Bathgate’s Dario Franchitti proved he still has all the makings of a front-running Nascar driver when he posted the fourth-fastest time in the build-up to tomorrow’s round of the Nationwide Series at Watkins Glen, New York.
The 35-year-old was back in action for the first time since his Ganassi Nascar Sprint Cup team was disbanded in June after it suffered sponsorship problems.
“It’s good to be back on-track and proving exactly what we’re capable of,” the Scot, who lapped the street circuit in 1min 13.400secs, an average of 120.163mph, said.
“It was the first time in my career that a team which I was a driver for had folded, and I have to tell you it’s not a nice experience.”
And while Franchitti has admitted he would consider switching to sportscar racing and the American Le Mans series for 2009 — where he could either join, or compete against, his younger brother Marino — he also stated he hasn’t ruled out driving for another Nascar team.
“I’m going to talk to other teams in the Nascar paddock, for sure,” he continued. “I’m going to talk to everybody and see what my options are for next year, as well as talking to teams and manufacturers in other series as well.”
American Kevin Harvick was the fastest driver in pre-qualifying for the latest round of the Nationwide Series, clocking 1:12.822s in his Chevrolet, just 0.578s faster than Franchitti’s Dodge.
JM