MARINO FRANCHITTI JOINS AGR ACURA EFFORT
Indianapolis – Marino Franchitti is headed back to the American Le Mans Series, returning to the prototype ranks with Andretti Green Racing and its XM Satellite Radio-sponsored Acura-powered Courage in LMP2.
Franchitti, a veteran of 21 Series starts, will join Bryan Herta in AGR's Courage LC75, one of three LMP2 entries to carry the Acura banner during the manufacturer's first season in Series competition. It will debut – along with Acura-powered cars for Lowe's Fernandez Racing and Highcroft Racing – at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. All three cars also are expected to attend the Series' third annual Winter Test on Jan. 22-24.
"This is certainly the biggest thing to happen to my career. I have to thank (AGR owners) Michael Andretti, Kim Green, Kevin Savoree and Robert Clarke (President, HPD) for giving me this opportunity," the Scotland native said. "I'm looking forward to joining AGR. It is a family that I'm very accustomed to having been around for nearly 10 years and there are a lot of familiar faces. XM Satellite Radio is a great sponsor and to have the backing of Acura is unbelievable. They bring a lot of expertise and drive for victories, and I look forward to helping them achieve their first American Le Mans Series victory."
Franchitti, 28 and the younger brother of Andretti Green driver Dario Franchitti, has spent the past six years driving in various sports car-related series including the full 2005 American Le Mans Series campaign with the Panoz factory effort in GT2.
In 2006, Franchitti placed second in GT2 at Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda CX-7 in a Ferrari 430 GT Berlinetta for Risi Competizione. In 2004, he qualified on the LMP2 pole in a Nissan-powered Lola for Rand Racing, his lone experience in Series prototypes. He also is well-versed in international competition for a variety of premium marques.
"I'm excited to be able to give Marino the opportunity to join our driver lineup," said Michael Andretti, AGR Chairman. "His background is virtually all in sports cars and he should be a big plus in the development of our American Le Mans Series program. He has shown the ability to run up front and just needs an opportunity like this to show what he is capable of doing. The combination of Marino and Bryan Herta will help give us a very strong lineup as we enter our first season in the American Le Mans Series."
"I'm looking forward to working with Bryan (Herta)," Franchitti added. "He has a tremendous amount of experience from both open-wheel racing as well as sports cars and I plan to learn all I can from him. Overall, we have a very solid team and I look forward to developing and putting the package on-track and seeing where we stand."
Indianapolis – Marino Franchitti is headed back to the American Le Mans Series, returning to the prototype ranks with Andretti Green Racing and its XM Satellite Radio-sponsored Acura-powered Courage in LMP2.
Franchitti, a veteran of 21 Series starts, will join Bryan Herta in AGR's Courage LC75, one of three LMP2 entries to carry the Acura banner during the manufacturer's first season in Series competition. It will debut – along with Acura-powered cars for Lowe's Fernandez Racing and Highcroft Racing – at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. All three cars also are expected to attend the Series' third annual Winter Test on Jan. 22-24.
"This is certainly the biggest thing to happen to my career. I have to thank (AGR owners) Michael Andretti, Kim Green, Kevin Savoree and Robert Clarke (President, HPD) for giving me this opportunity," the Scotland native said. "I'm looking forward to joining AGR. It is a family that I'm very accustomed to having been around for nearly 10 years and there are a lot of familiar faces. XM Satellite Radio is a great sponsor and to have the backing of Acura is unbelievable. They bring a lot of expertise and drive for victories, and I look forward to helping them achieve their first American Le Mans Series victory."
Franchitti, 28 and the younger brother of Andretti Green driver Dario Franchitti, has spent the past six years driving in various sports car-related series including the full 2005 American Le Mans Series campaign with the Panoz factory effort in GT2.
In 2006, Franchitti placed second in GT2 at Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda CX-7 in a Ferrari 430 GT Berlinetta for Risi Competizione. In 2004, he qualified on the LMP2 pole in a Nissan-powered Lola for Rand Racing, his lone experience in Series prototypes. He also is well-versed in international competition for a variety of premium marques.
"I'm excited to be able to give Marino the opportunity to join our driver lineup," said Michael Andretti, AGR Chairman. "His background is virtually all in sports cars and he should be a big plus in the development of our American Le Mans Series program. He has shown the ability to run up front and just needs an opportunity like this to show what he is capable of doing. The combination of Marino and Bryan Herta will help give us a very strong lineup as we enter our first season in the American Le Mans Series."
"I'm looking forward to working with Bryan (Herta)," Franchitti added. "He has a tremendous amount of experience from both open-wheel racing as well as sports cars and I plan to learn all I can from him. Overall, we have a very solid team and I look forward to developing and putting the package on-track and seeing where we stand."
