Franchitti replaces Wheldon for Surfers

Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) announced today that Dario Franchitti will make his first appearance in the No.10 Target Honda Dallara for the team alongside Scott Dixon (No.9 Target Honda Dallara) in the final race of the IndyCar Series season in Surfers Paradise, Australia on October 25th (10:30pm ET, ESPN Classic).

“I'm really looking forward to getting into the Target IndyCar and to do so in Surfers Paradise, which is one of my favorite tracks, is a big bonus," said Franchitti. “I'm excited to start working with the team, and Scott as my new teammate. I think this will give us a good jumpstart on the 2009 season."

Franchitti was the 1999 winner of the CART sanctioned event at Surfers Paradise. The fight for the series title between he and current Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Juan Pablo Montoya took a dramatic turn that race as Franchitti stormed to a victory from the pole to unseat the rookie sensation Montoya for the championship lead before a record crowd on Australia’s Gold Coast.

With over 180 starts under his belt between the CART and IndyCar Series resulting in 18 wins, 17 poles, 63 top-five and 95 top-10 finishes (1997-2007), Franchitti is the winningest driver in U.S. open-wheel history from Great Britain.