It was no bombshell when Chip Ganassi announced on Tuesday the dismemberment of Dario Franchitti’s wretched NASCAR team. The shutdown was looming due to inconsistent sponsors, but Franchitti’s lack of on-track accomplishments did him no favors.
The shutdown was not a matter of if but when. Franchitti’s NASCAR career was doomed from the beginning. That is what he deserves for trading in his silver spoon for a spit bucket.
Franchitti had IndyCar eating out of the palm of his hand. Indy 500 champion. IRL series champion. He drove for a top-level team. Oh, not to mention is married to one of the hottest women on the planet.
Apparently they do not teach common sense over in Scotland.
What is next for Franchitti? I would wager that he ends up driving in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) before the year is over.
Does he have any other viable options?
His Sprint Cup career is finished. Not even an owner with a hamster on wheels for a brain would hire Franchitti, who finished an average of 34th in 10 races. NASCAR is out.
Bathgate’s favorite son can also rule out Formula-1 due to his age (35). What he carries in credentials he lacks in youth. F-1 preys on young drivers in their early 20’s; not drivers inching towards social security. Remember, Michael Schumacher retired at the ripe age of 37 after winning seven world driving championships. F-1 is out.
A return to the IRL would gratify the fans, but Franchitti has made it perfectly clear he has washed his hands clean of IndyCar. If he had any desire to drive an IndyCar, he would not have bolted in the first place.
There are only two ways Franchitti will run in an IndyCar ever again.
First, Franchitti could drive a fifth AGR machine on a part-time basis and only participate in marquee events, such as the Indy 500. Or, he could follow in Michael Andretti’s footsteps and own his own team and drive whenever he gets the itch. But, both of those are not likely, so IndyCar is out.
Franchitti has a passion for motorcycles so the MotoGP series is a viable option, but then again, it is awfully late for him to pursue a new career. MotoGP is out.
Where does that leave the Scotsman besides a venture towards ALMS? Franchitti drove sports cars on a limited basis for AGR in 2007 so if he wants to continue driving on a full-time basis, it would be in his best interest if he returns to ALMS.
Franchitti committed career suicide by choosing money (NASCAR) over success (IndyCar). His talent level and decision making have now been questioned, which in turn dooms any possibility of Franchitti revitalizing any success he achieved in the past.
God Speed, Dario. You will need it.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Franchitti: Indy Champ to Unemployed Chump
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Give Dario some credit. You have to admit he is one of the most talented race car drivers out there. Granted, he had top level equipment with AGR. Ganassi's NasCab program is average at best. Had Dario had another year to get acclimated to the Taxi-style car, he would have had success on the road courses, which require more driver skill than the quality of tin top. Personally, I think Dario was pressured by that lovely piece of skin named Ashley to step out of the high speed IndyCar. Put yourself in his shoes. If I came home to Ashley Judd at the end of the day every day, and she asked me to stop driving my Honda to work everyday and start driving a Dodge, I would oblige. On a side note, I am a fan of the current spec series format in IndyCar. I hope that when they go to multiple engine manufacturers, the racing stays competitive and we don't turn into that sleeper of a series known as Formula Uno. Helio wins this weekend. Two transition drivers on the podium below him.
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