Dario’s 200th start

Dario Franchitti

Dario Franchitti has numerous memories and personal/team accomplishments during his motorsports career. Another will be marked this weekend in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg when Franchitti joins Tony Kanaan (210) and Helio Castroneves (211) as active IZOD IndyCar Series drivers with 200 open-wheel racing starts.

"It's definitely a milestone," says Franchitti, who has 13 IZOD IndyCar Series victories in 84 races. "There are a lot of good memories, a lot of fun. I'd say it's a milestone but hopefully there will be more along the way."

Franchitti, who is tied for 15th on the all-time Indy car victory list, wants to add to the memories.

"The first 200 have been a lot of fun and let's hope we can reach another couple of big milestones and be as competitive and have as much doing it," he says.

Franchitti by the numbers

• Has covered 41,792.15 miles in open-wheel racing career.
• Of 23 victories, nine have been on a street course, three on a road course and 10 on an oval.
• Has raced with four different teams in 12 years: Hogan Racing, 1997; Team Green, 1998-2002; Andretti Green Racing, 2003-07; Target Chip Ganassi Racing, 2009-present.
• In four starts at St. Petersburg, has claimed three top-five finishes with a high of third in the inaugural event in 2005.
• Will make his 45th start on a street course (35 in CART and 10 in IZOD IndyCar Series).
• Of 199 races, has been running at the end of 140.
• Has finished on the podium 60 times in open-wheel racing career.
• In past two seasons (2007, '09), has only finished outside the top 10 in only three races: 2007 – Michigan, 13th; 2009 – Kansas, 18th, Watkins Glen, 15th.