Franchitti to Join Patr¢n Highcroft Racing

Dario Franchitti, the 2007 Indy 500 and IndyCar Series champion, will join the multi race-winning Patr¢n Highcroft Racing duo of Scott Sharp and David Brabham for the next round of the American Le Mans Series, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, on Saturday, October 4. The Scotland native will drive the No. 9 Patr¢n Highcroft Acura ARX-01b prototype sports car for the first time in the prestigious 1,000-mile event and penultimate 2008 ALMS round.

Heading into the final chapter of the 2008 season, Sharp and Brabham lie second in the LMP2 title fight, just four points adrift of the leaders, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, and Patr¢n Highcroft sits second in the Team championship to Penske Racing.

With over 180 CART and IndyCar race starts, 18 wins and 17 pole positions in the last decade to his credit, Franchitti, 35, will be a valuable addition to the Sharp-Brabham partnership that has delivered four LMP2 class victories including an outright win [Lime Rock] so far this season. The forging of such a strong trio of drivers will ensure that Patr¢n Highcroft Racing has everything in place to succeed at the high point-scoring Road Atlanta round.

"We're really excited about the opportunity to have Dario in the Patr¢n Highcroft Racing Acura for Petit Le Mans," said Patr¢n Highcroft team principal Duncan Dayton. "Clearly he's quick and to have last year's IRL Champion and Indy 500 winner on our team to partner with Scott and David is fantastic. It's a true testament to how far we've come as a team to be able to attract the kind of world-class drivers that we have.

"I want to thank Chip [Ganassi] and his Target team for allowing their driver to join us for Petit. We are looking forward to continuing our battle with the No. 7 Penske Porsche for the LMP2 Championship at Road Atlanta. Dario further strengthens our line-up and will help us to achieve our goals."