Tweet
Co-owner Chip Ganassi has shut down Dario Franchitti's race team because of a lack of sponsorship.
The 2007 Indy 500 winner and IRL Series champion has struggled in his first NASCAR season driving Ganassi's No. 40 Dodge.
Longtime sponsor Coors Light left at the end of last season, and Ganassi was unable to secure funding for Franchitti.
Franchitti ranks 41st in the points standings.
"If I keep going I run the risk of dragging the other two teams down. I don't want to do that," Ganassi told the Associated Press. "There's no money. It makes no sense to be running this out of my pocket. I had to put a stop to it."
Ganassi's other two Sprint Cups teams are driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, in his second NASCAR season, and Reed Sorenson, who's in the final year of his contract.
The entire No. 40 team was shut down, but crew chief Steven Lane was not among those laid off.
Ganassi said Franchitti was disappointed but understood. And Ganassi said he was hopeful Franchitti would drive their Nationwide Series car until the Sprint Cup program was restructured.
Franchitti has missed several races this season, including five for a broken ankle, and he failed to qualify at Fort Worth and Sonoma. In just 10 events this season, Franchitti's best result came March 30 at Martinsville, Va., where he finished 22nd.
The 2007 Indy 500 winner and IRL Series champion has struggled in his first NASCAR season driving Ganassi's No. 40 Dodge.
Longtime sponsor Coors Light left at the end of last season, and Ganassi was unable to secure funding for Franchitti.
Franchitti ranks 41st in the points standings.
"If I keep going I run the risk of dragging the other two teams down. I don't want to do that," Ganassi told the Associated Press. "There's no money. It makes no sense to be running this out of my pocket. I had to put a stop to it."
Ganassi's other two Sprint Cups teams are driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, in his second NASCAR season, and Reed Sorenson, who's in the final year of his contract.
The entire No. 40 team was shut down, but crew chief Steven Lane was not among those laid off.
Ganassi said Franchitti was disappointed but understood. And Ganassi said he was hopeful Franchitti would drive their Nationwide Series car until the Sprint Cup program was restructured.
Franchitti has missed several races this season, including five for a broken ankle, and he failed to qualify at Fort Worth and Sonoma. In just 10 events this season, Franchitti's best result came March 30 at Martinsville, Va., where he finished 22nd.
WOW 
Comment