TCGR LOOKS FOR VICTORY IN MILWAUKEE

Target Chip Ganassi Racing Milwaukee Advance Notes
Race:  Milwaukee IndyFest 225, Saturday, June 16 (1:00 PM ET, ABC)
Track:  Milwaukee Mile (one-mile oval)
Location: West Allis, Wis.

NOTES/NEWS

Follow Team Target on Twitter:  Continue to follow @TCGRTeams for official updates from Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR).

Making History Together:  Minneapolis-based Target celebrates its 23rd anniversary in motorsports with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2012.  Since its formation, Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) has amassed 88 victories and nine titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), including four Indianapolis 500 victories (2000, 2008, 2010, 2012).  The 2012 season includes two full-time entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti and a full-time entry in the NASCAR Sprint Car Series (NSCS) for 1999 CART Champion and 2000 Indianapolis 500 Winner Juan Pablo Montoya.  Team Target continues to feature some of the world’s most accomplished race car drivers.

Managing Director Mike Hull on Milwaukee:  “Racing the IZOD IndyCar Series at the Milwaukee Mile represents the history of open-wheel racing in a similar fashion to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Tradition has always had us there right after the Indianapolis 500, so it’s great for it to continue.  The track is a flat, bumpy, tough one-mile oval.  It has the distinction of being the oldest operating motor speedway in the world, as it has hosted at least one race every year since 1903.  Racers know how difficult that it is to get it right, and how much satisfaction comes as a winner with the fraternal Who’s-Who.  The speed into the first and third corners is 180 miles-per-hour – imagine, turning left into an extremely bumpy corner with zero reference, trying hard not to lift, and getting your focus well around the corner!  Our Target guys will work hard from the first moment of practice to find what affects a good mechanical balance for a long green run, as race day will have cars moving in both directions (front-to-back and back-to-front) – the team that gets it right is impressive to watch.  Join us on ABC this Saturday.” 

TCGR at Milwaukee:  TCGR has two poles (2000: Montoya; 2011: Franchitti) and four wins (1998: Jimmy Vasser; 2000: Montoya; 2009: Dixon; 2011: Franchitti) at the Milwaukee Mile.  TCGR drivers have led 852 laps on the oval and have accumulated eight podiums in 37 starts.

The Last Four:  In the last four events at Milwaukee (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), TCGR drivers have two wins (2009: Dixon; 2011: Franchitti), completed 100% of the laps and led 391 laps.  TCGR drivers have finished in the top-five in seven of the eight starts with the eighth start resulting in a seventh-place finish.

Double Up:  Dixon and Franchitti earned their first double podium as teammates in 2009 at Milwaukee.  Dixon led 27 laps to win the 225-lap event and Franchitti led 19 laps to finish third.  The duo has a total of 16 double podium finishes as teammates with their most recent coming at this season’s Belle Isle event where Dixon led Franchitti across the finish line.

Running Circles:  Since 1990, TCGR has made 404 starts on oval tracks, earning 45 wins, 43 poles and 106 podium finishes.  Completing 74,909 laps out of a possible 83,870 laps (89.3%), TCGR drivers have an average starting position of 8.3 and an average finishing position of 9.1.

Follow the Leader:  In 404 starts on ovals, TCGR drivers have led in 181 of those starts for a total of 10,064 laps.

Honda Power:  Honda holds second-place in the manufacturer point standings with 51 points, three points behind Chevrolet.  Lotus remains in third with 28 points.

There’s an App for that:  Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) and SapientNitro SM recently re-launched an updated mobile application, which is one of the first for the high-velocity world of racing.  The application brings fans updated driver and event information, and exclusive content in one centralized and expansive mobile experience, bringing to life the rich heritage and legendary success of CGRT.  The unique mobile application conveys the high-octane rush of the racing experience for a team that competes at the highest levels in three series – NSCS, IZOD IndyCar Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.  Click here to visit the iTunes Application store and download the CGRT mobile app.

SCOTT DIXON AND THE NO. 9 TARGET TEAM

Dixon on Twitter:  Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 9 Target Honda by following Dixon’s personal twitter account, @scottdixon9.

Connected:  Fans can check out Dixon’s season-long blog throughout the 2012 campaign on www.Racer.com. 

Texas Recap:  Dixon started fourth in the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway but immediately began working his way to the front of the field, taking over the lead on lap 21.  Within three laps, the driver of the No. 9 had opened up a 2.6-second lead over second.  Dixon was happy with the balance of the car for much of the race, taking only minor adjustments.  He would remain on point for the majority of the 228-lap event, leading 133 of the opening 174 laps.  As a late run wore on, Dixon began to lose the handle on the No. 9, battling a loose race car.  Dixon would make contact with the wall on lap 174, forcing him to retire from the race.  The No. 9 would be credited with 18th.

Milwaukee’s Best:  Dixon will make his ninth Indy car start at the Milwaukee Mile on Saturday.  The 2009 racewinner has led 176 laps and collected three podium finishes at the one-mile oval.  He has an average starting position of 6.5 and an average finishing position of 5.8.

Last Year at the Mile:  Dixon started the race in third and ran inside the top-five for much of the early going in the 225-lap race.  After another car missed its stall and had contact with Dixon during the first round of pit stops, the No. 9 Target team battled back to re-gain the lost positions and quickly re-entered the top-10.  Despite having minor wing damage, Dixon drove his way up to seventh and maintained his top-10 spot for the remainder of the race to finish seventh,

Did You Know?:  Out of a possible 1,800 laps in his eight starts at Milwaukee, Dixon has completed 1,792 (or 99.6%).

Follow the Leader:  Dixon has led the more than any other driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series this season with 329 laps led. 

Oval Success:  In 119 starts on oval tracks, Dixon has 17 wins, 15 poles, 46 podiums and has led 3,271 laps.  His average starting position is 6.8 and his average finishing position is 7.2.

In the Points:  Dixon remains second in the IZOD IndyCar Series point standings with 220 points, -36 behind leader Will Power.

Making History:  Dixon is a two-time IZOD IndyCar Series Champion, earning titles in 2003 and 2008.  He has sole possession of 11th on the all-time wins list with 28 victories and tied with Bobby Rahal and Rex Mays for 16th on the all-time poles list with 18. 

DARIO FRANCHITTI AND THE NO. 10 COTTONELLE TEAM

Franchitti on Twitter:  Catch the latest from the driver of the No. 10 Cottonelle Honda by following Franchitti’s personal twitter account, @dariofranchitti.
 
Victory Tour Continues:  In another stop on his Indianapolis 500 Victory Tour, Franchitti joined American Idol graduate and pop singer Jordin Sparks in presenting at this year’s CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.  The duo presented the CMT Performance of the Year award to Jason Aldean.  Aldean took home the coveted belt buckle award for his performance of Tattoos On This Town, from his CMT Artists of the Year performance.

Texas Recap:  Franchitti rolled off second in the Firestone 500 at Texas Motor Speedway but fought the handling on the No. 10 Energizer Honda from the drop of the green.  On lap 21, Franchitti pit under green-flag conditions in order to make major adjustments to the front wing.  He returned to the track in 23rd, one lap down.  More major adjustments would come during Franchitti’s second pit stop of the day.  This time, under the yellow flag, the No. 10 crew disconnected the rear bar.  Franchitti managed to avoid the attrition that impacted a large portion of the field, finishing the night in 14th.

Primary Sponsorship:  Kimberly-Clark’s Cottonelle brand returns as a primary sponsor of the No. 10 Honda for the first time this season.  Cottonelle was displayed in a special paint at the Streets of St. Petersburg event in 2010 where Franchitti finished fifth after leading three laps in the 100-lap event.  More information on Cottonelle and their complete line of bathroom tissue and products can be found at www.Cottonelle.com.

Franchitti at the Mile:  In 12 starts at Milwaukee, Franchitti has earned two wins (2004, 2011), one pole (2011) and five podium finishes.  He has led 364 laps, has an average start of 7.1 and an average finish of 5.8 at the one-mile oval.

Looking to Repeat:  Last year at Milwaukee, Franchitti lined-up on the pole and put the No. 10 Downy Honda Dallara into the lead on the first lap in turn one. He went on to lead the first 115 laps before settling in inside the top-three. On a restart with 20 laps to go, Franchitti re-gained the lead and began to pull away from the field. After leading 161 of the 225-lap event, Franchitti took the checkered ahead of Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing driver Graham Rahal by 1.4271 seconds.

On the Ovals:  Saturday’s race marks Franchitti’s 128th oval race.  He has earned 16 wins, 13 poles, 40 podiums and has led 3,305 laps in his oval career.  He has an average start of 7.5 and an average finish of 9.1.

In the Points:  Franchitti enters this weekend sixth in IZOD IndyCar Series point standings with 192 points, -64 markers behind the leader.

Making History:  Franchitti is a four-time IZOD IndyCar Series Champion, bringing home titles in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.  He is tied for seventh on the all-time wins list with 31 and ranks ninth on the all-time poles list with 26.