KIDWCKED
08-09-2010, 11:37 PM
c/p from Espn by the a/p
Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Dario Franchitti was preparing for a restart during Sunday's IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio when a Target Chip Ganassi crew member came over the radio with a little breaking news about friend Juan Pablo Montoya, who drives for Ganassi's NASCAR team.
"They said something like 'News flash, Montoya just won at [Watkins Glen] so it's up to you now," Franchitti said. "I thought 'Oh God, no pressure now.' "
Franchitti used a pair of sparkling pit stops to overtake series road warrior Will Power and capture his 25th-career open-wheel victory, tying him with Gordon Johncock for 12th all-time.
It's a heady milestone, though the two-time Indy 500 winner admits he was just trying to keep his boss happy. Sunday marked the second time in three weeks Ganassi cars have won both an IndyCar and NASCAR race on the same day.
"He just works so bloody hard at it, it's nice to see him get this kind of success," Franchitti said.
And it was nice for Franchitti to take a chunk out of Power's sizable points lead. Franchitti is now within 41 points of Power with five races to go as he tries to repeat as series champion.
"We've got to put pressure on Will," Franchitti said. "The last [three races] we finished on the podium every time, but Will was always a place ahead. That wasn't in our plan. That wasn't helping us win a championship."
Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ohio -- Dario Franchitti was preparing for a restart during Sunday's IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio when a Target Chip Ganassi crew member came over the radio with a little breaking news about friend Juan Pablo Montoya, who drives for Ganassi's NASCAR team.
"They said something like 'News flash, Montoya just won at [Watkins Glen] so it's up to you now," Franchitti said. "I thought 'Oh God, no pressure now.' "
Franchitti used a pair of sparkling pit stops to overtake series road warrior Will Power and capture his 25th-career open-wheel victory, tying him with Gordon Johncock for 12th all-time.
It's a heady milestone, though the two-time Indy 500 winner admits he was just trying to keep his boss happy. Sunday marked the second time in three weeks Ganassi cars have won both an IndyCar and NASCAR race on the same day.
"He just works so bloody hard at it, it's nice to see him get this kind of success," Franchitti said.
And it was nice for Franchitti to take a chunk out of Power's sizable points lead. Franchitti is now within 41 points of Power with five races to go as he tries to repeat as series champion.
"We've got to put pressure on Will," Franchitti said. "The last [three races] we finished on the podium every time, but Will was always a place ahead. That wasn't in our plan. That wasn't helping us win a championship."