By Lou Modestino
Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon hit speeds of 170 mph during MoveThatBlock.com INDY 225 practice sessions and wrapped up the day first and second on the speed chart. Franchitti, who will pilot the No. 10 Nikon car Sunday, led the way turning a lap time of 21.566 seconds at 171.099 mph.
“I think that qualifying is going to be a huge factor this weekend,” said Franchitti. “Right now the track is about one and a half lanes. So you can pass, but it is going to be difficult. Starting up front will be important. If you have a car that can use both lanes on Sunday you will be in a position to win.”
While this is Franchitti’s first race in an Indy car at NHMS, he did complete a few demonstration laps prior to the 2010 June NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. “The fans were excited when I did the laps before the NASCAR race. So I think they will be even more excited when they see them all at full speed,” he added.
Dixon’s fastest lap was 21.620 seconds at a speed of 170.672. Unlike his teammate, he was able to test his No. 9 Target car on “The Magic Mile.”
“I was one of the lucky ones who did a tire test. So this is my second time here,” said Dixon. “My car was pretty good after lunch, all-in-all it was a pretty good day. I think that qualifying is going to be exciting. The first five or six are so close together.”
Since 2009, the Target Chip Ganassi teammates have finished first and second a total of six times and seem to have the same momentum going into this weekend’s MoveThatBlock.com INDY 225.
For the first time this season in the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National presented by Mazda 2011 season, drivers qualified individually in order of the inverted championship points. The field of seven lined up in pit lane to each wait their turn to set the fastest time at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut for Friday afternoon’s race, Round 11 of 16. Championship points leader Scott Anderson earned the California Scents Pole award with a 59.597. On Saturday morning, drivers will qualify for Round 12, then go green for Round 11 of 16.