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CART: Franchitti scheduled to return to cockpit for testing at Nazareth

16 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Team KOOL Green driver Dario Franchitti, sidelined since sustaining a fractured pelvis and brain contusions from a Feb. 9 accident during Spring Training at Homestead-Miami Speedway, is scheduled to return to the cockpit Sunday and Monday at Nazareth Speedway to determine his status for next week's season-opening Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota at Homestead.

Franchitti, a 1999 CART All-Star and runner-up in last season's FedEx Championship Series title race, is scheduled to test on the 1-mile oval in his KOOL Honda Reynard beginning with a closed session Sunday.

He will resume private testing Monday and Team KOOL Green is hopeful of making an announcement following the two-day test in regard to his official status for the season opener set for March 24-26 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Dr. Terry Trammell, CART's Chief Orthopedic Consultant, will supervise the test.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back in the car and rejoining my team," Franchitti said. "I told them I didn't want anybody else in my seat. That's my car. I also want to thank all my friends and fans for their support and encouragement. They've been a big help to me."

Dr. Steve Olvey, CART Director of Medical Affairs, examined Franchitti late last week and cleared him to drive.

"Dario passed all the neurological and psychiatric tests and a MRI of the brain," Dr. Olvey said. "They were all normal. He is clear to test at the team's discretion. Dario clearly used the time off to his advantage. He looks great; he has a great attitude and his upper body strength is excellent."

Franchitti flew Friday to Europe, where he will spend a week with trainer Tony Matthis for strength conditioning. He will return to the United States later this week and prepare for his test at Nazareth. The sessions will be closed to the public and media. However, Team KOOL Green will provide daily reports of Franchitti's progress to media outlets.

Franchitti recorded three victories and two pole positions en route to a runner-up finish to Juan Montoya in last year's FedEx Championship Series championship. He and Montoya finished tied atop the drivers' standings with 212 points each - the first time in CART history that the points race had

ended in a tie - but Montoya was awarded the title based on his series-high seven race victories. Franchitti also finished third in the 1998 FedEx Championship Series championship.

Text provided by T.E. McHale

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