Franchitti plans NASCAR weekend return at Dover

Dario Franchitti ditched the crutches and the cast for a more comfortable fit: his spot in the No. 40 Dodge. Franchitti returned to the track on Tuesday for the first time since he broke his left ankle in a hard crash at Talladega Superspeedway. Franchitti exhaled as he settled in the seat before he sped away to start testing at Pocono Raceway.

The former Indy Car Series champion now in his first season in NASCAR said he felt no pain or discomfort and planned to drive in the Nationwide Series race on Saturday at Dover International Speedway. Franchitti said he was questionable for the 400-mile Sprint Cup Series race and might return to Cup action in two weeks at Pocono.

Jeremy Mayfield could sub for Franchitti on Sunday.

“So far, it’s been tough," Franchitti said.

Franchitti was injured only 10 laps into a Nationwide Series race last month at Talladega. The 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner is 42nd in points, and failed to qualify for the race in Texas. He said he was feeling close to 100 percent, and turned a personal top time of 161.005 mph on Tuesday.

“It’s been a tough baptism there," Franchitti said. “Nationwide went pretty well, I thought, until Talladega and the accident." Yahoo Sports