Who: #27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone driver Dario Franchitti
What: SunTrust Indy Challenge, Round 9 of the 2007 IndyCar® Series
Where: Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Va.
When: Saturday, June 30, 2007
Television: ESPN, 7:30 p. m. (EDT)
Dario Franchitti on the SunTrust Indy Challenge:
“I really enjoy racing at Richmond. It can be a difficult track because getting through traffic can be really tough. We? ve had a couple of really good runs there the past two years, so hopefully we can keep the Canadian Club car up front with the leaders and challenge for another win. ”
Dario Franchitti Facts
· In three starts at Richmond International Raceway, Franchitti has two top-three finishes (third? 2006, second? 2005).
· Franchitti recorded his second win of the season at the inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250 leading 96 laps of the 250-lap event. It was his seventh-consecutive top-five finish of the 2007 season.
· Franchitti? s win gave Andretti Green Racing their 28th IndyCar Series victory.
· He is the lone IndyCar Series regular to have finished all eight races this season in the top ten.
· Franchitti extended his lead in the IndyCar Series championship to 51 points.
· On May 27, 2007, Franchitti won the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500®. It was the first Indy 500 victory and fifth IndyCar Series win of his career.
· He led 34 laps and became only the second Scotsman to win in the 91-year history of the event.
· Franchitti is the winningest British driver in American open-wheel racing history.
· Along with teammates Bryan Herta and Tony Kanaan, Franchitti drove to a win at the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 17. The trio collected the LMP2 class victory in AGR’s first ALMS start.
· Franchitti has recorded three career IndyCar Series pole positions, those coming at Texas (June 10, 2004), California (Oct. 26, 2005) and St. Petersburg (April 2, 2006).
· Four of his six IndyCar Series victories have come on tracks of 1.33 miles or smaller, including the 1- mile ovals at Milwaukee (2004) and Pikes Peak (2004), the 1.33-mile oval at Nashville Superspeedway (2005) and the 0.875-mile track at Iowa Speedway.
· Franchitti has 16 major open-wheel racing victories and 14 career pole positions.
John Anderson, Race Strategist, #27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone, on the SunTrust Indy Challenge:
“Richmond is another short track. I think he will be good there if we give him a good car. Dario is driving so well right now. With the 51-point lead in the championship, we can? t afford to be too conservative. We have to keep the momentum going. We? ve got to focus on the little details and execute. I think the Canadian Club team looking pretty good for this weekend.?
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