Franchitti to race Busch at Memphis

Chip Ganassi Racing will announce today that the current IRL IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion will drive the No. 42 Dodge next Saturday in the Sam's Town 250, marking another step up in his learning process.

The Scot will make his third stock car race start at the 0.75-mile oval where nearly a year ago Juan Pablo Montoya made his NASCAR debut for Chip Ganassi Racing and took a respectable 11th place finish.

It will be the third different car Franchitti has driven in as many outings for his new team, but this time he will have his participation guaranteed as his car, which was driven by Montoya in 17 races this year, is in the top 35 in the owners' standings.

Franchitti will be racing against some Nextel Cup drivers, including Busch Series points leader Carl Edwards and others such as Sterling Marlin, Jamie McMurray, JJ Yeley and David Ragan, who will travel from Atlanta where they will race their Cup cars on Sunday.

Ganassi's other car will be driven by rookie Bryan Clauson, who has already made three starts for the team in the Busch Series this year, racing also in the ARCA race at Talladega beside Franchitti.