TEAM TARGET CONTINUES RECORD-SETTING PACE WITH NINTH INDY CAR TITLE

INDIANAPOLIS (November 9, 2011) – Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) completed the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series season with its fourth consecutive IZOD IndyCar Series Championship, with driver Dario Franchitti piloting the No. 10 Target Honda to his third consecutive title, and the fourth of his Indy car racing career. The Championship was also TCGR’s ninth overall in Indy car racing and the 14th for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams.

The 2011 Championship marked the second time TCGR has won four titles in a row. Target driver Jimmy Vasser started the first four-peat for the team by winning the title in 1996, followed by repeat championships by Alex Zanardi in 1997/1998, then with Juan Pablo Montoya bookending the run in 1999.

After Scott Dixon’s title run in 2003, Team Target has again reached the milestone of four-consecutive titles, beginning with Dixon in 2008, followed by a run of three straight at the hands of Dario Franchitti (2009/2010/2011).

CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES
• 2011 marked Franchitti’s fourth Championship in Indy car competition (2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011)
• Franchitti moves into a tie for second place on the all-time list for most Indy car racing Championships (A.J. Foyt-Seven and Franchitti/Mario Andretti/Sebastien Bourdais-Four)
• The Championship was the ninth in Indy car competition for TCGR (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011)
• It was the second time in team history that TCGR has won four consecutive Championships (1996-1999 and 2008-2011)
• Franchitti became only the third driver in Indy car history to win at least three consecutive Championships (Sebastien Bourdais – 2004-2007 and Ted Horn – 1946-1948)
• The 2011 Championship comes in Franchitti’s 13th full-time season
• This 2011 Championship is the 14th overall for Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (Indy car-Nine and GRAND-AM Road Racing–Five)
• The 2011 season marked the sixth-straight year Team Target had placed two cars inside the top-four in the overall IZOD IndyCar Series Championship standings
• Franchitti finished the season 18 points ahead of second-place Will Power in the final 2011 IZOD IndyCar Championship Standings. Teammate Scott Dixon finished the season third in the standings (-55)

Since 1994, the year that Team Target scored its first victory in Indy car racing, here is how the team stacks up in championships across Formula One, NASCAR and INDYCAR:
  
Total Championships (Since 1994)
Hendrick Motorsports (NASCAR)  10 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Target Chip Ganassi Racing (INDYCAR) 9 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Ferrari (F1)    8 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
Newman/Haas Racing (INDYCAR)  5 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Team Penske (INDYCAR)   4 1994, 2000, 2001, 2006
Williams (F1)    3 1994, 1996, 1997
Joe Gibbs Racing (NASCAR)  3 2000, 2002, 2005
Andretti Green Racing (INDYCAR)  3 2004, 2005, 2007
  
Consecutive Championships (All Time)
Ferrari (F1)    6 1999-2004
Hendrick Motorsports (NASCAR)  5 2006-2010
Target Chip Ganassi Racing (INDYCAR) 4 2008-2011
Target Chip Ganassi Racing (INDYCAR) 4 1996-1999
McLaren Mercedes (F1)   4 1988-1991
Hendrick Motorsports (NASCAR)  4 1995-1998
Newman/Haas Racing (INDYCAR)  4 2004-2007
Ferrari (F1)    3 1975-1977
Junior Johnson (NASCAR)   3 1976-1978
Team Penske (INDYCAR)   3 1981-1983
Williams (F1)    3 1992-1994