BY BRUCE MARTIN

GO TO MACYS.COM/IZOD TO PURCHASE THE LATEST IN IZOD FALL FASHION.

LAS VEGAS – Dario Franchitti and Will Power have taken their IZOD IndyCar Series Championship battle to Las Vegas where it will be decided in Sunday’s IZOD IndyCar Series World Championship Presented by Honda at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The two combatants arrived in town on Wednesday to kick off a tremendous week of activities that will showcase the IZOD IndyCar Series in one of the great entertainment cities on earth.

This week, IZOD and IndyCar take “Center Stage.”

DARIO FRANCHITTI WAITS DURING DRIVING INTRODUCTIONS AT THE BALTIMORE GRAND PRIX. 

“There is a lot of work that has gone into this race; a lot of promotion has gone on which is great to see,” Franchitti said. “I’m hopeful we get a good car here and the Target team can pull through for another championship. With everything going on it’s going to be a much different week that we are used to. The on-track stuff is going to be very, very intense.”

This huge event is the result of the combined efforts of IZOD, INDYCAR, the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority and Honda.

“You have to have the partners involved but you also have to have the drive and organization to pull it together,” Franchitti said. “We are seeing that right now and it will be a big event.”

Franchitti is attempting to win his third-straight IZOD IndyCar Series championship. In fact, it would be his fourth in a row as he drove to the title in 2007 as a member of what was then known as Andretti Green Racing. He did not participate in the series in 2008 as he tried to make the switch to NASCAR but returned as a member of Target/Chip Ganassi Racing in 2009. Since then, Franchitti has won 12 races in 51 attempts and back-to-back IZOD IndyCar Series championships.

No. 4 could be a part of a historic “Three-peat” for Franchitti.

“Let’s see if we do it first,” Franchitti said. “My mind is focused on making it happen. The big difference is look at the laps led. That shows me that if we could have executed better we’d be in better shape. But we are where we are in the position we find ourselves in and will try to close the deal on Sunday.”

Franchitti takes an 18-point lead over Team Penske driver Will Power entering the final race of the season.

“I think Will Power is a very strong contender,” Franchitti said. “In a lot of ways I have an advantage because he seems to think all my success is down to luck. That gives me a huge advantage. I think you have to respect who you are competing against. Whether that is Tony Kanaan or whether it was Scott Dixon in 2007 or Scott and Ryan Briscoe in 2009 or Will last year you have to respect them.

“It won’t be easy but I think we can do it.”

So, let’s spend a few moments “Catching up with Dario Franchitti.”

INSIDE IZOD – What do you like what IZOD has done for the series this year?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “IZOD works hard at promoting the series and that is something all the teams and drivers are happy about.”

INSIDE IZOD – What is the most fun aspect of being involved with IZOD?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “I think IZOD throws a good party so we are looking forward to seeing that. I think Vegas is a great place for that.”

INSIDE IZOD – What’s it going to be like to have IndyCars driving up The Strip on Thursday night?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “The IndyCars up The Strip will be interesting because there will be a certain amount of care taken with these cars. Stay away from the Manhole Covers. But how cool is that we are closing The Strip down. That is introducing IndyCar to a whole new fan base so that is going to be cool.”

INSIDE IZOD – From the schedule it looks like with all the off-track activities the demands on your time will almost be like the Indianapolis 500.

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “It looks very, very busy and I know a lot of work has gone into that schedule both form the team side and the IndyCar side so I hope that all pays off.  The important thing is to get a great crowd and a great atmosphere and on track we go out there and try to do our job.”

INSIDE IZOD – In the past you have missed being part of a series that raced at Vegas. When you were in CART it was the original Indy Racing League that ran there. When you switched series in 2003 it was later the Champ Car Series that raced there. How interested are you in racing at that track?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “It’s going to be interesting. I’ve driven both NASCAR divisions there. To me it’s going to be an interesting final race. The layout of the track it will be a big pack race.”

INSIDE IZOD – The IZOD IndyCar Series may not be the longest in racing but with the schedule compact from the end of March to the middle of October, what are the demands like to squeeze all these races in a short period of time?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “It’s a very compact schedule and with the races and some of the testing we do and the sponsor demands then we have the constant training as well. With all of that it’s a very busy season. There really is no off-season. We’re done in Vegas with the championship on a Sunday and then on Wednesday we are testing the new car. It’s a very all-consuming thing that the drivers and everybody on the team does. It’s our life, really and you have to love what you do because it’s so intense. Luckily, we do love it.”

INSIDE IZOD – Because of that how difficult is it to keep your workout schedule when you go back to Tennessee?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “It is tough to do and that is a challenge both when you are traveling and when you are at home with all the different demands. You just have to prioritize.”

INSIDE IZOD – How much does your solitude at your estate in Tennessee help you get your mind back together?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “At the race track things are so busy and so hectic I do like to get away from that for a little bit. When Ashley and I get back here it’s nice and quiet for a while. When it’s time to get that solitude for a while and get relaxed you can see your pals and get back to a normal life.”

INSIDE IZOD – Have you added any more to your pet collection?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “No. It’s still at five cats and two dogs. It’s still a full-time job to feed them. Ashley has been in Europe for a good few months and she just got back this week with one of the dogs and two of the cats so we have a full compliment at the house. It’s busy again.”

INSIDE IZOD – With the time the two of you were apart what was it like `Batching it’ again?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “I was so busy with the schedule I really wasn’t home and when I did have a reasonable amount of free time I was heading over to Europe. During the season I’m very, very busy.”

INSIDE IZOD – What is your stable of cars up to?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “I’m not going to give you an exact number of cars but we have run out of space here for cars. There is definitely more space for the cars in Scotland but I’m not there enough to justify having any more there.”

INSIDE IZOD – What are the prizes of your collection?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “For me every one of the cars I’ve got all does something different for me. Whether it is the Ferrari F40 or the Porsche Carrera GT or jumping into my own 911 hot rod; each car does something different. It doesn’t have to be they go that fast or anything they all bring something to the table. I’m very, very privileged to own some of the cars that I do. That is one of the cool things about getting to drive IndyCars is to fund my car addiction.”

INSIDE IZOD – What is something about Dario Franchitti that would surprise people?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “I have no idea. I really don’t know the answer to that one. I have to think about that one for quite a while.”

INSIDE IZOD – One of your biggest fans is five-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson. I know that he would love to try to drive an IZOD IndyCar. Have you talked to him about that?

DARIO FRANCHITTI — “We’ve talked a lot about that for years. There is no way he is going to get to run on an oval but we joked about it and Chip Ganassi and I have talked about him running on a road course somewhere. I think with Chevrolet coming on as an engine supplier that would be easier for him to do that. I hope so. I would love him to get a shot at driving an IndyCar on a road course. You watch him in the Daytona Prototypes and he is very quick in that but an IndyCar would blow his mind. I really do. Hopefully, he’ll get a chance to do that and if he does I hope to get a chance to see him do it.”

INSIDE IZOD – Favorite foods?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “I would say any day that included Ashley making me an awesome breakfast followed later in the day by pasta made by my mom or my dad. Those are both very good.”

INSIDE IZOD – Best prank ever pulled on you?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “It has to be from back in the days with Bryan Herta, Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon at Andretti. It has to be something they did to me. I know they have ruined a good few suits now because every time I’ve been up whether it is getting a prize for winning the Indianapolis 500 or winning a championship prize Kanaan feels it necessary to either throw me in the water or throw a cake at me. That’s an ongoing thing. Hopefully, he gets a chance to do that to me again in Las Vegas. I soon as I cross the finish line I start looking over my shoulder for those guys. We’re very lucky to have Charles Burns as the head of security for the IndyCar Series. Last time I put Charles on lookout so that was helpful.”

INSIDE IZOD – What about your musical preference?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “It’s very wide-ranging but if I had to pick one it would be U2. They are phenomenal.”

INSIDE IZOD – What is the last thing you loaded on your iPod?

DARIO FRANCHITTI – “A British TV show called `Shameless.’”

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