TCGR GEARS UP FOR SEASON FINALE AT FONTANA
Target Chip Ganassi Racing Fontana Advance Notes
Race: MAVTV 500 on Saturday, September 15 (8:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network)
Track: Auto Club Speedway (two-mile oval)
Location: Fontana, California
NOTES/NEWS
Follow Team Target on Twitter: Continue to follow @TCGRTeams for official updates from Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR).
Making History Together: Minneapolis-based Target celebrates its 23rd anniversary in motorsports with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2012. Since its formation, Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) has amassed 89 victories and nine titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), including four Indianapolis 500 victories (2000, 2008, 2010, 2012). The 2012 season includes two full-time entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti and a full-time entry in the NASCAR Sprint Car Series (NSCS) for 1999 CART Champion and 2000 Indianapolis 500 Winner Juan Pablo Montoya. Team Target continues to feature some of the world’s most accomplished race car drivers.
Managing Director Mike Hull on Fontana: “Five-hundred mile races are the cornerstone for Indy car racing. Having our two Target drivers, who finished first and second at the Indianapolis 500 driving in a season-ending five-hundred miler at the Auto Club two-mile Speedway will be exciting. Unlike Indianapolis, this race starts near twilight and continues under the lights. As the lights come up, the track temperature goes down quickly. It will take the best team of people combined with their driver to tune the car for the dash at the end. The aero spec will be very much like Indianapolis with five to seven pit stops, lots of strategy, and plenty of wheel-to-wheel action. As a race fan, you will want to tune into the MAVTV 500 on the NBC Sports Network at 8:00 EST this Saturday.”
100 More: Originally planned as a 400-mile race, this season’s IZOD IndyCar Series finale was extended to 500 miles. The MAVTV 500 is the second 500-mile race of the season. Target teammates Franchitti and Dixon finished one-two in the first 500-miler of the year at the Indianapolis 500.
TCGR at Fontana: TCGR drivers have made 19 starts at Fontana in 10 races, earning one victory (Jimmy Vasser, 1998), four podiums, eight top-fives and leading 291 laps. Team Target drivers have an average start of 8.6 and an average finish of 8.8 at the 2-mile oval.
Percentage Points: Team Target drivers have finished in the top-10 in 14 of 19 starts at Fontana, or 73.7 percent. TCGR has led 291 laps out of a possible 2,350 laps at the 2-mile oval, or 12.4 percent. Eight times, Team Target has started in the top-five at Fontana, or 42.1 percent.
TCGR on Ovals: Dating back to 1990, TCGR has participated in 213 races on ovals making 409 starts. In those starts, Team Target has earned 45 wins, 45 poles, 106 podiums and 162 top-five finishes. TCGR has led 10,209 laps out of a possible 44,152 laps, or 23.1 percent.
On Target: Since becoming Target teammates in 2009, Dixon and Franchitti have participated in 29 oval races, making 58 starts between the two. In those 58 starts, Dixon and Franchitti have earned 13 wins, nine poles, 28 podiums and have led 2,966 laps. Dating back to 2009, the pair holds an average start of 6.1 and an average finish of 5.6.
Topping the Charts: Franchitti and Dixon rank first and second, respectively in the number of victories among active full-time drivers in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Franchitti is tied for seventh on the all-time wins list with Sebastien Bourdais and Paul Tracy at 31 victories. Dixon is currently tied with Rick Mears for 10th on the all-time wins list with 29.
There’s an App for that: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM recently re-launched an updated mobile application, which is one of the first for the high-velocity world of racing. The application brings fans updated driver and event information, and exclusive content in one centralized and expansive mobile experience, bringing to life the rich heritage and legendary success of CGRT. The unique mobile application conveys the high-octane rush of the racing experience for a team that competes at the highest levels in three series – NSCS, IZOD IndyCar Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Click here to visit the iTunes Application store and download the CGRT mobile app.
SCOTT DIXON AND THE NO. 9 TARGET TEAM
Dixon on Twitter: Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 9 Target Honda by following Dixon’s personal twitter account, @scottdixon9.
Connected: Fans can check out Dixon’s season-long blog throughout the 2012 campaign on www.Racer.com.
Baltimore Recap: The green flag dropped and Dixon tried working his way to the pole sitter, Will Power. He pitted on lap 22 of 75 to change to rain tires and get fuel as course conditions drastically changed due to weather. He emerged 18th and moved up two positions until the course saw another yellow flag. After several restarts for accidents, Dixon continued to work his way up through the field with great fuel mileage and into the top-five, where he finished fourth.
Career at Fontana: In five career starts at Fontana, Dixon has one top three and four top-10 finishes. His best start is second in 2004, while his best finish is also second, in 2003. He has completed 99.3 percent of the laps run at Fontana in his five starts.
Fontana Flashback: Indy cars last raced at Fontana in 2005, where Dixon started 15th in the No. 9 Target Honda and completed all 200 laps en route to a fifth-place finish.
Oval Office: In 121 starts on oval tracks, Dixon has 17 wins, 13 poles, 46 podiums and 59 top-five finishes. He has led 3,346 laps out of a possible 25,348, or 14.8 percent. He has an average start of seventh and an average finish of 7.3.
Lap Leader: Dixon is ranked first for total number of laps led this season. Dixon has led 431 laps out of 1450 laps completed, or 29.7 percent.
In the Points: Following Baltimore, Dixon remains fourth in the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings. He now has 400 points, -53 points behind leader, Power.
Making History: Dixon is a two-time IZOD IndyCar Series Champion, earning titles in 2003 and 2008. After his fourth win at Mid-Ohio, Dixon is now tied for 10th with Rick Mears on the all-time wins list with 29 and is tied with Bobby Rahal and Rex Mays for 16th on the all-time poles list with 18.
DARIO FRANCHITTI AND THE NO. 10 TARGET TEAM
Franchitti on Twitter: Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 10 Target Honda by following Franchitti’s personal twitter account, @dariofranchitti.
Baltimore Recap: Franchitti rolled off fourth and was quickly gaining ground until the No. 10 Lexar Honda spun to a stop on lap 21 of 75 after the car was clipped by the No.78 car, causing a full-course caution. On lap 39, the team was forced to make an unscheduled stop to repair the radio. Franchitti was gaining ground and was in contention for a top-five finish until the car saw contact again on lap 69 which dropped him back from sixth to 13th. The No.10 car ran out of fuel on the last lap and finished 13th.
Career at Fontana: Franchitti will make his eighth Indy car start at Fontana this weekend. In his previous seven starts he has earned one win (2005), one pole (2005), four top-10s and led 84 laps.
Fontana Flashback: In his last Indy car start at Fontana in 2005, Franchitti led 68 of 200 laps on the way to his second victory of the season.
Oval Success: In his Indy car career, Franchitti has participated in 130 races on oval tracks, earning 16 victories, 14 poles, 40 top threes and leading 3,368 laps. He has an average start of 7.5 and an average finish of 9.4.
On the Podium: Franchitti is the active leader in Indy car podium finishes with 86, which is seventh on the all-time list. He will tie Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Jr. for fifth with two more podium finishes.
In the Points: Franchitti holds ninth in the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings with 323 points, -120 behind Power.
Making History: Franchitti is a four-time IZOD IndyCar Series Champion, bringing home titles in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. He is tied for seventh on the all-time wins list with 31 and holds sole possession of eighth on the all-time poles list with 29.