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Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Indy Toronto Advance Notes
Wednesday July 8, 2009
Race: Honda Indy Toronto, July 12 (1:00 PM ET, ABC)
Track: Streets of Toronto (1.755-mile street circuit)
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NOTES/NEWS
Thoughts on Toronto with TCGR Managing Director Mike Hull: “The first thing that comes to mind about racing in downtown Toronto is the passion of the Canadian race fans. They absolutely support and have a great appreciation for open-wheel racing.
It’s exciting to return with the Target cars with two guys like Scott and Dario. What makes the IndyCar Championship so special is the fact that its champion needs to be at the front with the diversity of the schedule. Toronto clearly represents a very established and world-recognized street course. Street racing is about finding balance over humps, bumps, and curbs in combination with drive style. It’s fun to be challenged.”
TCGR at Toronto: Win number 2 of 110 for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc. came on July 17, 1994 in Toronto with Michael Andretti behind the wheel of a No.8 Target Reynard/Ford. Andretti said, “We struggled a little bit in practice, but Morris Nunn – who was engineering the car – did a shock absorber change in the warm-up and it was like a different car. I thought hmmm, we may have a chance to do something here. Then we went out and passed the guys ahead of us on the grid and won the race. That was cool because Toronto was always very special for me – it was one of my seven wins there.”
TCGR also won the 1998 Toronto race with Alex Zanardi behind the wheel of a No.1 Target Reynard/Honda.
Swapping the points lead: Last weekend at The Glen, Dixon (finished 3rd) took over first place in the IndyCar Series point’s race, with Franchitti (finished 15th) dropping to second.
Scott Dixon and the No. 9 Target Team
Baby on Board: Dixon and wife Emma welcomed a daughter into the world Sunday night at 1:30am. She is 6 lbs 8 oz and 18 inches long. Emma and baby are doing great but the couple was undecided on a name for the first day or two until they settled on “Poppy”.
Rally for Scott: Dixon will be officially welcomed to Toronto Saturday night by Kiwis with a “Rally for Scott Dixon” at Hemingway’s Restaurant (http://www.hemingways.to/) by the President of Kea Toronto (New Zealand’s Global Talent Community). The event is an opportunity for the Kiwi community to show their support for Scott, taking place from 6pm until 8pm. Media are welcome to attend.
Previously at Toronto: As a CART rookie in 2001, Dixon started 10th and finished fifth for Bruce McCaw in a Reynard/Toyota. In 2002 for TCGR, Dixon piloted a third Target car (No.44) alongside Kenny Brack and Bruno Junqueira, starting ninth and finishing fifth.
Points: 1st in points with 313, +19 over Franchitti.
Dario Franchitti and the No. 10 Target Team
Target Paint Scheme: Toronto marks the return of two Target paint schemes for the No.9 and 10 cars.
Former Winner at Toronto: Franchitti qualified on the outside of row one, led all 95 laps and won the 1999 CART event at Toronto over then teammate Paul Tracy. He left that race -7 to championship points leader and current Target NASCAR teammate Juan Pablo Montoya (NASCAR).
Points: 2nd in points with 294, -19 to Dixon.
2009 STATS
IndyCar Series
Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Pts. Pos./(Prev)
Scott Dixon 9 3 0 6 7 1/2
Dario Franchitti 9 2 2 6 7 2/1
CAREER STATS
CART and IndyCar Series
Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s
Scott Dixon 144 20 15 63 97
Dario Franchitti 190 20 20 74 111
TEAM ROSTERS
Mike Hull – Managing Director
Scott Harner – Team Manager (Administrative Operations)
Barry Wanser – Team Manager (Racing Operations)
No. 9 (IndyCar)
Crew Chief/(R/F): Ricky Davis Shocks: Mike Cicciarelli
Engineer: Eric Bretzman Engines/Radio: Troy Scheller
Assistant Engineer: Brian Welling Fueler: Todd DeNeve
Front End/(L/R): Adam Rovazzini Gear Box (L/F): Andy Schneider
Front End: Gilbert Swafford Tires/Transport Driver: Jesse Benbow
Rear End/(Air Jack): Mark Sampson Floater: Wayne Westplate
Rear End/(R/R): Blair Julian Spotter: Robbie Fast
No. 10 (IndyCar)
Crew Chief/(R/F): Kevin O’Donnell Shocks: Mike Cicciarelli
Engineer: Chris Simmons Engines/Radio/(R/R): Troy Scheller
Assistant Engineer: Brad Goldberg Gear Box/Fueler: Robby Page
Front End/(Air Jack): Matt Swan Tires/Truck: Travis Abel
Front End: Steve Namisnak Transport Driver: Chris Sutton
Rear End/(L/R): Brad Larsen Floater/Front End/(L/F): Wayne Westplate
Rear End: Dave Pena Spotter: Scott Harner
About Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR)
On the strength of eight wins in 17 races last season, Target Chip Ganassi Racing is the reigning IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner. Chip Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990 and established a partnership with sponsor, Target. Today TCGR includes two entries in the Indy Racing League for 2008 IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon, and 2007 IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti. TCGR has collected six championships and 69 wins since 1994 and operates out of a state-of-the-art race shop facility in Indianapolis, Ind., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pa.
For more information log onto www.chipganassiracing.com
Do you want the chance to win a free Frontstretch T-Shirt, and are you really good at talking about NASCAR? Well, we have the perfect opportunity for you. Our staff will be giving away a free T-Shirt to the reader who makes the best post in our Frontstretch Forum between now and the end of the season. So, what makes a good post? It’s pretty hard to impress us, but here are some things we are looking for:
Does your post spark passionate reactions from other readers? Are you commenting on meaningful NASCAR-related events? Do your posts have substance? In other words, “Dale Jr. is the best driver ever” or “Danica Patrick is hot” will not cut it.
So go to the Frontstretch Forums, post early, post often, and post well! We’ll announce the winner following the final race of the season at Homestead.
This report was provided by an outside PR source and posted by Kim DeHaven.
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