Results from Michigan International Speedway

1.   Carl Edwards, No.60 Ford
2.   Brian Vickers, No.32 Toyota
3.   Tony Stewart, No.20 Toyota
13.  Dario Franchitti, No.40 Fastenal Dodge

BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 16, 2008) - Dario Franchitti and the No.40 Fastenal Dodge team turned a top-20 start into a top-15 finish Saturday at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) during the 25th NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race of the 2008 season. 

Franchitti lined up 19th to take the green flag and then proceeded to pick up four spots in less than 10 laps to break inside the top 15.  There is where the No.40 NNS Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) team remained the majority of their 125-lap effort.

The Fastenal driver and team battled for position on the track and on pit road, and the handling of their No.40 Dodge that didn't want to turn in the corners of the two-mile speedway.

Franchitti radioed crew chief Brad Parrott to tell him the Dodge was too tight through the center.  Parrott called for air pressure adjustments to try to rectify the problem and it did seem to subside as Franchitti raced up as high as 11th, but the stubborn handling returned in the closing 25 laps to hamper the team's potential top-10 day. 

Still, Franchitti managed to call it a day 13th overall, taking Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors for the ninth time this 2008 season.  The top-15 also helped the CGRFS NNS team take one step forward in the owner standings where the team is now 19th overall.   

Next up is Bristol Motor Speedway.  The NNS teams will race under the lights Friday (August 22) night at the short track, taking the green flag at 8 p.m. ET.  The 250-lap race will broadcast live on ESPN starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

CGRFS Quoteboard:

Dario Franchitti:  “The Fastenal Dodge was definitely a top-10 car right up until we put that last set of tires on and it just got tight for some reason.  That was disappointing because it was a good car today.  It was better on the shorter runs than the long runs.  We'll take it and go on to Bristol next week … I'm really looking forward to Bristol.  I've learned a lot by driving the Nationwide car.  I've driven the Sprint Cup car there with no brakes and I learned a lot with that, too [smiles].  We'll see what happens there.  I'm looking forward to it.”