Japan's Mutoh named to replace champ Franchitti (IRL)

[Shiba-Kun]

All seats in the IRL are Honda seats, but still this is a pretty high profile drive with A-G Racing. Good luck to Dario & Mrs. Dario in NASCAR.



Japan's Mutoh named to replace champ Franchitti

11/1/2007



INDIANAPOLIS, United States (AFP) — Japanese driver Hideki Mutoh will replace departing IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti on the Andretti Green Racing team next year, co-owner Kim Green announced Thursday.

Scottish veteran Franchitti will make the jump to closed-cockpit NASCAR stock car racing next season, leaving a car available for 25-year-old Mutoh, rookie of the year for 2007 in the IndyCar development series.

"Although Hideki did not win the championship last year, he did very well his first year of racing on ovals in a very tough and competitive series. I think that validates him moving up," Green said.

"We're just delighted to have the opportunity to bring him on board and hopefully take him to that next level, which is the winner's circle."

Franchitti, who also won this year's Indianapolis 500, edged New Zealand's Scott Dixon for the season title by winning the season-ending race at Chicago in September.