1on1: Chip Ganassi

Chip Ganassi is unquestionably one of the more notable figures in North American motorsports, based on the championships and significant races that his teams have won.

In NASCAR, Ganassi owns three Sprint Cup teams: The No. 40 Dodge for driver Dario Franchitti, the No. 41 for Reed Sorenson and the No. 42 for Juan Montoya. He owns two cars in the Nationwide Series: the Nos. 40 and 41 that are driven by a combination of Franchitti, Sorenson and development driver Bryan Clauson.

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has won Rolex Sports Car Series driver and team championships, and three consecutive editions of the Rolex 24 at Daytona -- North American sports-car racing's signature event.

Ganassi Racing has five open-wheel championships -- including four consecutive in CART, the forerunner of the Champ Car World Series, from 1996-1999 -- and won the 2000 Indianapolis 500 with Montoya.

Both of those disciplines regularly contend for race wins and championships, so it's in NASCAR where Ganassi, who transitioned from a driving career that went from local Formula Ford racing in the SCCA all the way to the Indianapolis 500, has found his biggest challenge.

Ganassi came to NASCAR in 2001, when he purchased a majority interest in Team SABCO from Sabates, and he made an immediate impact. Lead driver Sterling Marlin was third in the 2001 Cup championship and, until he was injured in the fall of the next season, led the standings for more than two-thirds of the season and appeared on his way to a coveted series title.

Since then, Ganassi has expanded his Cup and Nationwide operations, as well as maintaining an active driver development program.

As 2008 opens, Ganassi has the potential to get into the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the first time as Sorenson and Montoya, who won the 2007 Cup rookie of the year award, continue to develop.

Q: What are your expectations for this year?

Ganassi: I think when you look at Dario I think we are looking for a season that would parallel Juan's season from last season. I think when you look at Reed and Juan you say 'OK, it's time for those guys to take the next step up -- get to the next rung up the ladder.' It's either close or damn close to the Chase.

I would have been in the Chase twice [with Jamie McMurray in 2004 and 2005] if they would have been in the top 12 before that, right -- or if they hadn't taken 25 points from me at Bristol.

Q: Do you think there's a misperception of how Juan Montoya is, and do you wish people could see him as just someone who loves to race and be around racetracks?

Ganassi: That's what I've been saying all along. That's what I said the day we announced him in Chicago. I still stand by that. I was just at a sponsor function and they were saying that they couldn't believe that he was the last one -- you know Felix has a boat down [at Daytona Beach marina] -- [Montoya] was literally the last one off the boat.

I mean, this wasn't late or anything. It was like 7 p.m. or something and they had a dinner to go to, but he was the last one there. So, what does that tell you about the guy? It's not a story that he enjoys NASCAR. He's enjoying the racing, enjoying the series, enjoying the busy life.

Q: You have two open-wheel guys in your Sprint Cup cars, Juan Montoya and Dario Franchitti, and another in development, Bryan Clauson. So do you feel you have an affinity for open-wheel drivers?

Ganassi: I have an affinity for being at the front. That's my affinity -- being at the front. It doesn't have anything to do with where drivers come from. I don't care if they come from Mars. (Continued)