WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (July 8, 2007) - Dario Franchitti, driver of the #27 Canadian Club car, recorded his ninth-straight top-five finish with a third place in Sunday's Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International. Franchitti leads the IndyCar Series championship by 47 points over second place.

Starting from the third spot, Franchitti attempted to make a move on Scott Dixon for the second position on the first lap and narrowly missed making contact. Franchitti remained in the third position for the first third of the race until race leader Helio Castroneves spun causing the first caution of the race. Franchitti took over the second position but moved back to 10th after the second round of pit stops when several drivers chose not to pit. At the halfway point, Franchitti moved into eighth with the fastest car on the track but was still trying to fight his way through slower traffic. Franchitti passed teammate Marco Andretti for third, where he remained for the final 10 laps of the 60-lap event.

Dixon captured his third-straight victory at Watkins Glen International and was followed across the finish line by Sam Hornish Jr. Franchitti's Andretti Green Racing teammates Marco Andretti and Tony Kanaan finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

The next race on the 17-race IndyCar Series schedule is the Firestone Indy 200 from Nashville Superspeedway. ESPN will provide live broadcast coverage of the race on Saturday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). The race can also be heard live on XM Satellite Radio, channel 145.

Dario Franchitti, #27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone
"I think second was what we were really hoping for. We lost a little bit of time in the pits today and that was the difference between second and third. I'm not unhappy with the finish. This was a very, very tough race today. Maybe one of the toughest. I'm just going to keep fighting (Scott) Dixon week in, week out (for the championship). He's the strongest guy in the points right now. Hopefully we'll get the Canadian Club car in victory circle every time."