Franchitti anxious to get off to a flying start

Franchitti, 27, only finished 13th last season, but was hobbled at the start of the season after breaking his pelvis in a pre-season test at Homestead. He enters his fourth season with Team Kool Green and believes the title is there for the taking.

"I can't recall being this anxious to get back in the car and go racing," he said. "The intensive testing schedule over the winter has really allowed this team to gel and I feel like we should hit the track in Mexico in full stride, ready to challenge for the pole and the race win."

After his ultra-successful 1999 season, where he tied on points with champion Juan Pablo Montoya and only lost the title on countback of race results, Franchitti knows he has to recapture that form.

"This is a very important season for myself and everyone at Team Kool Green," he said. "I worked very hard in the off-season to get prepared both mentally and physically. And there are a lot of people who've worked very hard to put this team in a position to win races and the championship. Together I think we can do it."

Franchitti is also looking forward to the welcome the CART circus will receive in Mexico this weekend, as America's premier single-seater series returns for the first time since 1981.

"It's going to be fun starting the season in Mexico and at a new racetrack," added Dario. "The Mexican fans are pretty fanatical about their drivers and Adrian [Fernandez] in particular. It should make for a great atmosphere to start the new season."