[Phils20]

Ganassi shuts down 40 team, idling Franchitti

[Quality88]

Wow... That sucks.... no #40 on the track. WHERE"S STERLIN?

[Phils20]

Still trying to collect those back wages from that jerk the "merged" with DEI!

[Bob Tanner]

I'm thinking Dario'll be in either IRL, ALMS or Rolex before Labour Day

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I'm thinking Dario'll be in either IRL, ALMS or Rolex before Labour Day

Well, they did say they would continue to run him in the NW series, but I think he deserves better than that.

I'd like to see him back in the IRL, but if they can't get Paul Tracy a ride, will Dario get one?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Well, they did say they would continue to run him in the NW series, but I think he deserves better than that.

I'd like to see him back in the IRL, but if they can't get Paul Tracy a ride, will Dario get one?

Looks as though NA__AR is back to using USAC Silver Crown as a farm system, and no longer IRL.

That strange sound you heard this afternoon was a BIG sigh coming from Tony george.

[Phils20]

I'm sure you are right about that!

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Looks as though NA__AR is back to using USAC Silver Crown as a farm system, and no longer IRL.

remind me again how that worked for Steve Kinser

[OrionBen]

What about Franchitti in the 41. Chip is not really happy with Sorenson, and while having mediocre result better go with the rookie

[j-man24fan]

this sucks, i really thought franchitti was cool.... not much skill... but kool
the Gannassi cars never ran up front many times.... but i'm always used to them being on the track...

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by OrionBen

What about Franchitti in the 41. Chip is not really happy with Sorenson, and while having mediocre result better go with the rookie

Agree, it's been known Chip is about done with Reed so just swap drivers! Chip has been swaping everything all year long so what's the diff. if he swaps drivers and teams!

[Racer Duck]

I think the following from the article tells the true tale:

The decision to shut down the No. 40 team resulted in about 70 people losing their jobs at the Ganassi team, a team spokesperson confirmed.
"If I keep going, I run the risk of dragging the other two teams down," Ganassi told The Associated Press. "I don't want to do that. There's no money. It makes no sense to be running this out of my pocket. I had to put a stop to it."
The team said in a statement that it remains committed to Franchitti's development as a stock car driver. One option, it said, is running the 35-year-old native of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the remainder of the 2008 Nationwide Series in the No. 40 Dodge.

Chip said "There's no money." But I guess some folks think he ought to keep footing the bill for an unsponsored team just because...

It's a business. When you're loosing money, you cut your losses. Too bad, but that's life.

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I think the following from the article tells the true tale:

Chip said "There's no money." But I guess some folks think he ought to keep footing the bill for an unsponsored team just because...

It's a business. When you're loosing money, you cut your losses. Too bad, but that's life.

EXACATLY!! Anyone who is in motorsports has spent ALOT of thier own money but there comes a time when you say enough of that!!

[jks812]

Why would you swap a driver 31st in points for one thats 41st anyway? Maybe if they had let him run Busch for a year he would have gotten more experience and done better. Maybe then he could have gotten a sponsor. Just because Montoya picked it up good, doesn't mean all open wheelers will.

[SteelPhoenyx]

Originally Posted by jks812

Why would you swap a driver 31st in points for one thats 41st anyway? Maybe if they had let him run Busch for a year he would have gotten more experience and done better. Maybe then he could have gotten a sponsor. Just because Montoya picked it up good, doesn't mean all open wheelers will.

That's too bad about Dario. He's about the only open wheeler on the track that hasn't ☻☻☻☻ed me off. (Sticks another pin in Sam Hornish voodoo doll).

While I have respect for team owners putting a car out on the track without a sponsor (hence its coming out of their own pockets)... there IS a point where you need to reassess and decide to pull the plug.

My opinion... All open wheelers should have been required to run Busch/Nationwide for at LEAST a year before coming to the Cup series. Its been said before, and argued for and against... but yeah, that's how I feel.

Only open wheeler I really have any respect for is Scott Speed. He's doing it right. Running Truck and ARCA right now, but there's talk of getting him in with the big boys soon. Honestly I hope they don't bring him into the Cup for at least another year, give him time to run Nationwide, and hopefully test the COT before turning him loose.

Of course he has backing by Red Bull, so he probably isn't in any danger of losing sponsorship any time soon.

There's one team out there that seems to run without sponsorship quite a bit this year, and honestly I hope it doesn't get shut down. That's Robby Gordon's #7. He's been very lucky to get last minute sponsors in the past couple races, but he goes out there in the flat black scheme and intends to get out there and run. The guy ☻☻☻☻es me off a lot, but I respect him for his passion for racing.

Sorry, went off on a tangent.