TEAM TARGET HEADS TO MILWAUKEE
Race: The Milwaukee 225 (Sunday June 19th at 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
Track: The Milwaukee MIle (1 mile oval)
Location: West Allis, WI
NOTES/NEWS
Follow TCGR on Twitter: Follow @TCGRTeams for official updates from Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
Managing Director Mike Hull on Milwaukee: “The history of the Milwaukee Mile distinction is that it’s the oldest operating motor speedway in the world. It has held at least one motor racing event since 1903! Some of the greatest drivers from around the world have made history at the fairgrounds. Our guys had a great test there, and enjoy the close racing with its four distinct corners. It takes a driver who technically works to find the best solution to speed. Its character requires an emphasis on what we call the mechanical side of the car – simply said: finding the maximum grip from the tires for each long run outweighs the aero side of what is done on the larger ovals. It’s a real driver’s race track. Watch us Sunday for a network broadcast on ABC.”
Oval History: The IZOD IndyCar Series will be returning to ovals for the third time in 2011. TCGR has recorded 43 of their 83 wins (52%) on ovals with drivers Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Juan Pablo Montoya, Bruno Junqueira, Jeff Ward, Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti.
Scott Dixon and the No. 9 Target Team
Follow Scott on Twitter: Follow @scottdixon9 for all the happenings and inside information on the driver of the No. 9 Indy car for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
Climbing Up the Ladder: With his next victory, Dixon will move into a tie with Roger Ward for 11th on the all-time Indy car wins list with 26 wins.
Milwaukee History: In seven career starts at The Milwaukee Mile, Dixon has tallied four top-fives and six top-10s, including a victory in 2009. He has also led 176 laps around the one-mile oval.
The Defending Champ Returns: Dixon returns to Milwaukee as the defending champion at the one-mile oval. Although there wasn’t a race there in 2010, Dixon was the winner of the last race held there in 2009. Dixon started the ABC Supply/AJ Foyt 225 from fourth and ran inside the top-five for much of the afternoon. Leading a total of 27 laps, Dixon came away victorious, giving him his first win at The Milwaukee Mile.
In The Points: Dixon improved three positions in the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings after the Texas Twin 275s. He is now third in points, 71 behind leader Will Power.
Twin 275s Race One Recap: Dixon started in seventh and wasted little time in moving into the top-five. After leading during green flag pit stops, the No. 9 Team Target pit crew got Dixon out of the pits ahead of Will Power and into second behind teammate Franchitti. Dixon remained behind Franchitti for the rest of the race, finishing in second.
Twin 275s Race Two Recap: Dixon started race two in 18th. By the three-quarter mark of the 114-lap event, Dixon had driven his way up to second behind eventual race winner Will Power. In the closing laps, Dixon maintained his top-five position and brought the No. 9 Target Honda Dallara home in second.
Seeking Victory: With a victory in 2011, Dixon will extend his streak of consecutive seasons with a win to seven. Dixon currently has 26 wins across 14 different tracks.
Dario Franchitti and the No. 10 Downy Team
On Thursday, June 16th, Dario Franchitti will be making an appearance at the T-Mobile retail store on 436 West Silver Spring Drive, Glendale, WI. The appearance begins at 3:00 pm and goes until 5:00 pm.
Follow Dario on Twitter: Follow @dariofranchitti for all the happenings and inside information on the driver of the No. 10 Indy car for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
Moving Up The List: Franchitti’s win at Texas was the 28th of his Indy car career, giving him sole position of 10th on the all-time Indy car wins list, one ahead of Johnny Rutherford. Next on the list is four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears who has 29 wins.
Downy Comes Aboard: This weekend TCGR welcomes Downy, the fabric softener from Proctor & Gamble aboard as the primary sponsor on Dario Franchitti’s No. 10 Honda/Dallara.
Milwaukee History: Franchitti will be making his 12th start at The Milwaukee Mile. In his 11 previous starts, Franchitti has earned five top-fives, nine top-10s, and has led 203 laps to accompany his win in 2004.
In The Points: Franchitti currently sits second in the IZOD IndyCar series point standings 21 points behind leader Will Power.
Twin 275s Race One Recap: Franchitti lined-up second on the grid and put the No. 10 Huggies Honda Dallara into the lead on the first turn of the first lap. He went on to lead 110 of the 114-lap event and took the checkered by 0.0527 seconds over teammate Scott Dixon.
Twin 275s Race Two Recap: Franchitti started the race in 28th and patiently worked his way through the 30-car field. By the half-way point, Franchitti had cracked the top-15 and had then the top-10 by the three-quarter mark. The Huggies crew gained Franchitti three spots on their final pit stop with less than 10 laps to go, helping Franchitti come home in seventh. From green to checkered, Franchitti gained 21 positions, tying him with Marco Andretti for the most positions gained throughout the 114-lap race.
Top-Five’s Aplenty: The next top-five for Franchitti will be his 100th in Indy car racing. Out of his 222 starts, he has finished in the top-five 45% of the time.
Climbing the Ranks: Franchitti currently sits ninth on the All-Time Career Poles list tying Paul Tracy with 25. He earned his first pole in 1997 in Toronto. Franchitti scored his last pole at the 2010 Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 at the season finale in Homestead, finishing eighth.
Boston.com Blog: Stay up-to-date with Franchitti by following his blog on Boston.com. He gives fans a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of the reigning series champion. The blog runs each Monday following an IZOD IndyCar Series event.