Franchitti: New teams need time

The former Andretti Green Racing IRL driver, now Chip Ganassi Racing's rookie in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is happy about the open-wheel merger but believes the teams making the switch will have to figure out the ovals before they can be competitive.

"It will take them six months on the ovals," Franchitti told autosport.com. "On the road-courses they'll be fine but on the ovals it's a different deal for sure.

"I think it's great that the series have got together. It's the first step. Right now it's not good because it has not fixed everything but it's the first step in the road to fixing things. I think it's really difficult step that the people have taken but it's only going to be good for the series."

Franchitti, who is one of the drivers who has competed both in Champ Car and the IRL IndyCar Series, said it was sad to see teams shutting down and being unable to make the switch this year but he expects the current situation to improve over time.

"That's disappointing," he added. "Specially with a team like Forsythe who's supported open-wheel racing for so long and Paul Tracy who has also been a big supporter and he's not driving now, so that's a shame really.

"But I guess doors will open more and more as teams decide to go to the series."

The Scot, who has had a tough start to his NASCAR Sprint Cup campaign this year, will compete in his sixth event in the series on Sunday, after making the field through Friday qualifying at Martinsville Speedway.