Dario Franchitti
From Indy Racing League Wiki
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Dario Franchitti.
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Nationality
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Scottish
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Date of Birth
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May 19, 1979
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Place of Birth
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Bathgate, Scotland
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Date of Death
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Alive
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Years Active
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2003- Present
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Starts
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115
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Wins
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13
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Poles
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12
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Best Series Finish
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1st (2007)
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Dario Franchitti is the first Scotsman to win the Indy Racing League and only the 2nd to win the Indianapolis 500 after his idol Jim Clark
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[edit] Before IndyCar
[edit] 2002
He joined his 2002 Champ Car team, Team Green for the 2002 Indianapolis 500. He finished 19th 3 laps down. His teammates Paul Tracy and Michael Andretti both finished in the top 10.
[edit] 2003
He signed a contract with Team Green now under the name of Andretti Green Racing for the 2003 season. Dario was injured in a serious motorbike accident during the off season and because of this he could only participate in 3 IndyCar races during that year. His best finish was a 4th at Pikes Peak International Raceway
[edit] 2004
Dario rejoined AGR for the 2004 season. He won his first IndyCar race at the Milwaukee Mile. Of course, Dario had already won 10 races in the CART series. He followed this up 3 races later with a victory at Pikes Peak. Overall in the standings he finished 6th. He had 8 top tens.
[edit] 2005
Again with AGR in the 2005 season Dario won twice at Nashville and Fontana. This time he had 13 top tens. He moved up two places this year to 4th in the overall standings.
[edit] 2006
In 2006 Dario did not win any races. Despite this he finished in the top 3 in three races. He missed the last race of the season at Chicagoland due to injury.
[edit] 2007
2007 was the year when Dario won his first IndyCar championship.
[edit] 2008
Franchitti concentrated on NASCAR in 2008, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, until his team shut down due to lack of sponsorship. He returned to the IRL for the season-ending exhibition at Surfers Paradise, replacing Dan Wheldon in Ganassi's No. 10. He spun during the race but he did set the fastest lap.
[edit] 2009
Franchitti won the championship over teammate and defending champion Scott Dixon in the 2009 season for Chip Ganassi.
[edit] NASCAR Career
In 2008 he started in the Gatorade 150's at Daytona. He was caught up in a crash started by Jacques Villeneuve In the 50th Daytona 500 he finished 33rd a lap down. His team-mates finished (5th, Reed Sorenson and 32nd, Juan Pablo Montoya) His best finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series was a 22nd at Martinsville. Mid way through the season the #40 team were made redundant and Dario concentrated on the #40 Fastenal Dodge in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In his last race in the Nationwide series he qualified 1st at Watkins Glen. He finished 4th.
