Three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti makes his return to NASCAR

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time champion IndyCarDario Franchitti was forced to put his career on hold after a violent crash during a race in Houston in October 2013. The Scottish driver suffered several fractures and a severe concussion. Doctors advised him to end his career immediately, in order to avoid taking risks during the 2014 season, for example, as another impact could have very serious consequences.

The motorsport bug never left Franchitti, who has since returned to the wheel on several occasions, in races for historic cars, such as the Spa Six Hours driving a Ford GT40, or as a support race for the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of a Aston Martin DBR9. Earlier this year, he participated in the Dubai 24 Hours, driving a Classic Mercedes for sale-AMG GT3, its first "modern" race in almost thirteen years.

At 52, Dario Franchitti is preparing to return to NASCARvia the Truck Series race taking place on February 28th in St. Petersburg, Florida. This will be a first for NASCAR's pickup truck championship, and Franchitti will have an advantage over the rest of the field, as he already knows the track where he won during his IndyCar career. The Truck Series will be one of the support races for the opening round of the 2026 IndyCar season.

After his first Indy 500 victory and his first IndyCar title in 2007, Dario Franchitti had left the car to commit full-time to NASCAR, but the adventure was ultimately short-lived due to a lack of funding.

“The idea of ​​driving a NASCAR pickup truck on a street circuit really intrigues me. The different surfaces, the fact that part of the track is on an airport, then you go through the streets, the different bumps… You have to try to master all these elements. It was an opportunity to race on a track I love and to do something fun.” Franchitti said.

He is signed with Tricon, which is the factory team. Toyota In the Truck Series, Franchitti earned this opportunity thanks to Jimmie Johnson and his Legacy Motor Club team. The American will also participate in a Truck Series race for Tricon in San Diego this June.

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