Smack: Three battle for 12th, three battle for title (cont'd)

2. Dario Franchitti is going back to the IndyCar Series. Is it the right move for him? And what's next for his car owner, Chip Ganassi?

Joe Menzer: I feel sorry for Dario. He had tough luck from the beginning this year. Just when he seemed to be showing some promise, he broke his ankle in that wreck at Talladega.

Raygan Swan: I think Dario made the right decision, and it was the least Ganassi could do, giving him another ride after failing to sponsor his NASCAR efforts. He could be in a position to win a title in the IRL with Ganassi, not so much with his old team, Andretti Green.

David Caraviello: Yeah, Dario deserves a lot of credit for trying to make this work. He took a big risk, and it didn't work out, but that's not necessarily his fault. Given what happened with the 40 car, I don't blame him for turning down the 41.

Joe Menzer: The thing is, I don't think Dario got a fair shot. He ended up not even having half a season to prove himself, what with the injury and getting the rug pulled out from under him on the car.

Raygan Swan: Let's just hope next season is without the string of sensational wrecks and Ashley pulling him from the car fearing for his safety again.

David Caraviello: Lord, the best thing about this is that Ashley-mania goes somewhere else. Some of our media brethren became a bit too obsessed with Mrs. Judd.

Joe Menzer: I think we should start Raygan-mania! Or at least Ragan-mania.

A quick visit

After less than a full season in NASCAR, Dario Franchitti has decided to return to the Indy Racing League driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.

• Complete story, click here
• Less than stellar rookie class

Raygan Swan: I like the sound of that Joe, let's sell T-shirts. And yes, like most of these open-wheelers, the proper long-term development wasn't in place.

David Caraviello: Yeah, Dario was a plug-in, which is unfair to him. Maybe car owners are realizing that hiring open-wheelers is not a replacement for driver development, which there's still not enough of in NASCAR.

Joe Menzer: As for Chip-mania, well, let's just say it's a lot hotter on the open-wheel side than it's ever been in NASCAR. That operation remains a mystery to me.

David Caraviello: Well, from everything I've read, he's supposedly wringing enough out of Target for two Cup cars. So he still needs one driver.

Raygan Swan: I vote for Patrick Carpentier. That way Chip still can wave his open-wheel flag for success

Joe Menzer: What happens next to the 41? What happens next with Juan Montoya? And is Target giving him enough money to do two cars the right way?

David Caraviello: You'd think Montoya would remain the franchise over there. As for doing things the right way ... who knows. Chip has his own ways.

Joe Menzer: I found it very interesting earlier this year when Juan blamed many of their troubles on trying to funnel too much money to Franchitti's car. But Juan also said then -- it was at Indy -- that he's in this for the long haul, or at least for as long as Chip thinks he can finally make it work. Chip is not the type to give up, but maybe NASCAR is not his thing.

Raygan Swan: I would love to see JPM at a first-tier team, to see if he could pull out some wins on some mile-and-a-half tracks. I realize the respect and loyalty he has for Chip, but if he's serious about a championship in NASCAR, I don't know if he can get it done at Ganassi.

David Caraviello: As for Dario, this is probably the right move. He was getting yanked around in NASCAR, and understandably he didn't like it. The interesting thing is that there are already some open-wheel types trying to paint this as a "victory" because Dario chose an IndyCar seat over the No. 41 car. But if anything, it illustrates just how difficult the transition to NASCAR really is.

Joe Menzer: I still say Dario could have gotten it done, under the right circumstances. By that I mean he at least could have become a competent, top-15 or 20 NASCAR driver. The problem at Ganassi runs deeper than who's driving, though, and that's obvious.

Raygan Swan: So is Tony still the only driver to pull it off David, or can we count JPM in that category?

David Caraviello: JPM has won a race. And JPM has shown the kind of long-term effort and dedication it takes. If JPM were in better cars, I think his results would be much better. But yeah, Dario never had a real shot here.

Raygan Swan: I think NASCAR should have a going away party for all the open-wheelers. At least a parting gift or two.

David Caraviello: Yeah, because this trend is officially over. Villeneuve disappearing, Franchitti back to IRL, Carpentier looks like he's being squeezed out ... Sam Hornish and JPM are on their own now.

Joe Menzer: Open-wheel mania. Come get some.

David Caraviello: Gone the way of the hemi engine and the Superbird. (Continued)