2007 IndyCar Champ Would Replace Stremme In Ganassi’s No. 40 Dodge

JOLIET, Ill. — Chip Ganassi has pulled off another stunning move as the team owner appears to have lured Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti to NASCAR Nextel Cup.
Last year, Ganassi lured Juan Pablo Montoya away from Formula One, and now it appears Franchitti is set to leave IndyCar.
Franchitti has an offer for a five-year deal. The driver from Edinburgh, Scotland won Sunday’s IndyCar Peak Antifreeze 300 presented by Mr. Clean to clinch the IndyCar Series title.
Franchitti would not confirm the move and neither would Ganassi, but sources close to the two sides have indicated Canadian Club and its Jim Beam Brand will replace Coors Light as the sponsor for Ganassi’s No. 40 Dodge in NASCAR.
David Stremme currently drives that car in Nextel Cup but will leave the team at the end of this season after Ganassi told him he did not have sponsorship. Stremme is furious that it’s too late in the season to find a quality Nextel Cup ride after he was told he would not be back with Ganassi.
Franchitti has a strong relationship with Canadian Club, which sponsors his car at Andretti Green Racing and was the sponsor’s choice for the Ganassi NASCAR ride.
Once the details are finalized and the contract is signed, Franchitti is expected to compete in some lower division stock-car races this season, such as ARCA and Busch as he prepares to be a Nextel Cup rookie in 2008.
He will join three-time IndyCar champion and 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish, Jr. as Cup “rookies.” Although Hornish and team owner Roger Penske have not made an announcement, that move also appears certain according to team sources.
Hornish is skeptical whether Franchitti is actually going to go to NASCAR.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Hornish said. “A lot of people think it’s easy to pick up and go over and do it, but if you are going to have any shot at being competitive at all, there is a lot involved with that.”
Franchitti’s decision appears to have earned the blessing of Franchitti’s wife, actress Ashley Judd. The couple lives outside of Nashville, Tenn.
“When the appropriate time comes, we’ll make an announcement,” Judd said after Saturday’s qualifications.
Franchitti refused to discuss the move.
“I’m not thinking about, nor am I going to talk about what I’m doing next year,” Franchitti said on pit lane after his pole-winning qualification run. “I have a small brain and it takes all of my brainpower here to focus on what it takes to win the championship.
“I’m just focused on trying to win this weekend and win the championship. I’m not thinking about, nor am I going to talk about, my decision for next year.
“I’m going to focus on this right now before talking about next year.”