Dario Francetti to Chip Ganassi's NASCAR team in 2008

http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/6636.html

Seems Chip likes those open wheel guys.

Just a "well-founded" rumor thus far. What are your thoughts on 2 Indy 500 winners driving for Chip?

 

Guess I'll have to learn how to spell his name

 

After being blamed by Michael Andretti for the collision with Marco at Sears Point, he probably figures he can make a better living in another series. That's a blow to the IRL in my opinion. I'll root for him. He is a thoroughly decent guy and a great racer.

 

Well they don't race in the rain so we won't get to see Ashley jumping up and down all wet in that clingy skimpy little floral print dress.

No really, I think Dario is a reasonable guy and him and JPM will get along fine. Ganassi should put them both in the 500 but I think a time change made that impossible for Indy and Charlotte.

 

Michael is still blaming the guy who can win him the Championship this season? He should be blaming his Spotters and his kid for not moving over for the Race Leader.

 

Dario is a great guy along with being a Scot. I'll miss him in the longer ALMS races. Chip needs to expand to prototypes (get out of Grand AM) - run P2 and kick butt on AGR and Penske. Michael is just a whinney butt - shown well at the end of the Detroit IRL race.

Carol

 

Well, it's not just that. I've driven a few thousand laps around Sears and can honsetly say that Marco had no right trying to get back on the racing line so quickly where he did. Really dumb and Michael is punishing the wrong guy.

 

I was thinking, 'Aww, that's unfortunate. Dario is getting older and heading to an inferior series', when it donned on me, NASCAR is THE step up. Therefore, shouldn't the Brickyard 400 be considered worthy of more significance than the Indy 500, nevermind Daytona ? Wouldn't it now be considered a retrostep for Chip to let JPM and Dario race in the 500??? Won't all ex- F1/IRL/Champcar drivers eventually be aiming towards Mayberry ?
Count on a 'landed immigrant' quota in FRANCECAR real soon.

 

Uh, let's just hope it isn't true.

 

chip must be a snake charmer or have alot of money to throw at these guys. A third rate team with a snowball's chance in h*ll of winning. Dario must have realized that he was persona non grata and decided to bail while he was still marketable. Sad.

 

I just can't see Dario in a stock car.

 

I can picture Dario in a stock car before Wheldon or Danica. If he isn't happy with AGR, then I hope he has fun in stock cars. Maybe Scott Speed can take his old seat at AGR.

 

I never did laps around Sears, but I don't understand Michael's constant criticisms, his owner driver, Dixon, etc.

 

+1 Sears is my home track. Every marshall or instructor has always said to keep wide into turn 1 so other cars who are going much faster can hit their apexes without a car in the way lol. That was just dangerous for Marco to move over onto the racing line while going slow like that.

 

i hope he moves to ALMS

 

Agreed, but I also have this sick gratification in all these non stock car types invading NASCAR. I have made it a sport to rub JPM's success into the NASCAR boys at the Pub. I can't wait for JV to kick a little sand in their carburetors.

 

Jimmy Spencer was the only one I heard who said JPM would win in his first season of NASCAR. OK, so it wasn't an oval (to date) , but bingo, he was right. In the not too distant future, not only will ex F1/IRL/CHAMPCAR guys be dominating Nascar, but they'll be behind the wheel of something that is sponsored by Hyundai. Until the Chinese invade.

 

Actually, I predicted it too on these boards before the season started