A 3-man battle for IRL title drawing to a close Oct 10, 2009
"It would be great to be in a position to go to the last race and just know that by completing the first lap you would win the championship," said Mike Hull, the managing director for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, which has both Dixon and Franchitti in its stable. "But based on the way we have raced all year, that wouldn't be fair.". (MSNBC -- Sports)
Three-man battle for IRL title drawing to a close Oct 10, 2009
"With no doubt, I think it's going to be exciting,'' he said. They're three different guys with three different stories, and when the checkered flag falls on the Indy 300, only one of them will collect what he came to Homestead to get. Upstart Ryan Briscoe, 2007 IRL king Dario Franchitti, and defending champion Dixon are separated by only eight points heading into the finale, one of the closest races in IndyCar history. Dixon enters as the leader, four points ahead of teammate Franchitti - who... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Montoya surprise so far of Chase Oct 9, 2009
It s given everyone a chance to see just how far Montoya has come since his late 2006 move from Formula One to NASCAR, and how radically improved his team is since Pattie was given the challenge of rebuilding Chip Ganassi s flagship team 16 months ago. And it s put Montoya back in title contention for the first time in years. (Longview Daily News, WA)
TimTuttleInside Nascar Casey Mears is playing risky waiting game with Childress. Oct 8, 2009
Mears was a surprise pick by Chip Ganassi to move into Cup in '03, and, following a slow start, made steady progress. He was 14th in the points in the final season with Ganassi in '06. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
This Week in Auto Racing October 9 - 11 Oct 7, 2009
He now holds a five-point lead over Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Franchitti and an eight-point advantage on Briscoe from Team Penske. The 1-3 margin is the second-closest in the IndyCar Series' 14-year history. (News & Observer -- Sports)
A Friend In Deed Oct 2, 2009
Meanwhile, with DEI remaining a viable organization, Chip Ganassi would have had no one to merge with as his team fell apart at the end of 2008. Backed into a corner, he would have had to spread the Target sponsorship across two cars to remain competitive -- a formula that helped destroy his team in the first place -- or choose to go it alone with Montoya. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Brant JamesINSIDE NASCAR Oct 2, 2009
In only three years in NASCAR, Juan Pablo Montoya has brought Chip Ganassi within sight of his first Cup championship ... As Sprint Cup haulers rolled into Kansas Speedway a few hundred miles to the south that weekend, Montoya began to affirm the fact-based, friendship-based, faith owner Chip Ganassi showed him when he offered him the chance to leave an eroding situation with his McLaren team. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Bruce MartinINSIDE RACING Sep 22, 2009
The defending series champ has a five-point lead over Target/Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dario Franchitti and an eight-point lead over Briscoe ... Quote Of The Week II -- The Life Is Great At Chip Ganassi Racing Edition ... "I wish they'd been that good last year [in NASCAR]. It's brilliant for the whole team. Chip puts a lot into his racing and gives every team everything it needs to do their job. I mean, to see the improvement there, to see JPM [Juan Pablo Montoya] is not only in the Chase... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Montoya preparing for NASCAR title run Sep 20, 2009
When he left F1 midway through the 2006 season to reunite with former boss Chip Ganassi, Montoya didn't expect the transition to take so long. He had brief success in his 2007 rookie season, when he won on the road course at Sonoma, but the past three years have otherwise been a slow process toward making his No. 42 team competitive. "We look at setups we run now compared to where we were a year ago and say, 'How could we be so dumb?'" he laughed. (Concord Monitor)
Dixon takes Japan, jumps Franchitti for IRL lead Sep 20, 2009
4475 seconds ahead of Target Chip Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti. The New Zealander now leads the standings with 570 points followed by Franchitti, who has 565. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Dixon closes in on IndyCar title with win in Japan Sep 20, 2009
Dixon won the next-to-last race of the season to move into first place in the standings ahead of Target Chip Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti and Briscoe. Dixon recorded his fifth win of the season by finishing 1. (Erie Times-News, PA)
Dixon wins Indy Japan 300 pole, gets key point Sep 19, 2009
Dixon, who has three wins this season for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, has never won in Motegi but the 2008 champion finished third last year and fourth in 2007. Briscoe could clinch his first series championship with a first or second-place finish in Saturday's race but needs Dixon and Franchitti to finish well off the lead. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Montoya motors to pole Sep 19, 2009
Montoya always did that as an open-wheel driver on the Championship Auto Racing Teams circuit, where he won the 1999 CART title and the 2000 Indianapolis 500 driving for Chip Ganassi. A seven-time winner on the Formula One circuit, Montoya caused quite a stir when he defected to NASCAR in 2006 and made his Sprint Cup debut with the Ganassi team in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Boston Globe)
Chase berth puts spotlight on Ganassi Sep 17, 2009
Darron Cummings / APFILE -- This is a May 24, 2009, file photo showing car owner Chip Ganassi sitting in front of the Borg-Warner trophy, given to the winner of the Indianapolis 500, during a news conference before practice for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard auto race, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Driver defections and sponsor cutbacks have made Chip Ganassi an easy target during his roller-coaster nine seasons in NASCAR. Not once has Ganassi even flinched ...... (MSNBC -- Sports)
Richard Petty team merges with Yates Sep 15, 2009
A reunion with Chip Ganassi in the open No 1 car could be in McMurray s future. Only four drivers have locked themselves into the chase after the first 25 races. (Brewton Standard, AL)
Breakdown ofdrivers in Chase for the championship Sep 13, 2009
OUTLOOK: Everyone thinks Montoya is the darkhorse of the group, and he used a combination of patience, luck and smart racing to grab his first Chase berth for him and owner Chip Ganassi. But Montoya needs a win or two to be a real contender, unless he finds a way to top-five himself to a title. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Teams race to put together packages for Danica Sep 10, 2009
She's sought advice from Chip Ganassi, who owns both IndyCar and NASCAR teams, and last week spent time with Stewart, who has driver championships in both series. It's an awful lot of fact-finding for a driver simply trying to leverage a more lucrative contract in IndyCar, a series desperate to keep its most marketable driver. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Right On Target Sep 9, 2009
After an up-and-down start to his Cup career, Montoya is on the verge of giving Chip Ganassi his first Chase berth ... Chip Ganassi Racing merged with DEI, and Montoya moved from Dodge to Chevrolet ... Montoya is on the verge from making the 10-race playoff, one more solid run at Richmond on Saturday night away from rewarding Chip Ganassi with his first Chase appearance. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Race is on to put together package for Danica Sep 8, 2009
Shes sought advice from Chip Ganassi, who owns both IndyCar and NASCAR teams, and last week spent time with Stewart, who has driver championships in both series. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Sports)
NASCAR's Edwards qualifies 8th for Grand-Am Aug 29, 2009
721 mph in the No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley co-driven by Memo Rojas. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards, who will share the No. 77 Aflec/iRacing. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Who Could've Known? Aug 27, 2009
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has never accomplished enough in eight seasons (six wins in 724 starts) to achieve the elevation necessary for a downward spiral. Their financially driven merger before this season, amid scores of layoffs and some sponsor defections, did not portend of success. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Sprint Cup notes Aug 27, 2009
McMurray is reportedly talking with Chip Ganassi about returning to that outfit. No. 1 Chevrolet, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. (USA Today -- Sports)
Franchitti wins Sonoma Grand Prix Aug 24, 2009
Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Graham Rahal. (Yahoo News)
Auto Racing Notebook: Clean finish lifts Busch, Martin Aug 24, 2009
Scott Dixon, the points leader coming in and Franchitti's Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, finished a disappointing 14th after stalling in the wreck. He fell to third place in points. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
Franchitti comes back to win Sonoma pole Aug 23, 2009
"I've been off in the dirt there a few times in my life," said Franchitti, of Target Chip Ganassi Racing ... IRL points leader Scott Dixon, the '07 Sonoma champion and Franchitti's teammate with Target Chip Ganassi Racing, qualified 10th and Danica Patrick was 11th. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Tom BowlesINSIDE NASCAR Aug 15, 2009
In the meantime, speculation runs rampant that McMurray has been talking to Chip Ganassi about reuniting for 2010, with the veteran sliding behind the wheel of the No. 1 car Martin Truex, Jr. will vacate at the end of the season to replace retiring Michael Waltrip. . (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Chart Topper Aug 13, 2009
But there's no debating the end result, with 11 top 10 finishes putting him and car owner Chip Ganassi on the verge of making their first Chase appearance. But while it looked like Montoya was playing it safe with a sixth place run on Monday, that couldn't be further from the truth. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Top 12 should stay the same Aug 4, 2009
McMurray s former boss, Chip Ganassi, has an opening in the No 1 Earnhardt Ganassi ride with supposed sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops. That could be an option for McMurray. (Brewton Standard, AL)
Changes help give IndyCar a much-needed boost Aug 3, 2009
His performance gives hope that one-car teams like Vision Racing can now compete in a series dominated by the Big Three teams of Penske Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Green Racing. Vision Racing actually started the year as a two-car operation, but couldn't find enough sponsorship money to keep Ryan Hunter-Reay in its second car. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
Briscoe grabs dramatic IRL win over Carpenter Aug 2, 2009
It wasn't such a great day for pole sitter Scott Dixon, who entered the race with a small lead over Briscoe and Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dario Franchitti. Dixon dominated the first half of the race but slipped back following a caution on lap 123. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Massa's injury reverberates among racing peers Aug 1, 2009
"If you look at Massa's accident, what are the chances of that spring bouncing exactly like that and following that exact line? It's so random sometimes, these things. They just remind you of the dangers of the sport.'' Massa's accident sparked a call for racing officials to re-examine safety issues. Drivers said such efforts cannot account for chance. "Every sanctioning body in the world, they're constantly trying to make their cars and track safer,'' said Franchitti, second in the IRL driver... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
IRL qualifying washed out; Dixon awarded pole Aug 1, 2009
Season points leader Scott Dixon will start from the pole, with Target Chip Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti starting on the outside of row 1. A series of storms this week dumped more than five inches of rain on the track, and water kept seeping through the concrete throughout the day. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Tim TuttleINSIDE NASCAR Jul 29, 2009
Aric Almirola races Nationwide, Trucks until he can return to Cup - Tim Tuttle - SI.com. Posted: Tuesday July 28, 2009 3:15PM; Updated: Tuesday July 28, 2009 3:35PM. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Good Year For Tires Jul 28, 2009
" Felix Sabates, a partner with team owner Chip Ganassi on Montoya's team, wanted to see the proof that his driver was speeding. "You can imagine we lead most of the race and with 25 laps to go they penalize us," he said. "I don't know if he was speeding or not. NASCAR said that he was. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Blown engine forces Earnhardt to make early exit Jul 27, 2009
Working a deal with Chip Ganassi to replace Martin Truex Jr. McMurray started his career with Ganassi, but left after the 2005 season to drive for Roush. "It's been clear he's free to look around, even though we've told him we want him. It's just hard to do right now," Roush team president Geoff Smith said of McMurray's future with the team. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Kanaan suffers burns during Indy race fire Jul 27, 2009
Target Chip Ganassi driver Scott Dixon was third. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Ganassi not very interested in helping Patrick make move to NASCAR Jul 26, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Chip Ganassi said Friday he doesn't believe he's the right car owner to help Danica Patrick. move to NASCAR, and he advised the driver to accomplish her goals in IndyCar before switching formulas. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Delay NASCAR for now, Ganassi tells Danica Jul 25, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS - Chip Ganassi said Friday he doesnt believe hes the right car owner to help D 00004000 anica Patrick move to NASCAR, and he advised the driver to accomplish her goals in IndyCar before switching formulas. Ganassi, who owns race teams in IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am, was one of the few car owners with the ability to offer Patrick a slow transition into stock cars that also allowed her to stay in open-wheel racing. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Ganassi only 'maybe' interested in Danica move Jul 25, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Chip Ganassi said Friday he doesn't believe he's the right car owner to help Danica Patrick move to NASCAR, and he advised the driver to accomplish her goals in IndyCar before switching formulas. Ganassi, who owns race teams in IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am, was one of the few car owners with the ability to offer Patrick a slow transition into stock cars that also allowed her to stay in open-wheel racing. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
NASCAR team eyeing Danica Patrick Jul 25, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS Chip Ganassi says he counseled Danica Patrick to finish all her IndyCar goals before moving to NASCAR.. Patrick has not ruled out NASCAR for next season and recently visited several race shops in North Carolina. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
Ganassi to Patrick: Don't be so quick to leave IRL for NASCAR Jul 25, 2009
By Nate Ryan, USA TODAY INDIANAPOLIS Chip Ganassi didn't reveal the details of a recent hour long conversation with Danica Patrick, but it's clear he made two points to the IndyCar driver. Don't be so quick to leave the Indy Racing League for a NASCAR ride. (USA Today -- Sports)
Siegel revs up his growth plan beyond NASCAR Jul 24, 2009
This despite the woes facing many teams, including the one Siegel left in January after it merged with Chip Ganassi Racing. The landscape has changed, Siegel says. (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)
Musical Chairs Jul 22, 2009
Choosing to leave Chip Ganassi Racing for a full-time ride over at then-Gillett Evernham, Sorenson was given the seat in the legendary No. 43 car when the merger with Richard Petty's team happened in January ... Considering where the driver was headed at DEI (a second-place finish in the Fall race at Talladega in 2008), he might have been better off staying there and working with the newly-infused support that came straight from Chip Ganassi's shop. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Franchitti wins at Toronto Jul 13, 2009
Starting from the pole, Franchitti was both lucky and good in regaining the series lead by two points over Target Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon. Franchitti is seeking his second series championship in three years after racing last season in NASCARs Sprint Cup series. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Power powerful in part-time ride Jul 12, 2009
Power, seeking a full-time ride with Team Penske in the IndyCar Series, nearly won the pole on Saturday and will start on the front row alongside Dario Franchitti (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Notebook: NASCAR happy GM out of bankruptcy Jul 11, 2009
Juan Pablo Montoya was introduced three years ago here by team owner Chip Ganassi. Montoya left a lucrative Formula One career to make the transition to Cup racing, and finally seems to be hitting his stride with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, entering Saturday night's race 11th in the points standings. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Replacement Part Jul 8, 2009
McMurray has two wins, with Chip Ganassi in 2002 and Roush Fenway in 2007 and his best finish in the points was 11th (when the top 10 made the Chase) in 2004. 3. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Truex Jr. Joining Mwr In 2010 Jul 8, 2009
Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates formed an alliance during the offseason. Prior to his full-time Cup career, Truex won back-to-back Nationwide Series championships from 2004-05. (ABC 7 News, DC)
Coyne finally breaks through with IRL victory Jul 6, 2009
Penske and Target Chip Ganassi drivers had won the previous eight races this season, 10 straight overall dating to last season, and 15 of 16 ... His No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Honda landed in a gravel pit after a spinout on lap 23. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
McMurray stays optimistic in disappointing season Jul 3, 2009
But after spending most of the 2005 season his last year with Chip Ganassi s team dealing with the rumor mill, McMurray is keeping his future plans to himself. In 2005, I was like, This is great, everybody is talking about me, I found out there s no advantage of being involved in all of that, he said. (Longview Daily News, WA)
IndyCar drivers sorry for 'awful' Richmond race Jun 29, 2009
"We'd love to see better shows and from our perspective as it relates to the fans, we're as disappointed as the fans are and as the drivers are, as well.'' Dixon suggested the cars in the series are part of the problem, and he and others spoke all weekend about how having them all engineered so similarly can stymie the competition. It hasn't stopped Dixon and Franchitti from Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe from Team Penske from dominating the series through... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
IndyCar snoozer in Richmond has drivers apologetic Jun 29, 2009
Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti accepted their respective rewards from Saturday night's Suntrust Indy Challenge for what they were, a record-tying victory for Dixon and the points lead for his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate nothing more, nothing less. They would have felt better if their achievements involved an on-track pass for the lead instead of changing hands through fuel strategy and pit stops, a combination that played into Franchitti's fateful stop that ended up giving Dixon a lead he... (USA Today -- Sports)
Montoya had too many chiefs Jun 28, 2009
Last May, the bosses at Chip Ganassi Racing showed Elledge the door. Brian Pattie became Montoya s third crew chief of the season. (Boston Globe)
IndyCar Series: Franchitti wins Richmond pole Jun 27, 2009
Scott Dixon, Franchitti's Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, will start on the outside of the front row with a speed of 166. 638. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Scott & Danica Jun 23, 2009
If Scott Dixon leaves Target/Chip Ganassi to race for Gil de Ferran, Danica may be ready to take his old spot ... Scott Dixon, who remains under contract with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, has been linked to a team owned by Gil de Ferran that is expected to join IndyCar next season after several years in the American Le Mans Series ... She has not personally spoken to team owner Chip Ganassi about joining his IndyCar Series operation, but admitted that IMG officials have been in discussions with... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Danica's week fizzles at Iowa, finishing ninth Jun 22, 2009
Dan Wheldon, who won at Iowa last year for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, said earlier this week that his transition to Panther Racing hadn't gone as smoothly as he had hoped. But Wheldon took a step in the right direction with a fourth-place finish, his best since taking second at the Indianapolis 500. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
Ambrose, Gilliland, Andretti have rough practice Jun 21, 2009
"We're just going through all the possible scenarios. They've been great, a great partner, and we'll see here shortly what's going to happen,'' he said. Frye said there was no timetable to make a manufacturer decision, and noted that Chip Ganassi switched from Dodge to Chevrolet in December, two months before the season opened. --- TEAM MEETING: Kyle Busch was NASCAR's hottest driver at this time last year, winning on the road course at Sonoma for his fifth Sprint Cup Series win of the season.... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
NASCAR owners will back reorganizing General Motors Jun 20, 2009
Danica Patrick, in the final year of her contract with Andretti Green Racing, might be looking to switch to NASCAR. Patrick, who recorded a career-high third-place finish in last month s Indianapolis 500, would likely find that opportunity with IndyCar owner Chip Ganassi, who owns a Nationwide Series team and a Sprint Cup team. We ll be definitely looking at our options, said Patrick. (Boston Globe)
Manteca native Speed is all smiles heading into Sonoma race Jun 19, 2009
Speed and Sprint Cup driver Kyle Busch announced a deal this week to run in a July 4 Grand-Am Rolex Series race for Chip Ganassi Racing, followed later in the day by the Coke Zero 400, both at Daytona International Speedway. Speed comes into this week's NASCAR event ranked 35th in the standings. (Modesto Bee, CA)
Wheldon looks to future while settling in with Panther Racing Jun 19, 2009
By Gary Graves, USA TODAY Dan Wheldon knew going to Panther Racing's single-car operation meant tempering expectations from his glory days with IRL powerhouses Andretti Green Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing, where he combined for 15 victories including the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and series championship with Andretti. Just don't mistake that approach for lowering the bar. (USA Today -- Sports)
Notebook: Goodyear finally satisfied with tire Jun 17, 2009
Kyle Busch and Scott Speed will co-drive a second Lexus-powered sports car for Chip Ganassi Racing at the Brumos Porsche 250 July 4 at the Daytona International Speedway. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars will drive in the race for prototypes and sports cars on the 3. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Gordon says Brickyard tire OK Jun 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Search stories on N&O.com. (News & Observer -- Sports)
BOWLES:Why NASCAR's latest change will yield better racing Jun 6, 2009
One source close to the situation confirmed Truex has neither desire nor plan to stay at EGR, expecting Chip Ganassi to break off with his own organization and lone mainstay Juan Pablo Montoya. With just five months under the Ganassi roof, Truex has no loyalty to either, and considering sources tell me Teresa Earnhardt is thinking about getting out altogether. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- Racing)
This Week In Auto Racing June 4 - 7 Jun 3, 2009
Dixon, the reigning IndyCar champion, won last Sunday at Milwaukee and grabbed a four-point lead over his Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dario Franchitti and Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe. In April, he finished 16th at St. Petersburg, Florida and 15th at Long Beach, California. (ABC 7 News, DC)
Dixon wins Foyt 225 Jun 1, 2009
Dario Franchitti, Dixon's Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, was out front after a series of green flag pit stops just past halfway. More Sports. (News & Observer -- Sports)
