Former IRL star Franchitti struggling in NASCAR

INDIANAPOLIS — Just last year, Dario Franchitti was drinking milk and celebrating an Indianapolis 500 victory.

Now, he’s injured and struggling in NASCAR.

Even with a broken left ankle, the Scotsman was all smiles Monday as he stopped by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the site of his most important victory. He won the rain-shortened Indy 500 last May and went on to win the IndyCar series title before switching to NASCAR.

Franchitti hasn’t had a top 20 finish in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race, so he was happy to reminisce about his victory last May.

“It’s really cool to be back, although kind of strange to be back and not driving,” he said. “This place has got a really special place in my heart.”

Franchitti still feels he made the right choice in leaving the IndyCar series after more than a decade of open-wheel racing, despite his rough start in NASCAR.

“No remorse at all making the move,” he said. “Definitely, for me, it was the right move at the right time.”

Franchitti said he got more than he bargained for when he made the decision to join Chip Ganassi Racing. He entered the week in 38th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.

“My reason was I wanted that new challenge, and, boy, did I get it,” he said.

Franchitti has been out of action since breaking his left ankle in a crash during the Aaron’s 312 Nationwide Series event last month in Talladega, Ala.

“The ankle’s a little bit sore right now, but it’s getting better,” he said. “The swelling’s going down, and I should be back pretty soon.”

Franchitti planned to see his doctor Monday afternoon in Indianapolis. He expects to be ready for the Coca-Cola 600, which shares a May 25 date with the Indy 500.

Before his doctor’s appointment, he hobbled around the media room with his left foot in a walking boot. His soreness didn’t seem to affect him as he admired his image on the Borg-Warner trophy, where every Indianapolis 500 winner’s likeness is engraved.

Franchitti still keeps up with IndyCar racing. He was happy to see former Andretti Green Racing teammate Danica Patrick win a race, and he was pleased when Champ Car merged with the IndyCar series. Franchitti also stays in touch with his IndyCar friends — he had dinner with former teammate Tony Kanaan on Sunday night.

He spends time talking to Sam Hornish Jr. about the IRL. Hornish, like Franchitti, left IndyCar racing for NASCAR after last season.

Franchitti said his NASCAR driving is a work in progress. Though his best finish in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series was 22nd in the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 in March, he said his best run was in Phoenix on April 12. He was running strong, but he made a pit stop, then got caught by a yellow flag three laps later and lost a lap before finishing 32nd.

Part of his challenge has been to accept that what he did as an IndyCar driver doesn’t carry over to NASCAR.

“I’m just getting comfortable with the balance of the car and how much you can slide the car around,” he said. “I’m getting used to compromising with the car as well. A little bit each week, but it’s moving in the right direction.”