan Pablo Montoya. Both drivers scored 212 points, but Montoya had seven wins to Franchitti's three and was crowned champion. Franchitti's close friend Greg Moore died in a crash during the final race of the year at California Speedway in Fontana, California.

A heavy crash in pre-season testing the next year ruined Franchitti's 2000 season, and he only won once at Cleveland in 2001. In 2002 he won the Vancouver Molson Indy. He dedicated his win to Greg Moore, who was killed in 1999 and was from nearby Maple Ridge, British Columbia. He finished fourth in Champ Car in 2002.

IndyCar Series
Franchitti waiting to qualify on 12 May 2007, at Indianapolis
Practicing for the 2007 Indy 500

2003

Franchitti moved with the Andretti Green team to the IndyCar Series in 2003 but his season was ended by a back injury sustained in a motorcycle accident while on holiday in Scotland.[14][15] Franchitti missed most of the year, and his place was taken by Dan Wheldon at Motegi,[16] Robby Gordon at Indianapolis,[17] and Bryan Herta for the remainder of the year (with Wheldon taking over a regular role from retiring team boss Michael Andretti).

2004

Franchitti returned to the cockpit in 2004, and won his first IRL IndyCar Series race on 25 July at the Milwaukee Mile.[18] He followed this win up with a win at Pikes Peak on 22 August.[19]

2005

Franchitti returned to Andretti Green Racing again, and had 2 wins. The first win came at Nashville.[20] His last win of the year came at the 2005 season finale at California.[21]

2007

On 3 January 2007, Andretti Green Racing announced that Franchitti had re-signed for the IRL team for a tenth consecutive season in American Open Wheel racing.[22] That year he also undertook a limited programme in the American Le Mans Series driving an Acura ARX-01, teaming up with his younger brother, Marino Franchitti and long-time AGR teammate Bryan Herta.[23] On 27 May 2007, Franchitti won a rain-shortened Indianapolis 500, finishing under a yellow flag after an accident involving Dan Wheldon and Marco Andretti following lap 163. The race was halted due to rain three laps later. His prize money of $1.6m was equal to the entire purse for the 1982 race.

During the 2007 season, Franchitti survived two huge crashes which saw his car flip upside down both times. The first at Michigan saw him tangle with Dan Wheldon resulting in his car flipping before being hit again by Scott Dixon. The contact with Dixon was only inches away from his head and the accident saw seven cars (including Franchitti) retire from the race. The second flip came a week later at Kentucky. As Franchitti crossed the start/finish line to finish the race, he did not realise that the chequered flag had been waved and continued to race. He crashed into the back of Kosuke Matsuura flipping yet again and hitting the outside wall. Franchitti took full responsibility for the incident.

Franchitti won the IndyCar Championship with four wins finishing ahead of Scott Dixon by just 13 points. Dixon ran out of fuel on the last lap of the season-ending race, allowing Franchitti to take the win and the championship, his first championship win since Formula Vauxhall Lotus in 1993.

Franchitti returned to the IndyCar series for 2009 in the Target Chip Ganassi Racing No. 10 car, replacing Dan Wheldon who moved to Panther Racing. He debuted for the team in the non-points race at Surfers Paradise in Australia on 25 October 2008. He qualified 4th of 24 drivers and was running third when he spun and stalled the car, resulting in a lap-down finish of 16th. He led 2 laps and set the fastest lap of the race.

2008

Franchitti missed the 2008 Indianapolis 500 as he pursued a NASCAR career. He raced several races in the NNS for Chip Ganassi Racing's NASCAR team and only had a few top ten finishes; his best finish was 5th at the 2008 Zippo 200. He decided that IndyCar was his favourite to race in and so he rejoined the IndyCar Series in 2009 with Target Ganassi Racing and went on to win his second, third and fourth IndyCar titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011 as well as the 2010 and 2012 Indy 500.

2009

2009 marked a successful return to IndyCar for Franchitti scooping five wins, two-second and two third placings and taking the series championship in his second consecutive attempt over teammate Scott Dixon by 11 points.

2010

Franchitti got off to a steady if unspectacular start; through the first 5 races, Dario had 1 pole, 3 Top 5 finishes and 4 Top 10s. However, at the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500, it all came together for him. Starting on the outside of the first row (#3), Franchitti had the best car of the day, leading over 150 laps to take his 2nd win in the past four years. This is also his 24th win in American Open-wheel driving, placing him in the top 20 all-time. The win also makes him the 18th multiple-win driver in the history of the Indianapolis 500.[24]

In October, Franchitti travelled to Australia to compete in a special round of the V8 Supercar championship in which he and 17 other international drivers will pair up with regular V8 drivers in two 300 km (186 mi) endurance races at the Gold Coast Street Circuit, a former venue for Indycar. He will drive for Jim Beam Racing with Steve Johnson.

By finishing eighth in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series championship final at the Homestead Miami Speedway, and leading the most laps on top of qualifying in pole position, Dario overhauled Will Power's 12 points lead and took the 2010 IZOD IndyCar championship. In effect Dario had won all of the past three championships he entered when his 2008 absence is accounted for.

2011

Franchitti, again driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, won the season opening road race at St. Petersburg, Florida. He followed that win with additional wins at Texas Motor Speedway (28th victory). He took the pole and the win in the Milwaukee 225 for his 29th victory, tying him with Rick Mears for ninth all-time in American Open Wheel racing. In the final race of the season at Las Vegas, Franchitti had an 18-point lead over Will Power in the points standings. However, a 15-car crash on lap 11 caused the race to be red flagged. After a two-hour delay, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard announced that Dan Wheldon had died from the crash and the race was formally abandoned. The drivers who were not involved did a five-lap tribute to Wheldon 10 minutes after the announcement.[25] Because the race was cancelled and Power was also involved in the crash, Franchitti won his third consecutive and fourth overall IndyCar championship. Since Power suffered severe damage, Franchitti would have won the championship if the race had continued; therefore, the early stoppage of the race had no effect on the championship points.

2012

Franchitti, again driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, had a slow start in the first four races. On 27 May, he had an emotional win of the 2012 Indianapolis 500. In reference to Dan Wheldon, Franchitti said in an interview after the race, "I think D-Dub would have been proud of that one."[26] The 500 would end up being his only win of the season and the last of his career, as Franchitti struggled against both Andretti and Penske's teams.

2013

In 2013, Franchitti improved on his 2012 season. At the Indy 500, Franchitti was running in the Top 10 for the final restart, but got loose in turn 1 and scraped across the turn 1 wall in a similar style to Takuma Sato's 2012 accident on the final lap. This brought out a final caution that found one of Franchitti's closest friends off the track, Tony Kanaan winning his first Indy 500 and his first win in a few years. After climbing out of his car, Franchitti was led to the infield hospital. Franchitti was cleared uninjured; and he walked to victory lane to hug Kanaan just before the broadcasting ended.

Career-ending crash

In the second Houston race, Franchitti collided with Takuma Sato and E. J. Viso on the final lap, causing Franchitti to become airborne and fly into the turn 5 catchfence in a similar manner to Kenny Bräck's crash at Texas Motor Speedway in 2003. 13 fans were injured by flying debris, and Franchitti suffered a spinal fracture, right ankle fracture, and a concussion.[27] Due to these injuries, as well as injuries caused by previous crashes, doctors told Franchitti that he would risk permanent paralysis if he continued racing.[28] Franchitti then retired from competitive driving, but maintained his affiliation with Ganassi Racing by becoming a competition director.

NASCAR
Franchitti racing in the 2007 Ford 300 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway
Franchitti at Daytona in 2008

On 3 October 2007, it was announced that Franchitti would move to NASCAR to replace David Stremme in the No. 40 Dodge.[29] He made his stock car debut in the ARCA RE/MAX Series on 5 October at Talladega Superspeedway, qualifying 6th and finishing 17th in the No. 42 Dodge Charger for Chip Ganassi Racing.[30] His move to stock cars had similarities to former CART rival Juan Pablo Montoya's move from Formula One to NASCAR in 2006.

Franchitti made his first NASCAR start on 20 October 2007 in the Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.[31] He drove the No. 41 Dodge Ram truck, owned by Cunningham Motorsports, with Brian Pattie from Chip Ganassi Racing serving as crew chief.[32] He would finish 33rd after being plagued by problems with the rear of the truck during the race.

2008 Sprint Cup car

On 26 April 2008, Franchitti suffered a slight left ankle fracture in a hard crash with Larry Gunselman while competing in the Nationwide Series Aaron's 312 race.[33] David Stremme, Ken Schrader, Jeremy Mayfield, and Sterling Marlin all filled in for him.[34][35][36]

On 1 July 2008, Franchitti's No. 40 Sprint Cup team was disbanded by co-owner Chip Ganassi because of a lack of sponsorship. Franchitti was running 41st in points in the Sprint Cup Series at the time, and Ganassi had been funding the team out of his own pocket. The entire No. 40 team was shut down, and 71 employees were released.[37] Franchitti would continue to drive for Ganassi in the Nationwide Series for the remainder of the season following the disbanding of the Cup team.

On 9 August 2008 Franchitti won his first career Nationwide pole at Watkins Glen.[38] Starting alongside Robby Gordon, Franchitti led 13 laps and came close to the win. He battled Jimmie Johnson throughout the day, but was overtaken by some drivers late in the race. Franchitti finished 5th while Johnson ran out of gas.

Sports car racing

Franchitti is well known for combining partial Sports Car racing schedules during his IndyCar and NASCAR career.

At the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring he finished 1st in LMP2 class with Andretti Green Racing teammates Bryan Herta and Tony Kanaan. They finished 2nd overall. He also participated in the 2007 ALMS Grand Prix of Long Beach with Bryan Herta and they finished 6th.[39] He placed 18th in LMP2 class in the 2007 American Le Mans Series season standings with 32 points.

Prior to the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, he joined Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas and won the Rolex 24 at Daytona in a Lexus-Riley.[40] That was the only race he participated in during the 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season and finished 42nd overall in Daytona Prototype class with 35 points.

In the 2008 Petit Le Mans he was a driver for Highcroft Racing with Scott Sharp and David Brabham.[41] They were the first retirement after only 16 laps.

For the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona he once again drove for Chip Ganassi Racing in a Lexus-Riley. He finished 5th overall with Scott Dixon and Alex Lloyd.

He participated in the 2009 12 Hours of Sebring for Highcroft Racing with Scott Sharp and David Brabham.[42] They finished 15th overall and were the first non-finishers.

He returned to Highcroft Racing with Scott Sharp and David Brabham for the 2009 Petit Le Mans.[43]

Personal life

Franchitti is the son of Marina and George Franchitti,[44] both born in Scotland.[45] Most of his ancestry is Italian, with some Scottish.[46] Originally from Bathgate, his family moved to nearby Whitburn when he was eight years old. He is a former pupil of Stewart's Melville College and he supports Celtic Football Club.[47] Franchitti married American actress Ashley Judd in December 2001[48] at Skibo Castle near Dornoch, Scotland.[49] They divorced in 2013.[50]

Franchitti has since married Eleanor Robb, an Englishwoman. They have two daughters: Sofia (born November 2015) and Valentina (born February 2019).

He lists some of his favourite television shows as Gavin & Stacey, Shameless and Rab C. Nesbitt.[51]

Franchitti was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to motor racing.[52][53][54]

He is the older brother of Scottish racing driver Marino Franchitti. He is the cousin of former Formula One driver Paul di Resta.

Media appearances
Dario Franchitti in the Silverstone pit lane for the 2014 British Grand Prix

Franchitti has appeared on several television shows. The list includes The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet, Larry King Live, Pardon the Interruption, Late Show with David Letterman, Live with Regis and Kelly, Jim Rome Is Burning, and three times on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.[55] He also appeared as a Scottish news anchor in the animated film Turbo.

In 2014, he was signed by Formula E to become the world feed co-commentator (alongside Jack Nicholls) for the then-newly formed championship starting from its inaugural season in 2014–15.[12]

Simraceway game design

On 13 October 2011, 3 days before Franchitti's bid for a fourth IZOD IndyCar Series title and the death of his friend and fellow driver Dan Wheldon, it was announced that he would be joining Wheldon in developing the vehicle physics on Ignite Game Technologies' online auto racing game, Simraceway. A vintage car racing enthusiast, Franchitti will be focusing on ensuring the authenticity of the game's historic and vintage cars "It's almost impossible to describe the feeling you get inside when you’re behind the wheel of an old race car but what I hope to be able to do is use my knowledge and experience to help the team at Simraceway replicate how it feels to drive,".[56]

Motorsports career results

Touring Car racing

Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results
Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos. Pts
1995 D2 Privat-Team AMG Mercedes Mercedes C-Class V6 HOC
1
3		 HOC
2
DNS		 AVU
1
Ret		 AVU
2
Ret		 NOR
1
6		 NOR
2
2		 DIE
1
2		 DIE
2
4		 NÜR
1
Ret		 NÜR
2
Ret		 ALE
1
2		 ALE
2
10		 HOC
1
Ret		 HOC
2
DNS		 5th 74

International Touring Car Championship

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

International Touring Car Championship results
Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Pos. Pts
1995 D2 Privat-Team AMG Mercedes Mercedes C-Class V6 MUG
1
4		 MUG
2
1		 HEL
1
12†		 HEL
2
DNS		 DON
1
2		 DON
2
2		 EST
1
5		 EST
2
3		 MAG
1
Ret		 MAG
2
DNS		 3rd 80
1996 D2 Privat-Team AMG Mercedes Mercedes C-Class V6 HOC
1
3		 HOC
2
4		 NÜR
1
2		 NÜR
2
8		 EST
1
9		 EST
2
10		 HEL
1
17†		 HEL
2
DNS		 NOR
1
5		 NOR
2
Ret		 DIE
1
2		 DIE
2
2		 SIL
1
21†		 SIL
2
14		 NÜR
1
3		 NÜR
2
3		 MAG
1
6		 MAG
2
4		 MUG
1
4		 MUG
2
2		 HOC
1
Ret		 HOC
2
7		 INT
1
13		 INT
2
10		 SUZ
1
1		 SUZ
2
Ret		 4th 171
  • † – Retired, but was classified as he completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

International V8 Supercar results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

V8 Supercar results
Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Pos. Pts
2010 Dick Johnson Racing Ford FG Falcon YMC
R1		 YMC
R2		 BHR
R3		 BHR
R4		 ADE
R5		 ADE
R6		 HAM
R7		 HAM
R8		 QLD
R9		 QLD
R10		 WIN
R11		 WIN
R12		 HDV
R13		 HDV
R14		 TOW
R15		 TOW
R16		 PHI
Q		 PHI
R17		 BAT
R18		 SUR
R19
16		 SUR
R20
Ret		 SYM
R21		 SYM
R22		 SAN
R23		 SAN
R24		 SYD
R25		 SYD
R26		 NC 0

American open–wheel racing results

(key)

CART
CART Championship Series results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rank Points
1997 Hogan Racing Reynard 97i Mercedes-Benz IC108D V8 t MIA
25		 SRF
9		 LBH
12		 NZR
13		 RIO
27		 STL
17		 MIL
16		 DET
13		 POR
26		 CLE
11		 TOR
26		 MIS
19		 MDO
11		 ROA
25		 VAN
13		 LS
13		 FON 22nd 10
1998 Team Green Reynard 98i Honda HRK V8 t MIA
9		 MOT
8		 LBH
2		 NZR
21		 RIO
19		 STL
27		 MIL
4		 DET
4		 POR
21		 CLE
3		 TOR
20*		 MIS
21		 MDO
26		 ROA
1*		 VAN
1*		 LS
4		 HOU
1*		 SRF
2		 FON
22		 3rd 160
1999 Team Green Reynard 99i Honda HRS V8 t MIA
3		 MOT
22		 LBH
2		 NZR
8		 RIO
2		 STL
3		 MIL
7		 POR
3		 CLE
25		 ROA
18		 TOR
1*		 MIS
5		 DET
1		 MDO
3*		 CHI
2		 VAN
10		 LS
25		 HOU
2		 SRF
1*		 FON
10		 2nd* 212*
2000 Team Green Reynard 2Ki Honda HR-0 V8 t MIA
11		 LBH
23		 RIO
11		 MOT
2		 NZR
23		 MIL
6		 DET
4		 POR
9		 CLE
13		 TOR
25		 MIS
3		 CHI
20		 MDO
22		 ROA
12		 VAN
2*		 LS
3		 STL
24		 HOU
25		 SRF
25		 FON
23		 13th 92
2001 Team Green Reynard 01i Honda HR-1 V8 t MTY
9		 LBH
6		 TXS
NH		 NZR
8		 MOT
17		 MIL
9		 DET
2		 POR
6		 CLE
1		 TOR
24		 MIS
2		 CHI
15		 MDO
16		 ROA
19		 VAN
9		 LAU
25		 ROC
9		 HOU
2		 LS
19		 SRF
23		 FON
23		 7th 105
2002 Team Green Reynard 02i Honda HR-2 V8 t MTY
2		 LBH
9		 MOT
3		 4th 148
Lola B02/00 MIL
12		 LS
19		 POR
3		 CHI
3		 TOR
13		 CLE
14		 VAN
1		 MDO
17		 ROA
12		 MTL
1*		 DEN
18		 ROC
1		 MIA
10		 SRF
7		 FON
10		 MXC
5

* Franchitti and Juan Pablo Montoya tied on points in the championship, but Montoya was crowned champion because he won 7 races to Franchitti's 3.

IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series results
Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points
2002 Team Green Dallara
IR-02		 Chevrolet HMS PHX FON NZR INDY
19		 TXS PPIR RIR KAN NSH MIS KTY STL CHI TX2 44th 11
2003 Andretti Green Racing Dallara
IR-03		 Honda HMS
7		 PHX
16		 MOT INDY TXS PPIR
4		 RIR KAN NSH MIS STL KTY NZR CHI FON TX2 25th 72
2004 HMS
17		 PHX
17		 MOT
7		 INDY
14		 TXS
2		 RIR
12		 KAN
4		 NSH
20		 MIL
1		 MIS
22		 KTY
6		 PPIR
1		 NZR
3		 CHI
20		 FON
6		 TX2
15		 6th 409
2005 Dallara
IR-05		 HMS
22		 PHX
4		 STP
3		 MOT
17		 INDY
6		 TXS
8		 RIR
2		 KAN
4		 NSH
1		 MIL
2		 MIS
8		 KTY
18		 PPIR
7		 SNM
8		 CHI
12		 WGL
3		 FON
1		 4th 498
2006 HMS
4		 STP
19		 MOT
11		 INDY
7		 WGL
14		 TXS
13		 RIR
3		 KAN
12		 NSH
6		 MIL
6		 MIS
12		 KTY
9		 SNM
2		 CHI 8th 311
2007 HMS
7		 STP
5		 MOT
3		 KAN
2		 INDY
1		 MIL
2		 TXS
4		 IOW
1		 RIR
1		 WGL
3		 NSH
2		 MDO
2		 MIS
13		 KTY
8		 SNM
3		 DET
6		 CHI
1		 1st 637
2008 Chip Ganassi Racing HMS STP MOT LBH KAN INDY MIL TXS IOW RIR WGL NSH MDO EDM KTY SNM DET CHI SRF1
16		 NC -
2009 STP
4		 LBH
1		 KAN
18		 INDY
7		 MIL
3		 TXS
5		 IOW
1		 RIR
2		 WGL
15		 TOR
1		 EDM
5		 KTY
6		 MDO
3		 SNM
1		 CHI
4		 MOT
2		 HMS
1		 1st 616
2010 SAO
7		 STP
5		 ALA
3		 LBH
12		 KAN
2		 INDY
1		 TXS
5		 IOW
18		 WGL
3		 TOR
2		 EDM
3		 MDO
1		 SNM
3		 CHI
1		 KTY
5		 MOT
2		 HMS
8		 1st 602
2011 STP
1		 ALA
3		 LBH
3		 SAO
4		 INDY
12		 TXS1
1		 TXS2
7		 MIL
1		 IOW
5		 TOR
1		 EDM
3		 MDO
2		 NHM
20		 SNM
4		 BAL
4		 MOT
8		 KTY
2		 LVS2
C		 1st 573
2012 Dallara DW12 STP
13		 ALA
10		 LBH
15		 SAO
5		 INDY
1		 DET
2		 TXS
14		 MIL
19		 IOW
25		 TOR
17		 EDM
6		 MDO
17		 SNM
3		 BAL
13		 FON
2		 7th 363
2013 STP
25		 ALA
25		 LBH
4		 SAO
7		 INDY
23		 DET
6		 DET
5		 TXS
6		 MIL
8		 IOW
20		 POC
3		 TOR
3		 TOR
4		 MDO
3		 SNM
3		 BAL
21		 HOU
15		 HOU
15		 FON 10th 418
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums
(Non-win)**		 Top 10s
(Non-podium)***		 Indianapolis 500
Wins		 Championships
11 2 147 23 21 37 50 3 (2007, 2010 & 2012) 4 (2007, 2009, 2010 & 2011)
** Podium (Non-win) indicates 2nd or 3rd place finishes.
*** Top 10s (Non-podium) indicates 4th through 10th place finishes.

Indianapolis 500
Franchitti en route to winning
the 2007 Indianapolis 500
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2002 Dallara Chevrolet 28 19 Team Green
2003 Dallara Honda DNP3 Andretti Green
2004 Dallara Honda 3 14 Andretti Green
2005 Dallara Honda 6 6 Andretti Green
2006 Dallara Honda 17 7 Andretti Green
2007 Dallara Honda 3 1 Andretti Green
2009 Dallara Honda 3 7 Chip Ganassi Racing
2010 Dallara Honda 3 1 Chip Ganassi Racing
2011 Dallara Honda 9 12 Chip Ganassi Racing
2012 Dallara Honda 16 1 Chip Ganassi Racing
2013 Dallara Honda 17 23 Chip Ganassi Racing
1 Non-points-paying, exhibition race.
2 Cancelled due to death of Dan Wheldon.
3 Sat out of race due to injury

Sports Car racing

American Le Mans Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class)

American Le Mans Series results
Year Team Make Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points
2007 Andretti Green Racing Acura LMP2 SEB
2 / 1		 STP LBH
6 / 6		 LS UTH NEG MOH RA MOS DSC PLM MSC 32
2008 Highcroft Racing Acura LMP2 SEB
 STP LBH UTH NEG MOH RA MOS DSC PLM
Ret		 MSC 0
2009 Highcroft Racing Acura LMP1 SEB
Ret		 STP LBH UTH NEG MOH RA MOS PLM
6 / 6		 MSC 34
YearStartsWins
(Overall/Class)		Top FivesTop TensPolesDNFFinishStartRank
200720 / 11 / 12 / 22 / 204 / 3.51 / 118
Totals20 / 11 / 13 / 32 / 224 / 3.51 / 1

Rolex Sports Car Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class)

Rolex Sports Car Series results
Year Team Make Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Points
2008 Ganassi Racing Riley DP DAY
1 / 1		 HOM MEX VIR LAG LRP WAT MDO DAY2 BAR CGV WAT2 INF NJ MIL 35
2009 Ganassi Racing Riley DP DAY
5 / 5		 VIR NJ LAG WAT MDO DAY2 BAR WAT2 CGV MIL HOM 26
2010 Ganassi Racing Riley DP DAY
37/15		 HOM BAR VIR LRP LAG WAT1 MDO DAY2 NJ WAT2 CGV MIL 16
2011 Ganassi Racing Riley DP DAY
2/2		 HOM BAR VIR LRP LAG WAT1 MDO DAY2 NJ WAT2 CGV MIL 32
2012 Ganassi Racing Riley DP DAY
4 / 4		 BAR HMS NJ DET MDO RA WAT1 IMS WAT2 CGV LAG LRP 28
2013 Ganassi Racing Riley DP DAY
37/11		 AUS BAR ATL DET MDO S6H IMS RA KAN LAG LRP 20

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Sprint Cup Series
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 NSCC Pts
2008 Chip Ganassi Racing 40 Dodge DAY
33		 CAL
32		 LVS
33		 ATL
33		 BRI
36		 MAR
22		 TEX
DNQ		 PHO
32		 TAL
INQ†		 RCH DAR CLT DOV POC
41		 MCH
43		 SON
DNQ		 NHA
38		 DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 49th 606
† – Qualified but replaced by David Stremme
Daytona 500 results
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
2008 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge 40 33

Nationwide Series
NASCAR Nationwide Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NNSC Pts
2007 Chip Ganassi Racing 42 Dodge DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM
32		 TEX
25		 PHO
29		 HOM
39		 95th 277
2008 40 DAY
20		 CAL
24		 LVS
6		 ATL
28		 BRI
22		 NSH TEX
11		 PHO
11		 MXC TAL
41		 RCH DAR CLT DOV
15		 NSH KEN MLW NHA
13		 DAY CHI
26		 GTY IRP CGV GLN
5		 MCH
13		 BRI
11		 CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 35th 1571

Craftsman Truck Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 NCTC Pts
2007 Cunningham Motorsports 41 Dodge DAY CAL ATL MAR KAN CLT MFD DOV TEX MCH MLW MEM KEN IRP NSH BRI GTW NHA LVS TAL MAR
33		 ATL TEX PHO HOM 107th 64

ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Racing Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ARSC Pts
2007 Chip Ganassi Racing 42 Dodge DAY USA NSH SLM KAN WIN KEN TOL IOW POC MCH BLN KEN POC NSH ISF MIL GTW DSF CHI SLM TAL
17		 TOL 135th 145
2008 40 DAY
10		 SLM IOW KEN CAR KEN TOL POC MCH CAY KEN BLN POC NSH ISF DSF CHI SLM NJE TAL TOL 102nd 180
gollark: What we really need is free and open source cars.
gollark: And if you don't update the software your car might just go "nope, you're not using this".
gollark: Tesla more so. They have some "extra acceleration" purchase for old cars which seems to just change some software settings and costs $2000.
gollark: They do seem to have not very user controllable software.
gollark: Wouldn't you expect any sort of big advantages Tesla has to already be reflected in the price of its shares?

References
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Sources
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Sam Hornish, Jr.
Scott Dixon		 IRL IndyCar Series Champion
2007
2009, 2010, 2011		 Succeeded by
Scott Dixon
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Achievements
Preceded by
Sam Hornish, Jr.
Hélio Castroneves
Dan Wheldon		 Indianapolis 500 Winner
2007
2010
2012		 Succeeded by
Scott Dixon
Dan Wheldon
Tony Kanaan
Awards
Preceded by
Oliver Gavin		 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
1992		 Succeeded by
Ralph Firman
Preceded by
Oliver Gavin		 Autosport
British Club Driver of the Year
1993		 Succeeded by
James Matthews
Preceded by
Mark Blundell		 Autosport
British Competition Driver of the Year
1998		 Succeeded by
Eddie Irvine
Preceded by
Jenson Button		 Autosport
British Competition Driver of the Year
2010		 Succeeded by
Jenson Button
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