Ganassi's #40 team closes down

Batman1138 · 07-01-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that due to a lack of sponsorship funding it will cease operation of the team's #40 Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Dodge driven by Dario Franchitti beginning this weekend in Daytona. "This is a difficult decision for Felix and I that did not come without its share of anguish," said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. "In this tough business environment continuing to run the car without proper funding has become increasingly difficult." CGRFS is committed to Franchitti's continued stockcar development and are currently in discussions with him on his racing options with the team which could include running the balance of the 2008 Nationwide season in the #40 Fastenal Dodge. Currently the #42 Texaco/Havoline/Juicy Fruit Dodge of Juan Pablo Montoya is 21st in owner points while the #41 Target Dodge driven by Reed Sorenson is sitting 31st in the standings.(CGRFS PR)(7-1-2008)

Sucks for Dario....

burtonbraves · 07-01-2008, 04:16 PM

Cheezypuff · 07-01-2008, 04:38 PM

thats unbelievable! they should take sorenson out of the 41 and put dario in it. nothing against sorenson its just tht dario is way better than he is imo. darios probly pissed out of his mind bc he left a championship race team in indycar for an unsponsored team tht shuts down. thts bad for him

DaveyFan28 · 07-01-2008, 04:46 PM

Dario knew what he was getting into when the season started. He hoped that good performance would solve the ills of lack of sponsorship, but that never came. Then the #40 team started DNQ'ing and Ganassi has no tolerance for that.

Franchitti will continue to compete in the Nationwide series w/ a fully-sponsored team which is where he should have started anyway IMO. Sometimes I really wish NASCAR would implement a mandatory season, or some number of races in the Nationwide or Truck series before a rookie driver can make the jump to the Cup Series. Seems like it would be better for everyone in the sport, sponsors included, as it would slightly decrease the risk involved in pumping unknown drivers full of cash or leaving talented drivers sponsorless.

Batman1138 · 07-01-2008, 05:28 PM

As long as Dario is getting seat time somewhere in a stock car I think he'll improve. I bet he'll be testing everywhere in the COT during the week and then run the Nationwide races.

Kazuo · 07-01-2008, 05:30 PM

I'm gutted to hear this, I think a GNS Apprenticeship or something like that would be a good idea for future rookies regardless of other experience, there's no comparision for Cup racing and the jump is too big without a basic grounding in the discipline, something like say 30+ races in ARCA, GNS and CTS combined before they even consider letting a guy near a Cup car. Villeneuve was in the same boat after the 500 and it sucks cos they're talented guys who would and should be given the chance to enrich the stock car scene.

Feel so bad for Big Dario,

xanderk · 07-01-2008, 06:14 PM

This is really unfortunate. Not only for the Dario and his team, but for the sport as a whole. That 40 car has been around longer than most of the cars out there now and it's a shame to see it go.

It was hard enough not seeing Coors on it this hear, but that's just a racing deal - Sponsors go and so do teams

mgcastro · 07-01-2008, 07:27 PM

Dario will surely improve in nationwide, I agree with you guys, and he will come back stronger if he gets strong finishes in Nwide series.

Cheezypuff · 07-01-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanderk

This is really unfortunate. Not only for the Dario and his team, but for the sport as a whole. That 40 car has been around longer than most of the cars out there now and it's a shame to see it go.

It was hard enough not seeing Coors on it this hear, but that's just a racing deal - Sponsors go and so do teams

yea same thing with the 4 team...ever since kodak left them in o4 nothins been the same...then they shut down after last year which left another great driver out of a ride with ward burton....it just sucks all around that things like that have to happen

CLAUSON41 · 07-01-2008, 09:25 PM

the sucks for bryan clauson because he won't get to drive anymore he should try to go to a different team like evernham.

07-01-2008, 04:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
burtonbraves Sim Racing Design Member Status: Sim Racing Design Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: PA Posts: 691 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 73	__________________

07-01-2008, 04:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
DaveyFan28 SRD Moderator Status: SRD Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Valencia, CA Age: 24 Posts: 641 Downloads: 70 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 79	Dario knew what he was getting into when the season started. He hoped that good performance would solve the ills of lack of sponsorship, but that never came. Then the #40 team started DNQ'ing and Ganassi has no tolerance for that. Franchitti will continue to compete in the Nationwide series w/ a fully-sponsored team which is where he should have started anyway IMO. Sometimes I really wish NASCAR would implement a mandatory season, or some number of races in the Nationwide or Truck series before a rookie driver can make the jump to the Cup Series. Seems like it would be better for everyone in the sport, sponsors included, as it would slightly decrease the risk involved in pumping unknown drivers full of cash or leaving talented drivers sponsorless. __________________ "I think Davey had a way about him that made people feel special when he spoke with them. When he was around them he had just a rare quality that was truly a star quality. I think people were drawn to him because of that. It has really lasted all of these years. He was a great guy." -- Liz Allison "What kind of man would live in a world where there is no daring? I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." -- Charles Lindberg

07-01-2008, 05:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Batman1138 Why So Serious? Status: Why So Serious? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CT Age: 21 Posts: 1,712 Downloads: 94 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 181	As long as Dario is getting seat time somewhere in a stock car I think he'll improve. I bet he'll be testing everywhere in the COT during the week and then run the Nationwide races. __________________ You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Harvey Dent The Dark Knight

07-01-2008, 05:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kazuo Sim Racing Design Member Status: Sim Racing Design Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Age: 24 Posts: 75 Downloads: 267 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 9	I'm gutted to hear this, I think a GNS Apprenticeship or something like that would be a good idea for future rookies regardless of other experience, there's no comparision for Cup racing and the jump is too big without a basic grounding in the discipline, something like say 30+ races in ARCA, GNS and CTS combined before they even consider letting a guy near a Cup car. Villeneuve was in the same boat after the 500 and it sucks cos they're talented guys who would and should be given the chance to enrich the stock car scene. Feel so bad for Big Dario, __________________ Kazuo #5 A car itself wins nothing, it comes alive through skillful manipulation.

07-01-2008, 06:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
xanderk Staff Member Status: Staff Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kansas Age: 20 Posts: 327 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 21 Rep Power: 43	This is really unfortunate. Not only for the Dario and his team, but for the sport as a whole. That 40 car has been around longer than most of the cars out there now and it's a shame to see it go. It was hard enough not seeing Coors on it this hear, but that's just a racing deal - Sponsors go and so do teams __________________ The backstretch, what a stupid place to wreck!

07-01-2008, 04:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cheezypuff Sim Racing Design Member Status: Sim Racing Design Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 104 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 20	thats unbelievable! they should take sorenson out of the 41 and put dario in it. nothing against sorenson its just tht dario is way better than he is imo. darios probly pissed out of his mind bc he left a championship race team in indycar for an unsponsored team tht shuts down. thts bad for him

07-01-2008, 07:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
mgcastro Sim Racing Design Member Status: Sim Racing Design Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Barranquilla, Colombia Age: 19 Posts: 235 Downloads: 251 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 28	Dario will surely improve in nationwide, I agree with you guys, and he will come back stronger if he gets strong finishes in Nwide series. __________________ Snake: That guy with the mustache... Colonel: Ha. You mean the "King of Second Bananas"? Snake: Hey, that's Luigi! Show him a little respect! Colonel: Look at that pale skin. He's been living in his brother's shadow for too long...

07-01-2008, 09:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
CLAUSON41 Sim Racing Design Member Status: Sim Racing Design Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Downloads: 928 Uploads: 0 Rep Power: 0	the sucks for bryan clauson because he won't get to drive anymore he should try to go to a different team like evernham.

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