Mark DeCotis
floridatoday.com

Chip Ganassi isn't paying his stable of superstars any more money to race in next weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona, and that's OK with Dario Franchitti.

Franchitti, the 2007 Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion -- and current NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie -- comprises one quarter of the team favored to win the twice-around the clock classic, his seatmates being defending race co- champions Scott Pruett and Juan Pablo Montoya along with Memo Rojas.

For him, the 24 isn't about the money.

"I'm doing it for fun," Franchitti said. "Chip said 'hey, you want to do it?' and I said 'absolutely.' Chip asked me to do it last year with them, and I couldn't because of a sponsor conflict, and the car went on to win the race. So when he asked me this year I was bloody sure I was going to do it."

Expectations for Franchitti and the No. 01 Ganassi Lexus Riley Daytona Prototype team are high, just as they are for the No. 02 Lexus Riley co-piloted by Ganassi's IndyCar teammates Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon, 2007 Indy Pro Series champion Alex Lloyd and 2007 Rolex-winning co-driver Salvador Duran. But Franchitti isn't brooking any talk of the strength of the rosters guaranteeing anything.

"I think anybody who says that knows absolutely nothing about endurance racing," the Scotsman said. "We proved in the tests that we each go out there and as soon as we got off a clear lap we're on top of the charts. That doesn't mean anything in a 24-hour race. I think the car is fast enough to win the race, the drivers are fast enough, but it's an endurance race -- it's 24 hours."

And over the course of 24 hours, the racing is hard as well. With as many as 67 cars (25 elite Prototypes and 42 GT class vehicles) in the field, the action and the lapping and the passing are constant as are the excursions off the pavement that result in sand and dirt and debris in the racing grooves.

And while Franchitti said teams and drivers have been warned against rubbing and racing and beating and banging that the full-contact sports car series has become known for, that has to be factored in as well.

"It's war," Franchitti said. "It's a hard, hard thing to do."

Should either the No. 01 or No. 02 car survive and win, it would make Ganassi the first car owner to claim the 24 in three consecutive seasons -- Wheldon, Dixon and Casey Mears being victorious in 2006. But, as many, or more than 660 laps and 2,378 miles will be run before the checkered flag waves.

Once the Rolex roars to conclusion, Franchitti will trade in his Ganassi Prototype for his Ganassi Sprint Cup car and gird himself for the 36 race marathon that begins with the Feb. 17 Daytona 500. And while he technically is a NASCAR rookie, his years of racing in open wheel, sports cars and German Touring Cars has prepared him for the rough and tumble world of stock cars.

And much like Montoya, who made the switch last season, won a race, was the top rookie and showed no inclination of backing down when challenged, Franchitti will stand up for himself as well.

"I expected it," he said of getting roughed up by his NASCAR peers, "but by the second or third race I was giving as good as I got. It's amazing how quickly you learn."

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Chip Ganassi Racing With Felix Sabates, Press Release


Dario Franchitti and No. 40 Target Dodge Team (NSCS) and No. 40 Fastenal Dodge Team (NNS)

So You’re Sayin’ There’s a Chance!:

According to the Sports Book at the Luxor Las Vegas where the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) team is staying this weekend, Franchitti’s odds to win the UAW-Dodge 400 are 100-1. The odds on his CGRFS teammates Reed Sorenson and Juan Pablo Montoya to win are both 60-1.
Record Miles for Franchitti:

Last weekend’s rain-delayed weekend resulted in two qualifying washouts and a partial double header for Franchitti, which included the finish of the NSCS event and a full NNS race [totaling 624 miles] – the most laps he’s ever driven in one day.

In a Class of His Own:

In the past 11 months, Franchitti became the first driver to ever capture the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Indianapolis 500, an open wheel title and the Rolex 24 At Daytona consecutively. Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt are the only others to win the four titles, but neither did so in succession.

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Chip Ganassi Racing With Felix Sabates, Press Release

Dario Franchitti and No. 40 Fastenal Dodge Teams (NSCS/NNS)

Leading Rookie:

Franchitti currently leads the Raybestos Rookie of the Year race in both the NSCS (31-30 over Regan Smith) and the NNS (37-25 over CGRFS teammate Bryan Clauson).

Catching On:

In last weekend’s NNS race at Las Vegas, Franchitti scored a NASCAR career best finish of sixth in the No. 40 Fastenal Dodge, topping his previous best finish of 20th earlier this season at Daytona. The result moved him up eight places in the NNS standings from 17th to ninth.

Fastenal Making it Easy for Franchitti:

This weekend Franchitti’s primary NNS sponsor Fastenal will be adorning the hood of his NNS car as well as the NSCS car as he pulls double duty for the fourth straight weekend. With two identical cars, the former open wheel pilot (who’s never had to consistently juggle two series in the same weekend) will find it easy to bounce back and forth between the NNS and NSCS garages.

Parrott’s Atlanta Persona:

Franchitti’s NNS crew chief Brad Parrott called a strong NNS race last year at AMS with another NASCAR newcomer Juan Pablo Montoya. The team lined up inside the top 10 and finished eighth. Parrott has an impressive history at Atlanta that includes Carl Edwards’ first career NNS win in March 2005.

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Chip Ganassi Racing With Felix Sabates, Press Release

Dario Franchitti and No. 40 The Hartford and No. 40 Fastenal Dodge Teams (NSCS/NNS)

2 Weeks in a Row:

Franchitti leads the Raybestos Rookie of the Year race in both the NSCS (41-39 over Sam Hornish, Jr) and the NNS (47-34 over CGRFS teammate Bryan Clauson) for the second weekend in a row.

Eye in the Sky:

Keep up with Franchitti’s rookie seasons in NSCS and NNS on FOXSports.com as No.40 car spotter Mike Calinoff chronicles the team’s weekly happenings in his blog titled Eye in the Sky.

Going Stag in Bristol:

New sponsor The Hartford will debut on the No. 40 car this weekend as the company’s sponsorship and other marketing efforts will be used to connect The Hartford’s auto and homeowners products to legions of racing fans. Bearing The Hartford’s distinctive colors, the maroon and yellow race car will feature The Hartford’s branding on the hood, TV and quarter panels. Franchitti will wear a maroon and yellow fire suit featuring The Hartford and the stag logo. The Hartford, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services companies, with 2007 revenues of $25.9 billion. The Hartford is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and Ireland. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com.

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