Ganassi offer Franchitti IndyCar return

Following the team's decision to shut down their No.40 Cup team, which left the reigning IRL champion without a drive, Ganassi is open to helping the Scot with his career in whatever path he chooses to take.

In an interview with XM Satellite Radio in the US, Sabates said the decision to continue pursuing a stock car career in the Nationwide Series, or to return to the IndyCar Series, rests with Franchitti himself.

"Chip pretty much told him if he wanted to go to back to Indy that, because it doesn't cost nearly as much money there as it does here (in NASCAR), and over there Chip is the Rick Hendrick of here, so he can get a sponsor for an IndyCar very easily," said Sabates.

"So he's got his choice. If he wants to drive the Nationwide car to get some more experience and maybe we'll get a sponsor for next year, or whether he wants to go back to the IRL, is up to Dario - he has a contract and we intend to honour it."

Sabates also said that the team had run Franchitti in the Sprint Cup this season from their own resources and blamed losing former sponsor Coors at the end of last year for the difficult situation they found themselves in this season.

When asked on what he believed Franchitti would decide, Sabates said that he expects him to drive in the Nationwide Series, and didn't rule out a return in two weeks' time at Chicago.

"At the end of the day I think he will get in the Nationwide car, he needs more seat time anyway," he said.

Chip Ganassi Racing has the No.40 Nationwide team running on a season-long deal with sponsor Fastenal. However, they are set to run rookie Bryan Clauson in this weekend's race at Daytona.