Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó Dario Franchitti will be back behind the wheel in a NASCAR race this weekend when he races in the Nationwide Series at Chicagoland Speedway.
Franchitti will pilot the No. 40 Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing. Ganassi shuttered Franchitti’s Sprint Cup Series team last week because of a lack of funding, leaving the 2007 IndyCar Series champion’s future in doubt.
But Ganassi has sponsorship for his Nationwide car, and is giving Franchitti the option to drive that until they figure out a long-term plan. Bryan Clauson drove the car last weekend at Daytona International Speedway, winning his first career pole.
This will be Franchitti’s first NASCAR start at Chicago, where he does have three IndyCar starts. He wrapped up the 2007 IndyCar Championship there last season by starting from the pole and winning the season finale.