Dario and Marino Franchitti Join Level 5 for Petit Le Mans

Reigning Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti is returning to Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda for the season finale of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n. The four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion and three-time 500 winner will join younger brother and sports car ace Marino behind the wheel of the No. 95 Level 5 Motorsports Honda Performance Development ARX-03b P2 car at Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda.

The Franchitti brothers will pair with regular Level 5 driver and team owner Scott Tucker in the 1,000-mile/10-hour race on Saturday, Oct. 2.

“We’re thrilled to have Dario and Marino Franchitti with us to close out the season," Tucker said. “We’ve had a great year, and we are looking forward to another strong effort at Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans. And, having the Indy 500 champion on your side is always a plus."

It will be the second Petit Le Mans race for Dario, who has a Sebring P2 victory (2007) to his credit in four ALMS starts. Marino, twice a Prototype Challenge winner in ALMS this season, will make his second consecutive appearance with Level 5 at Petit Le Mans; the Scotsman finished fifth in class last year driving the No. 055 with Tucker and Luis Diaz. Marino Franchitti is a two-time P2 winner at Petit Le Mans – 2009 and 2010.

Level 5’s second car, the No. 055 HPD ARX-03b will be driven by Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz. Level 5, Tucker and Bouchut are currently in a tight battle for the P2 team and driver championships with Conquest Endurance and its duo of David Heinemeier-Hansson and Martin Plowman.

This will be the first time the two brothers share a car in ALMS competition. They drove together previously in the Daytona 24 Hours.

Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda, the 1,000-mile/10-hour ALMS finale from Road Atlanta is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, Oct 20. ABC's broadcast begins at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 21. Full, live coverage starts at 11:15 a.m. ET on ESPN3.