Fast Facts: NASCAR/IndyCar Connections

Image: Talladega Superspeedway/NASCARmedia.com

The IZOD IndyCar Series kicks off its 2011 season on Sunday, March 27, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. There are a number of NASCAR personalities with links to the IndyCar Series – here are a few of them.

• Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske – both NASCAR team owners also own teams competing in the IndyCar Series. Target Chip Ganassi Racing fields cars for Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Graham Rahal and Charlie Kimball, while Penske Racing fields cars for Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Will Power.
  
  
• Juan Pablo Montoya and Tony Stewart – when there were two open-wheel racing series – the IRL/IndyCar and CART/Champ Car – these drivers earned championships in their respective series: Montoya in CART in 1999 (he was also Rookie of the Year that season) and Stewart in the IRL in 1997 (he was Rookie of the Year in 1996).
   
• A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti – considered two of the greatest drivers in the history of auto racing, Foyt and Andretti both competed in numerous NASCAR races. Foyt is the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (four times), the Daytona 500, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while Andretti is the only driver to win the Indy 500, the Daytona 500 and the Formula One Driver’s Championship.
  
  
• Richard Petty and John Andretti – Petty and Andretti teamed up for their first Indianapolis 500 in 2009 with sponsor Window World. 2011 will mark the third year they team up, this time for the centennial running of the Indy 500, with help from Andretti Autosport, owned by John’s cousin Michael.
  
  
• Find out more about the IZOD IndyCar Series at http://www.indycar.com.