Wheldon out-Dario in at CGR in '09

[hoosierfan]

Just heard on Indy radio.

[JSH]

Just saw it at SI.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/racing/09/02/franchitti.ap/index.html

[DanicaFan]

Yep, Im so glad to see Dario back in IndyCar. I just got it verified.

Here are a couple press releases..

Release 1
Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Dan Wheldon Agree to Part Ways

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 2, 2008) – Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) and Dan Wheldon, driver of the No. 10 Target Honda Dallara in the IndyCar Series, announced today they have agreed to part ways.

Quote Board:
Chip Ganassi:
“Dan Wheldon has done everything this organization has asked of him. He was competitive from the moment that he stepped into the car for us back in 2006 and has provided Target Chip Ganassi Racing many highlights over his three years with the team. Dan is a class act both on and off the track and we wish him nothing but the best.”

Dan Wheldon:
"I have enjoyed these last three seasons with Target Chip Ganassi Racing, but will be moving on to pursue a very exciting opportunity for 2009.
I want to personally thank Target and the whole Chip Ganassi Racing organization for the success and enjoyment we shared together. With that said, I will certainly miss my working relationship with Scott Dixon and wish him and the team all the best for this weekend at Chicagoland.
I will be announcing my plans for next season in the near future. In the meantime I want to focus my efforts on winning the last race of the season. I wish the team well for 2009 and beyond."

Release 2
Dario Franchitti to Join Scott Dixon at Target Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series
Long Time Chip Ganassi Racing Sponsor Target Continues Partnership with Multi-year Deal

CONCORD, N.C. (September 2, 2008) – Target Chip Ganassi Racing announced they will be adding former IndyCar Series and Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti as a teammate of the 2008 Indy 500 winner and current points leader Scott Dixon, as the driver of the No. 10 Target Honda. In addition, Chip Ganassi Racing and Target announced the details of their joint plans to take their partnership into its 20th season and beyond.

NOTES OF INTEREST
· Franchitti Returns to the IndyCar Series: The former Indy 500 and IndyCar Series champion will return to open-wheel racing but this time behind the wheel of the No. 10 Target Dallara Honda. The native of Scotland has over 180 starts under his belt between the CART and IndyCar Series resulting in 18 wins, 17 poles, 63 top-five and 95 top-10 finishes (1997-2007). Franchitti is the winningest driver in U.S. open-wheel history from Great Britain. He was part of the winning Rolex 24 At Daytona team this year for Ganassi and also captured the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 Class in his first ever American Le Mans Series start in 2007. This creates a team that will have the last two Indy 500 winners as they take the green flag next year in St. Petersburg.
· Right On Target: The team’s partnership with Target continues to rank as one of the longest relationships in motorsports. Chip Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990 and established a partnership with Target. Today, their Target properties include two IRL IndyCars and along with Felix Sabates one car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS). TCGR’s IndyCar program captured its second Indianapolis 500 earlier this season with current IRL points leader Scott Dixon. Along with teammate Dan Wheldon, the Target duo has combined to win eight of 16 races this season – second only to the Target team’s CART championship run in 1998 that tallied 10 wins at the hands of former Target champions Alex Zanardi and Jimmy Vasser.

QUOTE BOARD
Chip Ganassi, Team Owner:
· “It is going to be very exciting to have Dario in one of our IndyCars next year. I have always admired his competitive spirit when he raced against us and have really grown to see more of what he is about this season while he raced in NASCAR. When there was a possibility of an opening on our IndyCar team, the only person I thought about was Dario. This is going to be a great move for Dario and for our team.
· “There is little in my racing career that I am more proud of than my team’s partnership with Target. We will be entering our 20th year with Target in 2009 and we could not be happier. In the market place Target has created a powerful brand that represents – VALUE, INNOVATION, DIFFERENTIATION & QUALITY. The image that Target has cultivated over the years played a huge part in how I wanted my race teams to be viewed. I have said many times that I am much less interested in having sponsors than I am in having PARTNERS. Partners look out for each other’s best interests at all times. I can honestly say that Target is our PARTNER.”

Gregg Steinhafel, CEO, Target:
· “We are excited about our relationship with Ganassi in both their IndyCar and along with Felix Sabates in their NASCAR operations, and we look forward to celebrating our 20th year with the team in 2009. This program has had tremendous success over the years, and we look forward to even more success in the years to come.”

Dario Franchitti, Driver No. 10 Target Honda Dallara:
· “Part of the reason that I signed with Ganassi last year was because of how many options that Chip has at his disposal for a driver. You can do almost any form of racing that you want. With unification and the new schedule having more road and street courses it made me think about this more and more. I have really enjoyed this last season in stockcars and have not completely closed that chapter of my professional career but the opportunity that arose was just something I could not pass up. I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of one of those Target cars and be a teammate to Scott Dixon. Target is a tremendous sponsor and they and Chip always give you everything you need to win.”
__________________

[garyshell]

I bet Dixon is not real happy. Now he'll actually have some competition from within his own team.

Welcome back Dario!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gary

[The instant classic]

this is a shock to me, that dan is gone!
but if Wheldon doesnt come back to, Ganassi next year, in a 3car team or something,, i sure hope dan gets to race with a small team, (not to bash dan in anyway with that comment) but it wolud be nice to see him bring up a small team, and trun them into something great

[bblocker68]

From indycar.com:

By Dave Lewandowski
indycar.com


How about this for a twist: Dario Franchitti, who trumped Scott Dixon on the final lap of the final race for the 2007 IndyCar Series championship and in the 91st Indianapolis 500, will be his teammate for the 2009 season?

Target Chip Ganassi Racing announced that Franchitti will return to the IndyCar Series, replacing Dan Wheldon in the No. 10 entry when the '09 season opens at St. Petersburg. Wheldon, who is fourth in the IndyCar Series championship heading into the season finale at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, will not return to the team.

Discuss in Talkback: Where will Wheldon land for 2009?

"I have enjoyed these last three seasons with Target Chip Ganassi Racing but will be moving on to pursue a very exciting opportunity for 2009," Wheldon said. "I want to personally thank Target and the whole Chip Ganassi Racing organization for the success and enjoyment we shared together. With that said, I will certainly miss my working relationship with Scott Dixon and wish him and the team all the best for this weekend at Chicagoland.

Click it: Franchitti career stats | Wheldon career stats

"I will be announcing my plans for next season in the near future. In the meantime, I want to focus my efforts on winning the last race of the season."

Wheldon recorded two victories with 11 top-10 finishes in claiming fourth place in the 2007 standings. Through 16 races this season, he has two victories (Kansas and Iowa speedways) and 10 top 5s.

"Dan Wheldon has done everything this organization has asked of him," team owner Chip Ganassi said. "He was competitive from the moment that he stepped into the car for us back in 2006 and has provided Target Chip Ganassi Racing many highlights over his three years with the team. Dan is a class act both on and off the track and we wish him nothing but the best."

Wheldon, 30, won the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series championship with Andretti Green Racing. He joined Dixon at Target Chip Ganassi Racing the next season, tying Sam Hornish Jr. for the series title - losing out on the Championship Cup based on the first tiebreaker (four victories to two).

In 96 IndyCar Series starts, Wheldon has 15 victories and 54 top-five finishes. He broke into the series in 2002 with Panther Racing by competing in two races toward the end of the season. He joined Andretti Green Racing in 2003.

Wheldon and Franchitti were AGR teammates from 2003-05. After winning the Indianapolis 500 and series title last year, Franchitti signed to compete with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates' NASCAR program. Franchitti drove in 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup races with a best finish of 22nd before the No. 40 car team was shuttered in July because of a lack of sponsorship. He's currently 27th in the Nationwide Series standings, competing in 14 races.

"Part of the reason that I signed with Ganassi last year was because of how many options that Chip has at his disposal for a driver," said Franchitti, 35, who has eight victories and 30 top-five finishes in 67 IndyCar Series starts dating to 2002. "You can do almost any form of racing that you want.

"With unification and the new schedule having more road and street courses, it made me think about this more and more. I have really enjoyed this last season in stock cars and have not completely closed that chapter of my professional career, but the opportunity that arose was just something I could not pass up. I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of one of those Target cars and be a teammate to Scott Dixon. Target is a tremendous sponsor and they and Chip always give you everything you need to win."

Ganassi, who watched Franchitti compete against his team in the IndyCar Series and Grand Am, said he admired the Scotsman's "competitive spirit."

"(I) have really grown to see more of what he is about this season while he raced in NASCAR," said Ganassi, who formed the IndyCar team in 1990. "When there was a possibility of an opening on our IndyCar team, the only person I thought about was Dario. This is going to be a great move for Dario and for our team."

The team also announced that Target has re-signed as the primary sponsor of the IndyCar Series program for its 20th season and beyond.

[BobGarage]

great news. always been a fan of darios and I can't stand dan.

[MDS]

Wheldon goes back to Panther's No. 4:

http://www.pantherracing.com/news/index.cfm?cid=19093

Wonder what happens to Vitor and Dillon Battistini now?

[Marbles]

Has Dan been burning bridges... save for one?

[SoCalPVguy]

It is a shame that a talented driver like Dan Wheldon (The 2005 Indy Racing League champion and Indy 500 winner) is out and no-talent ride-buying hacks (do I have to mention names ?) are still in.

However as Wikipedia points out ... "Wheldon is nicknamed "Difficult Dan" in the IRL pit lane for his choleric temperament" so I wonder if that was the real deciding factor or if actually wanting to get paid to drive was what did him in at Ganassi Racing.

[nigelred5]

He's going to get paid more at Panther than he would have at Ganassi?? I know he earns the nickname Cheep, but is he that bad? I think Chipster just likes a driver that drives with emotion and not a whiney prima donna.

[IWUTitan90]

Nice to have a 500 and series champion back, but personally I find this to be the best part of the story:



The team also announced that Target has re-signed as the primary sponsor of the IndyCar Series program for its 20th season and beyond.

[-Helix-]

It is a shame that a talented driver like Dan Wheldon (The 2005 Indy Racing League champion and Indy 500 winner) is out and no-talent ride-buying hacks (do I have to mention names ?) are still in.

However as Wikipedia points out ... "Wheldon is nicknamed "Difficult Dan" in the IRL pit lane for his choleric temperament" so I wonder if that was the real deciding factor or if actually wanting to get paid to drive was what did him in at Ganassi Racing.

How is Wheldon getting replaced by Dario relevant to "no-talent ride-buying hacks"? It's not like Wheldon is completely leaving the series.

[bravefish]

Great news - Dario is an open wheel racer and is back where he belongs - I bet he's been licking his lips all season to get into it once the series merger was announced. Great decision for TCGR as well to have another very strong road racer in the lineup

[F1boat]

I like Wheldon more than Dario an would have prefered him to race for Chip, but I welcome Dario back, as he is a great champion.

[DanicaFan]

I cant wait till next year to have Dario back. Im so excited. I wish he was back with AGR but I wont be greedy. Its just good to have him back. Now my IndyCar Series is complete again. He is one of my favorite drivers.

[gm99]

However as Wikipedia points out ... "Wheldon is nicknamed "Difficult Dan" in the IRL pit lane for his choleric temperament" so I wonder if that was the real deciding factor or if actually wanting to get paid to drive was what did him in at Ganassi Racing.

I thought Wheldon's choleric temperament made him a perfect fit for (Chip) Ganassi :D

Personally, I am quite surprised to see Dario in the TCGR IndyCar:

Firstly, he has nothing left to prove in American open-wheel racing, having won races - on all types of circuits, no less -, including the Indy 500, and the championship. If Dixon retains the form he currently is in, it will be very hard for Dario to beat him in '09.

Secondly, I am surprised Franchitti still has trust in Ganassi after the disaster that his NASCAR deal turned out to be.

However, I wish him luck - it surely can't hurt the series to have a former champion back...

[seppefan]

Wonder what happens to Vitor and Dillon Battistini now?

They are both looking for drives I guess however I am sure they will find a seat.

Heard a rumour that Panther loosing other team staff as well. I think Dan might find it is not a happy place.

[philipbain]

So Dario is back in IRL following his complete failure to make an impression in NASCAR, oh what a massive shock! [this statement may be laced with a hint of sarcasm]

I can see the logic at Chip Ganassi - 2009 and beyond will see a much more equal balance between ovals and road courses so you get in a driver that is more comfortable on the road courses to replace the one that is an oval specialist. The only problem is that Dario isnt the right man in my estimation. I hail from the same country as Mr. Franchitti but have never been convinced by him as a driver. It took him years to get fully comfortable on the ovals and I wouldnt say he is a the best road racer either. He lost the '99 Champ Car series that by he should have won easilly (all the odds were stacked in his favour), he lucked into the 2007 Indycar championship that by rights was Scott Dixon's, ditto with the '07 Indy 500 won on a gamble with the weather. Now with the unified series the standard of competition is higher than ever and I don't see how Dario is going to compete, especially as the better Champ Car teams are now getting up to speed in Indycar. I would like him to prove me wrong but my gut feeling is that i'm right.

[DanicaFan]

I disagree, you are completely wrong on that account. Dario is a great driver. He is good on all courses. I feel if he had a team like Roush Fenway, Hendricks, Joe Gibbs in NASCAR, would of been a different story. He would of had the best equipment and the sponsors to carry him through a full season.

And as for Dario not competing in the IRL, come on now. He is the 2007 IndyCar Champion and Indy 500 champion. The guy is a great open-wheel driver. He will do better than the champcar drivers next year. The only ones I see that can compete at somewhat his level now are Oriol Servia, Justin Wilson, Graham Rahal, and possibly EJ Viso. The others, no.

[Lemmy-Boy]

He is good on all courses. I feel if he had a team like Roush Fenway, Hendricks, Joe Gibbs in NASCAR, would of been a different story. He would of had the best equipment and the sponsors to carry him through a full season.

Dario is another hack who couldn't make it into the BIG SHOW known as NASCAR. With limited options, he's now looked upon as a failed NASCAR project that stepped down to INDYCAR in order to resume a career. Yes, his NASCAR experience was partly due to a weak team and bad timing, but jumping into the CUP series right away was a very bad decision.

Franchitti should have spent a year in NATIONWIDE or Trucks, then make a transition into CUP. Even through he's coming back with a top IRL team, his failed experience in TIN TOPS makes the IRL look like a glorified feeder series to NASCAR, not the other way around.

Oh...how times have changed.

[BoilerIMS]

Move the driver/team change conversation over to the silly season thread.