Franchitti returns to Indy

Dario Franchitti meets the press

Dana Garrett/IRL

Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today. Below are select quotes from his availability with the media.

DARIO FRANCHITTI (2007 Indianapolis 500 champion): “It’s really cool to be back. It felt kind of strange to be back and not driving, but this is a really special place and particularly after last year a place that has a special place in my heart. We knew the whole month last year that we had a really strong car. Both Tony (Kanaan) and myself in particular were working closely together, opposite Danica (Patrick) and Marco (Andretti). We just got in this rhythm where both cars were really feeding off each other and we knew we had a great car, and going into the race there was something that happened with one of the dampers in the car, from the very start. It took us most of the race to dial that problem back out because the car had a lot of understeer and it took us until at least the rain delay to get the car back under balance, and from that point on we were, I felt, a s strong as anybody in the race."

(About following the IndyCar Series) “I’ve been paying a lot of attention. When I was racing IndyCar, I watched a lot of NASCAR on TV. Now I’m watching a lot of IndyCar on TV. I watch all types of motorsport. Obviously keeping a close eye because I have a lot of friends here racing and also working with the teams. It was great news when the series unified and we got one open-wheel series. It was a great move and a great first step to the future. I think its going to work really well. Obviously Danica winning that first race was great. I had a vested interest though, I won 300 bucks. I had a bet with Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates, so I won some money there. She did a terrific job and I think it’s going to be a really interesting month of May for all kinds on reasons."

(About advice for rookies) “Advice? I remember coming here in 2002 and the biggest advice I could give is respect this place. It is the most difficulty track I have ever driven. It changes so much with the weather. You think you’ve got everything right and the next thing it bites you. This is a very difficult place, and the race is incredibly difficulty too. Like I said, respect, and I think the guys who haven’t raced here before – I don’t like when they are referred to as the ex-Champ Car drivers or transition, because it’s one series now, I think it just be referred to as that. I think the rookies, the guys who haven’t been here before, are going to have their work cut out. The rookie teams as well, they are going to have their work cut out because there are certain tricks to making these cars go fast and it takes a while to learn those, both as a driver, an engineer and as a mechanic. It will be tough. And then you look at the drivers at the top of their game and the teams at the top of their game, it makes it difficult. I think as far as the talent of the drivers and the teams, it’s definitely up there. They just need some experience."