Bathgate’s Dario Franchitti faces a tough outing in the latest round of the Nascar Sprint Cup in Michigan after rain washed out qualifying at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway.
The 35-year-old Scot, who posted his best qualifying of the season a week ago when he started from 14th on the grid at Pocono, will tomorrow have to battle through the field from 41st on the grid.
“Obviously it’s not ideal, but I guess that’s what happens when rain wrecks qualifying,” Franchitti admitted today. “It’s a pity because I really thought we could build on our qualifying pace from last weekend. Instead we’ve got a battle on our hands.”
Franchitti, whose race was wrecked last Sunday when his Ganassi Dodge was clattered by the Ford of David Gilliland, forcing him into the wall and retirement, will start 40 cars behind the Toyota of polesitter and last week’s winner, Kyle Busch.
Before the rain came, reigning champion Jimmie Johnson had topped practice ahead of qualifying with a lap of 184.308mph and a time of 39.065 seconds, ahead of Gillett Evernham’s Elliott Sadler and Robby Gordon.
JM