It was announced on Thursday that Chip Ganassi Racing will be running not two but four cars in next year’s IndyCar Series, with Champions Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon being joined by Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimball. The fresh signings are accompanied by the leasing of a new factory for the team.
Confirmed in a press conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the expansion sees Ganassi double its number of entries for next year.
“It’s an exciting day for our team and an exciting time for IndyCar racing,” commented team owner Chip Ganassi. “We as a company need to stay competitive. We need to stay at the forefront. I think you have to constantly be looking at who is coming along, which drivers are coming along.
“I'm not pushing Dixon and Franchitti out the door yet but they are of a different era, you might say, than these two (new) guys. We wanted to make sure we had an opportunity, if at all possible, to work with them.”
On top of this, the squad is set to be investing around 3.3 million dollars (2.1 million pounds) in relocating the team to a facility leased from drag racing legend Don ‘The Snake’ Prudhomme in Brownsburg, Indiana which is set to create some 30 new jobs.
“It really is a dream come true,” 25-year-old Kimball said, having competed in Indy Lights for the past two seasons. “The whole championship is something special. It’s still sinking in that I’m going to be on the grid in a full-size IndyCar next year.”
The better-known Rahal added: “This is - other than winning the Indy 500 or a championship - the best day a driver could have. Last year was interesting, a lot of ups and downs; it makes you appreciate it when you get an opportunity like this.
“I’ve been working diligently, specifically over the past several months, to get into one of Chip's IndyCars and now that dream has become a reality with the help of Service Central and many others.”
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